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ACF Student Chef of the Year Award

2009 ACF Student Chef of the Year Award Application Form
(Application Deadline: October 31, 2008)

The ACF Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc., recognizes a student who possesses a high degree of professionalism, culinary skills and passion for the culinary arts.

Changes in 2009

The competition guidelines were revised for 2009 to resemble the World Association of Chefs Societies Hans Bueschkens Junior Chefs Challenge, thereby allowing winners the opportunity to compete in the challenge. Not only was the name changed from ACF Student Culinarian of the Year to ACF Student Chef of the Year and the age requirement lowered to 22, but the competition was also revised.

Regional semifinalists will prepare four portions of either a category K or P1 item with a panel of judges selecting the winner based on cooking skills, menu taste and professionalism. Regional winners will advance to the national competition at the ACF national convention where they will prepare a three-course classical menu from a supplied list of ingredients. The overall winner selected by a panel of judges will be named the ACF Student chef of the Year.

History of the Student Chef of the Year Award

The award was established in 1987 by the late Baron Galand, CEC, to help student members establish their position within ACF. From 1987 to 1998, the Student Chef of the Year Award was bestowed upon one national winner during ACF's national convention. In 1999, however, it was decided that a winner from each ACF region would be chosen. Regional winners advance to the national convention where they vie for the national title. In 2003 a culinary cook-off was introduced at the national convention, and, for the first time, regional finalists competed for the national title.