The Culinary Insider - October 26, 2009 (Vol. VII, Issue 23)

ACF Awards and Competitions


Applications Deadline Nov. 9
ACF is seeking the best of the best for our prestigious culinary competitions and awards. National winners are recognized by their peers as having extraordinary skill, and receive cash prizes. Chef, pastry chef and chef educator of the year national winners receive $5,000, $1,000 is awarded to the student chef of the year, and the chef professional winner, in addition to collecting $2,500, also selects an ACF-accredited school to receive $2,500.

U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year™, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions
ACF Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda®
ACF Chef Educator of the Year
ACF Chef Professionalism, sponsored by Nestlé Professional™
ACF Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
ACF Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award

Apply today or nominate your peers. Applicants, in most cases, do not have to be ACF members. Learn more or contact ACF Events Management at events@acfchefs.net or (800) 624-9458, ext. 114.

2010 Regional Conference Registration

Your ACF Membership is More Valuable Than Ever
Members in good standing can take advantage of significant regional conference registration discounts. Remember, unreimbursed employee business expenses are tax deductible.

Good Deal: Member Rewards
ACF members receive a substantial discount off the cost of a regular and on-site full registration.

  • $475 for Culinarian, Professional Culinarian, Allied and Associate members
  • $425 for Senior, Junior and Student members

The regular and on-site rate for nonmembers is $575.

Better Deal: Early Registration Rewards
Purchase a full registration before the early registration deadline and you save more.

  • $375 for Culinarian, Professional Culinarian, Allied and Associate members = a savings of $100
  • $325 for Senior, Junior and Student members = a savings of $100

Best Deal: Rooms and Registration Rewards
Stay a minimum of three nights at the official conference hotel and your savings increase when you purchase a full registration before the early registration deadline. These are our lowest rates ever.

  • $300 for Culinarian, Professional Culinarian, Allied and Associate members = a savings of $175
  • $260 for Senior, Junior and Student members = a savings of $165

Deal of The Week… Limited Time Kitchen Apparel Sale, Only 6 Days Left!


Shop The Happy Chef’s limited time sale and SAVE UP TO 60% on select premium Chef Coats, Chef Pants, Aprons, Headwear and Cutlery. Available only through October 31st. DEAL HIGHLIGHTS - Black Lightweight Chef Coat, only $10.75. Mesh Top Skull Caps, only $5.45. CHEFS SHARP Garnish Set, only $24.95. Check out The Happy Chef’s AWARD WINNING PRODUCT LINE or shop their KITCHEN APPAREL SALE today!

Now Scheduling 2010 ACE Training


Are you interested in hosting an Approved Certification Evaluator (ACE) training at your location in 2010? The practical exam host site requirements include coordinating and sponsoring the meeting space, audio visual needs, and breakfast and lunch for participants. ACF provides the regional ACE trainer. Request your date.

Find ACF Certification with Ease

Based on your feedback, ACF certification information can now be more readily found on the home page of the ACF Web site. Certify is now located on the menu and Get Certified is a quick link.

NCR Quiz Breaking News

The continuing-education quiz, which is available online through the ACF Foundation eCulinary Professional Development Institute, can be downloaded from the ACF Web site beginning in January 2010 for those who wish to review the questions before taking the quiz. The quiz will no longer appear in The National Culinary Review.

Café’s 2010 Program for Professional Foodservice Trainers and Educators


CAFÉ offers 4 weekend events delivering topics and trends critical to your successful professional development.

March 5–7: Front-of-House Operations National Symposium, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Las Vegas
June 18–20: Mastering French Cooking: from Classics to Contemporary, L’Academie de Cuisine, Gaithersburg, Md.
June 25–27: 6th-Annual Leadership Conference, Baltimore International College
July 23–25: The Healthy Menu-Cooking for Tomorrow, Kendall College School of Culinary Arts, Chicago

Earn ACF continuing-education hours! Click CAFÉ Events at www.CafeMeetingPlace.com for more information.

Join ACF Culinary Team USA


Take pride in American cuisine and showcase your talents in the global culinary arena. Apply and represent the United States in international culinary competitions. Join us on an exhilarating journey to bring home the gold.

Five Named ACF-Approved Culinary Judges

Congratulations to the following ACF members for achieving their goal of becoming an ACF-approved culinary competition judge.
Olivier Andreini, CMC; executive chef, Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pa.; ACF National Chapter
John Fisher, CEC, CCE, AAC; chef-instructor, Renton Technical College, Renton, Wash.; ACF Washington State Chefs Association
George O’Palenick, CEC, CCE, AAC; associate professor, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.; ACF Rhode Island Chapter
Brian Sode, CEC, AAC; executive chef, The Bear’s Club; Jupiter, Fla.; ACF National Chapter
Sgt. Maj. Mark Warren, CEC, AAC; U.S. Army Europe Chief Food Operations, overseas; Old Dominion ACF Chapter

Appointment as an ACF-approved culinary judge confirms that an individual has attained the highest level of trust, professionalism, respect and ethical confidence from his/her peers. Judges have also proven themselves in competition and demonstrated their ability to fairly evaluate others in culinary competition. Learn more.

Durable and Precise OHAUS FD Scales


For durable and precise weighing, the OHAUS FD combines a large, bright display with an internal battery that lasts 120 hours between charges. With capacities from 6lb to 30lb, and precision up to 0.1g, these scales can be configured in lb, oz, lb:oz, kg and g. Includes modes for checkweighing and for baker’s percentages. NSF listed, supports HACCP systems. For more information or to find out how to buy, call (800) 672-7722, ext. 7021.

In the Kitchen with Top Chef: Las Vegas Competitor Ron Duprat


When “Top Chef: Las Vegas“ premiered Aug. 19, 2.6 million Americans tuned in, and ACF member Ron Duprat was one of 17 lucky chef’testants. After six weeks of quickfire challenges and elimination rounds, Duprat, executive chef at the Hollywood Beach Marriott in Hollywood, Fla., was sent home. We caught up with him to talk about his career, his passions and his plans for the future. Read the interview.

H1N1 Flu Spreads Just like the Regular Flu


H1N1 flu virus spreads just like regular flu. That’s why you should make a habit of washing your hands. Flu germs can start spreading up to a day before symptoms start and to seven days after getting sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FLU.gov has all the information you need on H1N1 prevention.