Awards

2026 Awards

Applications for the 2026 ACF National Awards are now being accepted. Deadline for all applications is January 31, 2026. Award recipients will be announced during the 2026 ACF National Convention.

2025 Award Winners

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 ACF National Awards and Culinary Competitions, celebrated during the ACF National Convention held at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chefs, students, and military teams from across the nation, and around the globe, gathered to showcase their skills, passion, and dedication to culinary excellence.

From the international arena of the Global Chefs Challenge to the patriotic spirit of the Freedom Chefs Challenge, and from the fast-paced ACF Food Sport Competitions to the prestigious ACF National Awards, the 2025 convention highlighted the best and brightest across the culinary profession.

National Awards and Honors

L.J. Minors Chef Professionalism Award

  • National Winner & Southeast Region Recipient - Jay Ziobrowski, CEC
  • Central Region Recipient - Kevin L. Penn, CEC, CCA
  • Northeast Region Recipient - Kevin C. Doherty, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • West Region Recipient - Jay Rathman, CEC, CCA

Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award

  • National Winner & Central Region Recipient - Rajeev Patgaonkar, CEC, AAC
  • Northeast Region Recipient - Keith A. Coughenour, CEC, AAC
  • Southeast Region Recipient - Noel G. Ridsdale, CEC, CCA, AAC

L. Edwin Brown Awards

  • Richard Frazier, CSC
  • Paula I. Recinella, HAAC

Presidential Medallions

Awarded to exceptional chefs and industry leaders

  • Jason G. Avelson, CEC, CCE, AAC
  • Jeff Bacon, CEC, AAC
  • Derrick Connor, CEC, CCA
  • Andy Cuthbert, HAAC
  • James V. DiMarzio, CEC, AAC
  • Ralph C. Feraco, CEC, AAC
  • Edward E. Fuchs, CEC, CCE, CCA
  • Christopher A. Galarza, CEC, CCA
  • LaKisha Harris
  • John Jakeman, CEC, CCE
  • Gene E. Kalesti
  • Thomas J. Macrina, CEC, CCA, AAC, HOF, HBOT
  • John N. Masi
  • Greg Matchett, CEC, AAC
  • Patrick D. Mitchell, CEC, AAC
  • John J. Norton, CEC, CCA
  • Joseph D. Parajecki
  • Rajeev Patgaonkar, CEC, AAC
  • Thomas F. Recinella, CEC, AAC
  • Lenard Rubin, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Morris Salerno, HAAC
  • Michael Thames, CEC, CCA
  • David G. Turin, CEC
  • Daniel Van Etten, CEC
  • Fred G. Wright, CEC, AAC
  • William Yee

Cutting Edge Awards

Awarded to exceptional chefs and industry leaders

  • Patrick S. Artz
  • Robert W. Beighey, CEC, CCA
  • Walter T. Cloud, CCC, CEPC
  • Thomas J. Delle Donne, CEC
  • Spyridon Giannakoulopoulos, CEC, CCE
  • Debra S. Hamlin-Childers
  • Andrew Helmandollar
  • Jimmy L. Hill, HAAC
  • Richard Hoffman, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Raimund W. Hofmeister, CMC, AAC
  • Matthew P. Jarson
  • Sergey Kashkin, CEC, CCA
  • Tony Le, CEC
  • Douglas R. Maneely, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Maynard J. Meland, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Oscar Moreno
  • Lee H. Moultrie
  • John T. Piazza, CEC, CCA, CCE
  • David L. Prows, CEC, AAC
  • Matthew D. Schellig, CEC, CEPC, CCE, CCA, AAC
  • Travis Stehman
  • David J. Turcotte, CEC, AAC
  • Tom Valentin, CEC, AAC
  • John J. Woods, CEC, CWPC, AAC
  • Jay Ziobrowski, CEC

Industry Partner of the Year

Middleby

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

  • Byron J. Bardy, CMC, AAC
  • O. Siegfried Krauss, CEC, AAC
  • Denise S. Graffeo, CEC, AAC, HOF
  • Paul E. Sorgule, AAC
  • Wilfred R. Beriau, CEC, CCE, AAC

Outstanding Chapters

  • Small Chapter of the Year
    • National Winner & Western Region Recipient - Four Corners Chapter of the ACF (NM073)
    • Central Region Recipient - ACF Professional Chefs and Culinarians of the Heartland (NE032)
    • Southeast Region Recipient - ACF Myrtle Beach Chapter (SC031)
  • Large Chapter of the Year
    • National Winner & Northeast Region Recipient - ACF Greater Baltimore Chapter Inc. (MD051)
    • Central Region Recipient - ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association (MI012)
    • Southeast Region Recipient - ACF Caxambas Chapter of Southwest Florida (FL211)
    • Western Region Recipient - ACF High Sierra Chefs Association (NV023)
  • Largest Chapter in the ACF: Grand Rapids Chapter

Congratulations to all competitors, finalists, and award recipients. Your commitment to excellence inspires the culinary community and sets a gold standard for the profession.