American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of
Fame™ Criteria
There are two opportunities to be inducted into
the American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™:
Inductee Requirements
Candidate must be
- Of exemplary character; contributing no less than 30 years to the
betterment of the culinary profession.
- A professional chef.
- A member of the American Culinary Federation.
- At least 62-years-old and retired from full-time work. Exception: a
person who is not quite 62-years-old and is disabled or deceased and has
contributed many years to the culinary profession.
Selection Process for Inductees
- Candidate must be sponsored by a chapter President or a national
officer with a letter of sponsorship explaining the applicant’s
exemplary achievements and contributions that would qualify the
candidate.
- Candidate cannot solicit fellowship into the American Academy of
Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™.
- An in-depth biography must be submitted and accompany the mandatory
requirements along with two 5″×7″ B&W or color
photos in culinary attire and toque taken within the past year.
- The American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™ medal and
certificate of honor will be presented to the recipient during the ACF
National Convention at the Annual Academy Dinner.
- An inductee need not be present for acceptance if he or she is
physically unable to do so. Presentations may be made by a regional
director at the inductee’s local chapter or at a regional
conference.
- Upon being inducted into the American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall
of Fame™, the recipient will become a lifetime Fellow of the
AAC.
- The AAC National Office will place a plaque with the
recipient’s name and year of induction on the American Academy of
Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™ Wall.
- There will be maximum of no more than three inductees into the
Culinary Hall of Fame in any one year, except posthumously. A simple
majority vote by the American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of
Fame™ Committee will be needed to approve a new inductee.
- All voting will be by secret ballot. No ballot can be
challenged.
Voting Process for Inductees
- Copies of all applications and biographies will be sent to the
American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™ Committee in
January of each year, allowing ample time for review.
- A teleconference will be scheduled in early February of each year
for review of all candidates. Notice of the teleconference will be sent
to all American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™ Committee
members. It is required that confirmation of participation be made to
the Foundation Coordinator.
- Ballots with the names of candidates will be mailed to the fellows
of the American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™ committee
for their votes. Their votes may be cast for two, one or none. The two
nominees with the simple majority of votes will be inducted into the
American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™.
- In the event that there is a tie vote for two candidates, the names
will appear on a second ballot. The American Academy of Chefs Culinary
Hall of Fame™ committee will be asked to vote for only one in
order to establish a tie-breaker.
- If a candidate is not successfully selected in any one year, his or
her application will be reviewed the following year. If the candidate is
not successfully selected a second time, the application is then removed
from further consideration.
- All completed ballots will be mailed directly to the national
office. The Foundation Coordinator will send notice of the voting
results of the American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame™
Committee to the candidate sponsors.
- The Foundation Coordinator will send notice of the induction process
to the selected candidates.
Honorary Inductees Requirements
Candidate must
- Have been involved in a culinary-related field or culinary
profession 30 years or more.
- Be a person of exemplary character.
Selection Process for Honorary Inductees
- Only one Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame fellow may be accepted in
any one year.
- Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame candidates shall be selected from the
AAC fellowship or the field of related culinary profession.
- Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame recipients will be recognized during
the ACF National Convention at the Annual Academy Dinner.
- A chef honored in the Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame will receive a
medal.
- An in-depth biography of the recipient must be submitted and
accompany the mandatory requirements; also two 5″×7″
B&W or color photos in culinary attire and toque taken within the
past year.
- An inductee need not be present for acceptance if he or she is
physically unable to do so. Presentations may be made by a Regional
Director at the inductee’s local chapter or at a regional
conference.
- The AAC National Office will place a plaque with the
recipient’s name and year of induction on the Culinary Hall of
Fame Wall; and a book with the recipient’s name and biography will
be displayed in the same office.
- The selection of an inductee into the Culinary Hall of Fame must be
by a majority vote of the Selection Committee.
- Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame candidates will be discussed and
voted upon by verbal ballot during the annual February Culinary Hall of
Fame Committee teleconference.