Becoming a Member of ACF Culinary Team USA
ACF Culinary Team USA represents the United States on the global stage, showcasing American chefs, cuisine and products to the world. Team members will enhance their skills in the kitchen under pressure, better themselves both professionally and personally, and push themselves toward excellence. Team members are exposed to a number of new techniques and ideas, inspiring chefs to do their best work and raise the standard of culinary skills.
Chefs are selected based on their hot-food and cold-food performances. Judges comprised of the team manager, coaches and advisors, evaluate presentation and layout, composition and harmony of ingredients, correct preparation and craftsmanship, and serving methods and portions. Each chef has to display a high level of craftsmanship based on solid classical cooking principles and a variety of cooking disciplines incorporating current and modern trends in presentation, technique and taste. Their overall skill sets, personality, attitude and the ability to excel and work cohesively in a team setting are assessed before making the final decision.
Tryouts for 2016 Team
Cold-food tryouts took place on June 1 and 2 in Denver, Colo., and on June 15 and 16 in Charlotte, N.C., at Johnson & Wales University facilities.
Hot-food tryouts took place on August 24 at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.