2011 Central Region American Culinary Federation Award Winners Announced

The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., the largest association of professional culinarians in North America, held its 2011 ACF Central Regional Conference at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, April 17-20, 2011. More than 30 chefs, students and chapters were honored at the conference.

Hosted by ACF New Orleans Chapter, the event brought more than 500 chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals together for networking, competitions and professional development opportunities at cooking demonstrations, business seminars and a trade show. On April 17, the chapter held a community service day at Ozanam Inn, where ACF chefs toured the facility that serves the city's homeless population, served meals and washed dishes. On April 19, the chapter held a fundraiser event for several local charities featuring some of New Orleans' best chefs at Mardi Gras World. Approximately 800 tickets were sold.

On April 20, the one-year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Food & Drug Administration, as well as several other state organizations, gave attendees a gulf seafood safety update. Immediately following, the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, which was appointed by President Barack Obama, gave an oil spill update.

The American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF's honor society, gave a $1,000 grant to the Central Region Student Team Regional Champions, ACF Louis Joliet Chapter, to assist the team with expenses to travel to the national competition in July.

Here is a look at all of the 2011 Central Region award winners who will compete against their regional counterparts at the 2011 ACF National Convention in Dallas in July:

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Mark Spelman, CEC, AAC, corporate executive chef, Helen of Troy, El Paso, Texas; ACF Chefs Association of Greater El Paso

Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda�
Jeffrey Guy, pastry chef, Houston Country Club, Houston; ACF Professional Chefs Association of Houston

Chef Educator of the Year
Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE, chef-instructor, Kendall College, Chicago; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
John Zehnder, CEC, AAC, executive chef/food & beverage director, Zehnder's Restaurant, Frankenmuth, Mich.; ACF Flint/Saginaw Valley Chapter

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor's�
Mark Webster, CEC, CCE, AAC, executive chef, New Theatre Restaurant, Overland Park, Kan.; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association

Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Aaron Guajardo III, student, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers
Representing Kendall College, Chicago, members of ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.: Gabriele Ausraite, Robert Baki, Jacob Clara, Paige Rogers and Jacqueline Wallner. Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE, is the team's coach.

Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
Representing ACF Louis Joliet Chapter, students at Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.: David Basile, Robert Belanski, Aaron Guajardo III, Laura Korte and Michael Shannon, CC. Kyle Richardson, CCE, CEC, CHE, ACE, AAC, is the team's coach.

Paella, Please! sponsored by Riviana
Kyle Richardson, CCE, CEC, CHE, ACE, AAC, professor of culinary arts, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter

The 2011 ACF Central Regional Conference award recipients listed below were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the culinary industry.

Tapas American-