The American Culinary Federation Announces Its 2011 Achievement Of Excellence Award Winners

The American Culinary Federation (ACF), the nation's premier organization of professional chefs, will honor 23 establishments nationwide with Achievement of Excellence Awards at the 2011 ACF National Convention held at the Gaylord Texan, Dallas, July 22-26.

Achievement of Excellence Awards recognize foodservice establishments that exemplify a commitment to excellence in their area. Criteria for the award are being in operation for at least five consecutive years; nomination by an ACF chapter, member or individual in the foodservice profession; and being a recognized industry leader. Here are the 2011 award winners:

- Back Door Cafe, Johnstown, Pa.
- Cafe Cimino Country Inn, Sutton, W.Va.
- Canterbury Golf Club, Cleveland
- Casola Dining Room at Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady, N.Y.
- Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club, Farmingdale, N.J.
- Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, Homestead, Pa.
- FishBones, Lake Mary, Fla.
- Goodwill Great Lakes at the Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill.
- The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Asheville, N.C.
- Hotel du Pont, Wilmington, Del.
- The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, Pa.
- Iridescence, MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit
- JaCiva's Chocolates, Portland, Ore.
- La Tavola, Sayville, N.Y.
- Lilly's Bistro, Louisville, Ky.
- Magnolias, Charleston, S.C.
- Pacific Asian Bistro, St. Augustine, Fla.
- The Palmer House, Hilton, Chicago
- Pier 37 Bar & Grill, Chicago
- Premier Food Services, San Diego
- Red Rocks County Club, Morrison, Colo.
- Savannah Red, Charlotte Marriott City Center, Charlotte, N.C.
- United States Olympic Committee Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Food & Nutrition Services, Colorado Springs, Colo.

The national convention is open to chefs and foodservice professionals. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased on-site. A one-day program badge, which includes a meal, is $125. Call (800) 624-9458 or visit www.acfchefs.org/convention for more information.

Sponsors of the 2011 ACF National Convention are: Allen Brothers; American Lamb Board; American Technical Publishers; Barilla America, Inc.; Barry Callebaut; BelGioioso Cheese, Inc.; Ben E. Keith; Cabot Creamery Cooperative; Canada Cutlery Inc.; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Inc.; Cleveland Range, LLC; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Dansko; Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt; Dietz & Watson, Inc.; Ecolab; French's Foodservice; GFF/Girard's Dressings; Gourmet Trading Company; Indian Harvest; The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes; Johnson & Wales University; King & Prince Seafood; Kingsburg Orchards; Koch Foods, Inc.; Lactalis; Mars Foodservice; McCormick for Chefs; MenuMax; MINOR'S; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Nueske's; Plugra; PreGel America; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; Riviana Foods Inc.; Saputo; The Schwan Food Company; Sodexo; Splenda; Texas Beef Council; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Food Solutions; United Egg Producers Certified; US Foodservice; Valrhona; Victorinox; Villeroy and Boch; Vitamix Corp.; Washington State Potato Commission; Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board; and Youngstown Distributors.

About the American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 20,000 members spanning 225 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.