Award Winners Announced At 2011 Acf Southeast Regional Conference

The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., the largest association of professional culinarians in North America, held its 2011 ACF Southeast Regional Conference at the Hilton Atlanta, Feb. 18-21. More than 20 chefs and chapters were honored at the conference. Now, many of these award winners will compete against their regional counterparts at the 2011 ACF National Convention in Dallas, July 22-26.

At the conference, the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF's honor society, gave a $1,000 grant to the Southeast Region Student Team Regional Champions, ACF Western North Carolina Culinary Association, to assist the team with expenses to travel to the national competition in July.

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Keith Armstrong, executive chef, Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich, Conn.; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda?
Kyongran "Alex" Hwang, assistant pastry chef, Cherokee Town and Country Club, Atlanta; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

Chef Educator of the Year
Michael Carmel, CEC, CCE, department head, Culinary Institute of Charleston Trident Technical College, Charleston, S.C.; ACF Greater Charleston South Carolina Chapter

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
Costa Magoulas, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC, MHA, dean, School of Hospitality and Culinary Management, Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, Fla.; ACF Daytona Beach Chefs Association

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor's
Russell Scott, CMC, WGMC, executive chef, Isleworth Golf & Country Club, Windermere, Fla.; ACF Central Florida Chapter

Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Keith Schwock, line cook, Cherokee Town and Country Club, Atlanta; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers
Representing the Culinary Institute of Savannah at Savannah Technical College, Savannah, Ga., members of ACF Chefs of the Low Country: Jocelyn Brantley, Cassandra M. Gillmore, Claudia C. Harper, Joshua A. Lopez and Angela N. Real. Valarie Barnes is the team's coach.

Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
Representing ACF Western North Carolina Culinary Association, students from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville, N.C.: Sidney Ann Caton, Stephen Hertz, John "Danny" Schwalje, team captain, Jonathon Zetterholm and Tracy Williams. Charles DeVries, CEPC, is the team's coach.

Paella, Please! sponsored by Riviana
Christopher McCook, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Athens Country Club, Athens, Ga.; Classic City Chefs and Cooks Association

The 2011 ACF Southeast Regional Conference award recipients listed below were recognized for their outstanding contributions and goodwill.

Joseph Amendola Outstanding Member Award
Bryan Frick, CEC, AAC, corporate executive chef, Nestle Professional, Orlando, Fla.; ACF Central Florida Chapter

Chapter of the Year
ACF Central Florida Chapter, Orlando, Fla.

Chapter Achievement Award
ACF Central Florida Chapter
ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc., Atlanta
ACF Inc. Charlotte Chapter, Charlotte, N.C.
ACF Midlands Chapter, Lexington, S.C.
ACF Palm Beach County Chefs Association, Palm Beach, Fla.
ACF Tampa Bay Culinary Association, Tampa, Fla.

Cutting Edge Award
Clyde "Jay" Christmas, CEC, CCA, executive chef, Hope Valley Country Club, Durham, N.C.; ACF Triangle Chefs
Delores "Dee" Lennox, executive chef/owner/vice president, Lennox Catering, Sunrise, Fla.; Fort Lauderdale ACF Inc.
Garrett Sanborn, CEC, CCE, Ed.D., chef-instructor, Oldham County Board of Education, Buckner, Ky., an ACF national member

ACF President's Medallions
Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Russell Campbell, CEC, chief for the Advanced Food Servi