Chefs, Students Honored With 2012 Acf Western Region Awards

The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., the largest association of professional culinarians in North America, held its 2012 ACF Western Regional Conference at John Ascuaga's Nugget, Sparks, Nev., March 12-14. More than 25 chefs, students and chapters were honored at the conference. Now, many of these award winners will compete against their regional counterparts at the 2012 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla., July 14-17.

At the conference, guests enjoyed the Chefs of the West Rib Cook-Off, hosted by ACF High Sierra Chefs Association. "Hell's Kitchen" season three winner Rahman "Rock" Harper delivered the keynote address during General Session. Also, the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF's honor society, gave a $1,000 grant to the Western Region Student Team Champion, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, Calif., to assist the team with expenses to travel to the national competition in July. Here are the Western Region honorees:

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Percy Whatley, CEC, executive chef, The Ahwahnee, Yosemite, Calif.; Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts Inc.

Pastry Chef of the Year
Adalberto Diaz Labrada, CEPC, executive chef and cooking school instructor; Harmons Grocery Educational Center, Salt Lake City; ACF Beehive Chefs Chapter, Inc.

Chef Educator of the Year
Frank Leake, CCC, CCE, AAC, professor of culinary arts, University of Hawaii, Kapi'olani Community College, Honolulu; Chefs de Cuisine Association of Hawaii Honolulu

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
Walter Bronowitz, CCC, CCE, AAC, executive chef, Dietary Department, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle; ACF Washington State Chefs Association

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor's
Urs Emmenegger, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego; ACF Chefs & Culinarians of San Diego

Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Reilly Meehan, special events cook, The French Culinary Institute, Campbell, Calif.; Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers
Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, Wash.; ACF Washington State Chefs Association; coached by Matthew DiMeo and Janet Shaffer, CWPC

Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, Calif.; ACF Orange Empire Chefs & Professional Cooks Association; coached by Bill Barber, CEC

Galbani Mozzarella Caprese Challenge, sponsored by Lactalis Foodservice and Galbani Mozzarella
Mike Sabella Jr., cook, City Forest Catering, San Francisco

What's in Your Wok Fried Rice Competition, sponsored by Riviana Foods, Inc.
Kristin Swaggart, CC, chef/culinary director, J. Bookwalter Winery & JBistro, Richland, Wash.; ACF Northwest Wine Country Chapter

The 2012 ACF Western Regional Conference award recipients listed below were recognized for their outstanding contributions and goodwill.

Chapter of the Year
ACF Idaho Chefs de Cuisine, Boise, Idaho

Chapter Achievement Award
ACF Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon, McMinnville, Ore.
ACF Idaho Chefs de Cuisine
ACF Washington State Chefs Association, Seattle

Cutting Edge Award
Debora Aragon, CCC, CCE, educator, Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center, Reno, Nev.; ACF High Sierra Chefs Association
Todd Bull, teacher, El Cajon Valley High School, El Cajon, Calif.; Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
Bert Cutino, CEC, AAC, HBOT, HOF, retired COO/co-founder, The Sardine Factory/Cannery Row Company, Monterey, Calif.; ACF Monterey Bay Chapter
Joseph Gonzales, FMP, retired, Beaverton, Ore.; ACF Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon

ACF President's Medallions
Alan Anderson, CEC, executive chef, Rogue Valley Manor, Medford, Ore.; ACF South