Chefs, Students Honored With 2012 American Culinary Federation Central Region Awards

More than 550 guests attended the American Culinary Federation's (ACF) 2012 ACF Central Regional Conference at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, April 14-16. Hosted by ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association, the conference provided attendees with opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills. More than 25 chefs, students and chapters were honored. Now, many of these award winners will compete against their regional counterparts at the 2012 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla., July 14-17.

"Top Chef Masters" season three contestant Celina Tio, chef/owner of Julian in Kansas City, Mo., delivered the keynote address during General Session April 14 on how to use social media to attract customers and build relationships. Also at General Session, Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc. made a $15,000 donation to support the teams of ACF Culinary Team USA in their quest for gold at the Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA), commonly known as the "culinary Olympics," in Erfurt, Germany, Oct. 5-10. To date, the chapter has generously donated more than $30,000. In addition, the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF's honor society, gave a $1,000 grant to the Central Region Student Team Champion, Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc., to assist the team with expenses to travel to the national competition in July. Here are the Central Region honorees:

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Brian Beland, CMC, executive chef/director of food and beverage, Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association

Pastry Chef of the Year
Julia Julian, CC, CWPC, culinary instructor, Madison College, Madison Wis.; ACF Mad City Chapter

Chef Educator of the Year
Casey Shiller, CEPC, program coordinator, baking and pastry arts, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
John Kaufmann, CEC, AAC, HOF, retired executive chef/owner, Antioch, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor's
Donald Miller, CEC, CCE, AAC, executive chef, University of Notre Dame Food Services, Notre Dame, Ind.; ACF South Bend Chefs and Cooks Association

Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Marissa Bertram, student, Madison College, Madison, Wis.; ACF Mad City Chapter

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers
Kendall College, Chicago; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.; coached by Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE

Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc., St. Louis; coached by Dan Holtgrave, CEC

Galbani Mozzarella Caprese Challenge, sponsored by Lactalis Foodservice and Galbani Mozzarella
Edward Adel, CEC, culinary instructor, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kan.; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association

What's in Your Wok Fried Rice Competition, sponsored by Riviana Foods, Inc.
Austin Yancey, instructor, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, Chicago; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.

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

Chapter of the Year
ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter, Indianapolis

Chapter Achievement Award
ACF Chefs of Northwest Indiana, Schererville, Ind.
ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter
ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association, Shawnee, Kan.
ACF Louis Joliet Chapter, Joliet, Ill.
ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc., Chicago

Cutting Edge Award
Debbie Bando-Duit, CEC, AAC, executive chef/owner, Bando's, Beaumont, Texas;