ChefConnect: Hawai’i Gathers 350 Chefs

ChefConnect: Hawai’i joined together over 350 chefs, students, and foodservice professionals at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa earlier this week.

Professional development and culinary trend seminars joined together American Culinary Federation’s Central and West regions. Topics highlighted during the conference ranged from honey varietals and beekeeping to Hawaiian poke and food pairings. Beef trends and the processes behind vanilla growing were also among the selected focuses.

Alan Wong was among the conference presenters. Wong is the master of Hawai’i Regional Cuisine and the owners of Honolulu-based Alan Wong’s Restaurants.

Chef Lee Anne Wong, owner of Koko Head Cafe in Honolulu, and Bryan Fujikawa, owner and chef at Sun Dried Specialties in Kealakekua, were other highlighted presenters.

Regional awards presented to Central and Western regions chef and students included the ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs Association as ACF World of Thanks recipients.

All winners will have the opportunity to earn their respective national titles at the “Cook. Craft. Create.” event in Phoenix, Ariz. in July.

Full list of winners:

ACF Central Region Chef Educator of the Year

• Christopher Misiak, CEC, CCE, program coordinator/instructor, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association

ACF Western Region Chef Educator of the Year

• Cheryl Lewis, CCC, CCE, chef instructor, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas, Las Vegas; ACF Chefs Las Vegas

ACF Central Region Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award

• Thomas Elkin, CEC, AAC, culinary instructor, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc

ACF Western Region Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award

• Bobby Moghaddam, CEC, CCE, AAC, director, hospitality and culinary arts, Riverside City College Culinary Academy, Riverside, California; ACF Southern CA Inland Empire Chefs & Cooks Association

ACF Central Region Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor’s®

• Kenneth Thompson, CEC, CCA, chef/instructor, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter

ACF Western Region Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor’s®

• Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Astor House at Springbrook Oaks, Newberg, Oregon; ACF Pro Chefs Oregon

ACF Central Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers and Vitamix

• Students representing Kendall College, Chicago

ACF Western Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers and Vitamix

• Students representing Utah Valley University Culinary Arts Institute, Orem, Utah

ACF Central Region Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions

• Patrick Mitchell, CEC, AAC, executive chef/culinary adviser, Ben E. Keith Foods, Fort Worth, Texas; Texas Chefs Association

ACF Western Region Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions

• Lenard Rubin, CEC, executive chef, The Country Club at DC Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona; ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona, Inc.

ACF Central Region Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Plugrá® European-Style Butter

• Jan Lewandowski, CEPC, lead baking instructor, Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas; ACF Central Arkansas Cooks Association

ACF Western Region Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Plugrá® European-Style Butter

• Andrew Corrao, CCC, CEPC, banquet/pastry chef, Bambara Restaurant, Salt Lake City; ACF Beehive Chefs Chapter Inc.

ACF Central Region Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary®

• Shayne McCrady, sauté cook/line cook, The Gatesworth at One McKnight Place, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc

ACF Western Region Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary®

• Michelle Stephenson, student, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah; ACF Beehive Chefs Chapter Inc.

ACF Central Region Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by Vitamix

• Students representing ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association that attend Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas

ACF Western Region Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by Vitamix

• Students representing ACF Bay Area Chefs Association of Oregon that attend Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Coos Bay, Oregon

ChefConnect: Hawai’i award recipients in ACF’s Central and Western regions listed below were recognized for their outstanding contributions to ACF, goodwill in their communities, and/or culinary excellence.

ACF Central Region Chapter of the Year

• ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association; Bolingbrook, Illinois

ACF Western Region Chapter of the Year

• ACF Pro Chefs Oregon; McMinnville, Oregon

ACF Central Region Chapter Achievement Awards

• ACF Chefs of Northwest Indiana; Schererville, Indiana
• ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association; Bolingbrook, Illinois
• Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc; St. Louis

ACF Western Region Chapter Achievement Awards

• ACF Pro Chefs Oregon; McMinnville, Oregon

ACF World of Thanks

• ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs Association; Kailua Kona, Hawai’i

ACF Central Region Cutting Edge Awards, sponsored by Friedr. Dick Corp.

• Michael Vlasich, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis; ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter
• Jack Mix, owner/chef, Comfort’s Catering, St. John, Indiana; ACF Chefs of Northwest Indiana

ACF Central Region Achievement of Excellence Awards

• Alpine Inn; Hill City, South Dakota
• Redstone American Grill; Minnetonka, Minnesota