Press Release

Chefs Call for Nominations for Achievement Awards

St. Augustine, Fla., February 9, 2004—The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., is accepting nominations for its 2004 Achievement of Culinary Excellence Awards. Deadline for nomination is April 30.

Launched in 2002 by ACF’s president, Edward G. Leonard, CMC, AAC, the third-annual awards recognize establishments that exemplify commitment to excellence in foodservice in their respective markets. Nominations may be made by anyone who works in the foodservice industry.

Eligible segment categories include fine-dining independents, casual-dining independents, pastry shops and bakeries, full-service restaurants as part of culinary-training programs, chain operators and restaurant-concept companies, clubs, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, and noncommercial dining facilities. Candidates must be in operation at least five consecutive years to qualify for an award. Association with ACF and its programs is not required.

Last year’s ACF Achievement of Culinary Excellence Awards were presented on July 26 at ACF’s 2003 National Convention in Washington, D.C. Recipients included Aureole, New York; the Colavita Center of Italian Food and Wine at The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y.; Darden, Inc./Red Lobster, Orlando, Fla.; The Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh; The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; La Belle Auberge, Vancouver, B.C.; and Paul’s Porterhouse Steaks and Seafood, Dallas.

Each nomination for a 2004 award must be accompanied by the completed nomination form; biographies of the chef and manager, general manager, or owner; copies of current menus; copies of awards or recognitions received by the operation or its employees; and the mission statement of the establishment.

Awards in 2004 will be chosen by a selection committee comprising Leonard, the four regional vice presidents of ACF, the chair of the American Academy of Chefs (ACF’s honor society), two past award recipients, and one member of the food media. Award recipients will be revealed at ACF’s 2004 National Convention in Orlando, Fla., in mid-July. Recipients will be alerted of their award status in advance.

For more information or a nomination form, visit www.acfchefs.org/events/awards/excellence.html or contact Tracy Smith at (800) 624-9458, ext. 114, or tsmith@acfchefs.net.

The American Culinary Federation, the largest chefs’ organization in the United States, sets and upholds the highest standards of cooking, thereby making a positive difference for culinarians internationally through education and creating a fraternal bond of respect and integrity.

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Note to editors: A high-resolution digital image of an ACF Awards of Culinary Excellence recipient from last year is available.

Contact: Lisa Alessandro, APR
(904) 824-4468, ext. 103
lalessandro@acfchefs.net