Press Release

Chefs Hold Annual ACF Northeast Regional Conference in Pittsburgh

More than 500 Chefs and Cooks are Expected at ACF’s Conference

St. Augustine, Fla., February 26, 2007—The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., the largest association of professional culinarians in North America, will hold its annual 2007 ACF Northeast Regional Conference at the Westin Convention Center, March 2–4, in the city of Pittsburgh, home of the Golden Triangle.

Chosen for its historical, recreational and social attractions, Pittsburgh is the location of the ACF Northeast Regional Conference, hosted by the ACF Pittsburgh Chapter, bringing an estimated 500 chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals to the city. The conference provides attendees with numerous opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through informative business seminars, forums, clinics, cutting-edge demonstrations and hands-on workshops. In addition, the conference offers participants the opportunity to learn about the latest cooking trends and techniques. The conference also features a trade show where foodservice exhibitors showcase their latest culinary products.

The ACF Professional Development Program, comprised of the Educator Development Series and the Career Development Series, is an educational opportunity available to attending chefs, cooks and industry representatives. The Educator Development Series for educators explores assessing student learning in culinary programs, as well as articulate clear goals for student learning and align curriculum with key goals. The Career Development Series focuses on the areas of culinary nutrition, food safety and sanitation, culinary supervisory and business management and lifestyle enrichment. This series of seminars, lectures and workshops includes refresher courses needed to maintain ACF certification points to improve chefs and cooks overall knowledge and skill base, and personal and professional growth.

Conference attendees also have the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Individuals can participate in interactive classes taught by top chefs on subjects ranging from sausage making and ice carving to pastry and dessert solutions.

Other seminars in the lineup include:

• Cheese Pairings: The Perfect Marriage of Smell, Flavor and Feel
• The Beer Gourmet, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
• Removing Trans Fats from Today’s Menu Without Sacrificing Quality or Flavor, sponsored by Nestlé FoodServices
• Fresh Ideas in Seafood, sponsored by Anova Food, Inc.
• Scratching the Surface of Molecular Gastronomy: An Introduction to Three Techniques
• Kosher 101 - The Chef’s Perspective
• Wine and Food Pairings
• Exploring the Flavors of Mexico, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions
• Exploring the Sandwich - How Global Flavors and Ethnic Cuisines Have Influenced America’s Most Popular Menu Item
• Experience the Sensuality of Food and Spark Passion in Customers

Registration is available onsite. Visit www.acfchefs.org to learn more about the ACF Northeast Regional Conference.

Sponsors of the 2007 ACF Northeast Regional Conference include: American Lamb Board; Anova Food, Inc.; The Art Institute of Pittsburgh; Butterball Farms, Inc.; Canada Cutlery Inc.; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Inc.; Contessa Premium Foods, Inc.; GFF, Inc./Girard’s Dressings; Le Cordon Bleu of North America; Levy Restaurants; MasterFoodServices; RC Fine Foods; SYSCO Foodservices of Pittsburgh, LLC; Rich Products Corporation; US Foodservice; and The Vollrath Co., LLC. National partners include: Custom Culinary, Inc.; Nestlé FoodServices; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; Splenda®; Tyson Foods, Inc.; and Unilever Foodsolutions. Demo/seminar sponsors include: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; Mind’s Eye Resource Management, LLC; Nestlé FoodServices; and Thomson Delmar Learning. Chef Designs is the ACF event merchandise preferred provider.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in America. With more than 19,000 members spanning 240 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the only comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and also holds the presidium for the World Association of Chefs Societies, the largest international network of chef associations with more than 8 million members globally. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

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Media is invited to attend. Call Patricia Carroll at (800) 624-9458, ext. 147 to register for complimentary day passes.

Contact: Patricia A. Carroll
Communications Director
(904) 824-4468, ext. 147
pcarroll@acfchefs.net

• Chefs Hold Annual ACF Northeast Regional Conference in Pittsburgh