In this issue
| JULY |
| ACF National Convention |
| July 17th - 19th |
| New Orleans, LA |
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| SEPTEMBER |
| ACF Volunteer Day |
| Friday September 8th |
| C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Mobile Food Pantry |
| 8am - 2pm |
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| OCTOBER |
| 3rd Annual Feeding 1st Responders |
| October 26th & 27th |
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| NOVEMBER |
| ACF Atlanta Chefs Golf Classic |
| Tuesday November 14th |
| **Meeting dates and events subject to change |
START YOUR CULINARY CAREER TODAY!
Did you know you can post your companies back of house and culinary related positions here for FREE! All you need to do is be an ACF Member or Affiliated Partner! Click Submit a job to get started!
For more Jobs Listed on the ACF National Website: Click here
California Giant Berry Farms Announces 5th Annual Chef Invitational Winner Chef Steven Halliday
Chef Steven Halliday, Gordon Food Service — Red Thai Berry Chicken Curry with Blueberry Lemon Rice!
The People’s Choice and 4 additional chef finalists attended an in-person 4-day finale event on California’s Central Coast, from June 25 – 28th. The event included field tours of California Giant berry fields, meet-and-greets with growers, an educational component led by Chef Rosalyn Darling, and a grand finale at which the Top Chef was named.
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Chef Steven Halliday - Gordon Food Service |
Congratulations Chef Halliday - Steven has a more practical experience, having competed in American Culinary Federation competitions when he was younger and being the ambassador of the Greenbrier Apprenticeship program, where he trained chefs around the resort. To learn more about Chef Halliday Click Here!
ACF Atlanta Chefs July Newsletter 
President's Message
Hello to all Members & Partners,
What a great month for culinary in Atlanta as ACF Atlanta Chefs Association Inc., with assistance from 68 ACF Chefs from all over America came together to host Skills USA National Championship at World Congress Center. 162 Culinary Student competed in both Baking/Pastry, Culinary & Restaurant Services Competitions. Opening reception was held at State Farm Arena and was completely filled with excited and hopeful student competitors. After a few days of spirited culinary competition awards were given out at State Farm Arena.
Thank you to CGA Reps, Supplies on the Fly, Horizon Food Brokers, Manning Brothers, and White & Hodges for suppling the students with “Welcome Swag Bags.”
Thank you to of ACF Atlanta Partners “Gordons, US Foods, Royal Cup Coffee for Supporting Skills USA National Championship.
This Month we are heading to New Orleans for our ACF National Convention and will be busy with a multitude of Demos, Tasting, Classes and Guest Chef Speaking opportunities. I will also be present at the Board of Governors meeting voting on Bylaw proposed changes and ACF budget. I as your Chapter President will be putting 2 bylaws changes forward to change Student and Culinarians votes from partial votes to full votes value. The students and Culinarians are the future of our Industry and must be supported and given an opportunity to voice their opinions.
Wish us luck at the ACF National Convention where we will learn if we win ACF National Chapter of the Year. Thank you to all of our members and Partners that continue to support use each and every year.
Keep informed by following us on all social media accounts. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. I look forward to see each and every one of you at the next ACF Atlanta Chefs Association event. Thank You
We are not a team because we work together.
We are a team because we respect, trust and care for each other.
All the Best,
Chef Nick Barrington CEC ACE
Certified Executive Chef l East Lake Golf Club
President ACF Atlanta Chefs Association, Inc.
ACF Atlanta Chef Happenings
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Culinary |
Baking & Pastry |
Restaurant Services |
The annual SkillsUSA National and Leadership Skills Conference was hosted in Atlanta on June 19-23, 2023. Georgia continued to excel nationally! Georgia is the #5 state in the country for medals with a grand total of 68 medals!
ACF Atlanta Chefs Association, Inc. is proud to be a part of SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel. It provides educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education in the nation’s classrooms.
ACF Atlanta Chefs would like to thank our Partners for their support over the past year. It has been an honor to work with you, and we are truly grateful for all they do for our next generation of culinary professionals. Thank you! Gordon Food Service, US Foods and Royal Cup coffee!!! For our Student Welcome Swag Bags – Thank you to CGA Reps, Horizon Food Brokers, White and Hodge Company, North Georgia Technical College, Manning Brothers & Supplies on the Fly. And a huge Thank you to all the judges who volunteered their time to mentor and uplift the students.
This year, Culinary contestants instead of a predetermined menu, there will be a “mystery” basket for every contestant. All baskets will be the same as well as a stocked pantry for all to use from. The contest will focus on cooking methods and processes, not just practicing the same old recipes. The contestants will need to demonstrate food knowledge as well as sound knife skills and proper food service sanitation.
Baking & Pastry had to create seven different baking items within the allotted amount of time. Contestants demonstrate their knowledge and skills through scaling, mixing, preparing and baking seven products. The products include breads, rolls, cookies, and assorted pastries. The student must also demonstrate their cake decorating skills. The contestant must work efficiently to produce quality products in a job-like setting.
Restaurant Services Contestants will be tested on skills required in the "front of the house" of a fine restaurant. The focus is sanitation, table set up, napkin folding, understanding the steps of service, and overall presentation. Students should wear the SkillsUSA Uniform with proper grooming & hygiene, following ServSafe standards. These are evaluation areas.
Our National Winners...
Culinary Arts
High School – Gold Finley Jewell from Overland Park, KS / Silver - Elizabeth Brown from Columbia, MO / Bronze - Kamryn Chasnis from Saginaw, MI
College – Gold Dahyun Nam from Hyde Park, NY / Silver - Steven Stempnik from Port Huron, MI / Bronze - Frida Hutchinson from Dallas, TX
Baking and Pastry Arts
High School – Gold Theodora Grafakos from Columbia, MO / Silver - Elizabeth Longtin from Portsmouth, NH / Bronze - Aylinne Morales El Paso, TX
College – Gold Samantha Gaydowski from Los Angeles, CA / Silver - Devika Manchanda from Hyde Park, NY / Bronze - Ellie Black from Salt Lake City, UT
Restaurant Services
High School – Gold Caleb Gonzales from Grand Prairie, TX / Silver - William Hatfield from Oswego, IL / Bronze - Isabella Mazza from Saint Johnsbury, VT
College – Gold William Barial from Birmingham, AL / Silver - Madison Gore Jamestown, NC / Bronze - Pradhyuman Jha from Los Angeles, CA
To access the videos on all the fun, Click here:
It was an amazing end to our SkillsUSA year. We will see you in 2024, mark your calendars for February 22-24 for our state conference.
Welcome New Members
The American Culinary Federation-Atlanta Chefs Association, Inc (ACF-ACA) is a chef driven organization to promote professionalism in the kitchens of Atlanta, the surrounding metro area and to the borders of the state of Georgia. ACF-ACA invests in the careers of its members by effectively equipping them with the tools needed to succeed in the industry. Brings together hard-working chefs, cooks, chef educators, pastry chefs, bakers, caterers, culinary enthusiasts, industry purveyors, culinary students and other culinarians through networking, education, certification, camaraderie and community service are just a few initiatives of ACF-ACA.
“We gain strength as we strengthen those around us!” Working together for the betterment of the culinary industry is the catalyst that unleashes the potential in our members. Providing them the tools of education, certification and networking opportunities elevates our organization above the rest.
To join ACF Atlanta Chefs and your ACF Membership is both a national and local experience. Local ACF Chapter meetings are the perfect way to network, develop professionally and maybe even find your next job.
To join ACF Atlanta Chefs: Click Here
Partners Spotlight
ATHENA FARMS IS YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SOURCE FOR PREMIUM PRODUCE AND SO MUCH MORE
Athena Farms is proud to be an active contributor of the Atlanta community. We are constantly looking for new opportunities to support the businesses, institutions, and nonprofits that are so crucial to the community’s success.
Athena Farms is more than just produce. We carry a full lineup of over 5,000 foodservice items to stock your restaurant from the front of the house to the back.
Athena Farms offers the flexibility to source any foodservice product your business needs to thrive. Atlanta’s one stop shop for foodservice solutions is only a phone call away!
This includes:
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Dairy and Eggs Proteins |
Fresh Seafood Essential Nonfoods |
Learn More About Our Mobile Ordering App
Adding in contact information
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Download this months’ flyer Click Here |
See their product catalog Click Here |
Phone: 404-362-9390
FAX: 404-608-0231
[email protected]
ACF NATIONAL NEWS
We Can't Wait to See You in New Orleans!Please Read the Information Below to Help Prepare You for Your Time at the ACF National Convention.
View Convention Agenda and SpeakersFollow the link below to view all of the great sessions and speakers ACF has lined up for the 2023 National Convention.
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Young Chefs Club Book DriveHave any cookbooks around you no longer use? Bring them to the convention! The Young Chefs Club will be collecting new, used, or old cookbooks or other culinary focused books to donate to the culinary programs at the Louisiana Department of Corrections. |
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Download the ACF App!Scan the QR Code or click the button to download the ACF app and stay up to date! · View Upcoming ACF Events · View Event Agendas, Sessions, and Speakers · Connect With Fellow ACF Event Attendees · Keep Up With the Latest ACF News |
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More NewsBe A Part of ACF’s Certification Concierge Program Motivate your team and grow your business by offering ACF certification to your employees. Employing ACF-certified chefs:
ACF's Certification Concierge program is a customizable program designed to meet your company's goals and vision while maintaining certification standards. For more information, send an email to [email protected]. |
Wellness Resources
Local Resources for Food Service Workers
Giving Kitchen provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.
Click on the Image to learn more!
ACF’s Wellness Partners
Have a look at this new list of Wellness Resources produced by ACF’s Work Life Balance Task Force. The goal is to help members address critical mental wellness concepts and improve the culture in their own kitchens and workplaces.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. For help, dial 988.
CHOW’s mission is to support wellness within the hospitality industry and to improve the lives of our community through shared stories, skills, and resources. Virtual and in-person meetings available.
