In this issue
| SEPTEMBER |
| Monthly Meet-up |
| Monday September 25th |
| 3pm - 6pm |
| Athena Farms |
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| OCTOBER |
| ACF Practical Exam |
| Friday, October 6th |
| Art Institute of Atlanta |
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| Monthly Meet-up |
| Farm Tour |
| Date TBD |
| 3rd Annual Feeding 1st Responders |
| October 26th & 27th |
|
The Hansen Group & VFW
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| NOVEMBER |
| ACF Atlanta Chefs Golf Classic |
| Tuesday November 14th |
| The River Club |
| ACF ATL Chefs Elections Zoom |
| Monday November 20th |
| 6pm - 7:30pm |
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| January |
| ACF Atlanta President's Gala |
| Sunday January 21st |
| Ansley Golf Club |
| JUNE |
| SkillsUSA |
| June 24th - 28th |
| Georgia World Congress Center |
 |
|
JULY |
| Chef Educators Summit |
| July 13th |
| ACF National Convention |
| July 14th - 17th |
|
Phoenix, AZ
|
| **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
We regret to share the news that longtime ACF member, Chef Peter Vossenberg, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC, chef/instructor at Helms College in Augusta, Georgia and president of the ACF Augusta Chapter passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 28.
He packed several lifetimes of experiences into his one adventurous life, first developing a love for travel on childhood vacations to Eleuthera and Tortola. He joined the Navy where he learned the ropes of being a chef while expanding his travel resume, including wintering over in Antarctica.
Chef Peter furthered his formal education in the culinary arts with training at The Culinary Institute of America, Florida International University, and American InterContinental University, culminating in a master’s degree. After many years as a chef and manager at institutions including Walt Disney World Orlando, Hard Rock International, Edgar’s Grille, and the Pinnacle Club, the student became the teacher, most recently at Helms College, and shared with hundreds of students his love of food and drink and its ability to bring people together. He was remarkably skilled at bringing real world experience to his students while serving the veteran community, particularly at American Legion Post 192, and his church community at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.
His professional accomplishments were celebrated with induction into the American Academy of Chefs and with the recognition of his peers by election to leadership positions in the American Culinary Federation, achievements of which he was very proud. Chef Vossenberg also was proud of his son being part of the football team, and his daughter becoming a great volleyball player.
Chef Peter was vibrant, loyal, fun, patriotic, loved his children dearly, and will be greatly missed.
ACF Atlanta Chefs September Newsletter 
President's Message
Hello to all Members & Partners,
I write my President's message and remember of all we have accomplished and done this year while knowing we have much more coming in the remaining months of this year. We recently had a one of our Partners “Hansen Group” with Chef Danny Cerqueda ACF Atlanta Vice President hosted an incredibly engaging Plexor event showcasing a new and inventive piece of technology that will help our members and their employers be more productive in these times of challenge regarding labor. Hansen Group is the go-to partner if you’re looking for the next best piece of equipment to help you increase profit and control labor and operational expense.
While not to be outdone our other Partner Halpern’s hosted an incredible culinary event at Mercedes Benz stadium showcasing all of their amazing suppliers both locally in Georgia and nationally for all of our members in Atlanta and surrounding areas. They also had culinary demos by some of Atlanta best chefs and culinary specialists. I look forward to further events with them and their team and suppliers.
We recently had multiple culinary students come experience THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP hosted at East Lake Golf Club, they had the opportunity to work with some of Atlanta’s best chefs and Restaurant groups while having experiences making sushi and prepping numerous culinary dishes.
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.
All the Best,
Chef Nick Barrington CEC ACE
Certified Executive Chef l
President ACF Atlanta Chefs Association Inc
ACF Atlanta Chef Happenings
ACF Students at the Tour Championship
This month ACF Atlanta Chefs had several events around the city. Starting with The Championship were ACF Atlanta Technical schools got involved with their students. The Art Institute of Atlanta, North Georgia Technical College, and Atlanta Technical College sent student and recent graduates to assist in this week long event. Throughout the week we had students work behind the scenes with prep. They worked in guest areas welcoming and serving multiple guests of the 1904 Club. The pastry team worked side by side with the saveroy team to create the most tasty treats. And we could not forget about the sudhi team.
Chef Nick Barrington, CEC, ACE the President of ACF Atlanta Chefs Association, Inc. supports our students and their involvement with their growth and gaining experiences throughout the metro Atlanta area. We are very fortunate to have great schools in Atlanta with great Chef Educators who are setting the pace for their schools and their students.
Thank you to Chef Joe Costa, CEC, CCE, ACE; Chef Darcey Chambers, CEPC,CCE and Chef Monique from the Art Institute of Atlanta. Thank you to Chef Chris Bladowski, CEC, CCE, ACE, and Chef Alex Bladowski, CEC, CCE, ACE, for supporting, encourage students and teach them responsibility is to get them involved outside the classroom. Our Chef Educators make it a point for their students to participate in/and volunteer opportunities by giving each student a way to build networking skills and enhance work experiences. They often do this through their support for students involvement, and ownership of their work, which aid in motivation.
Please take a moment and watch the video!
Halpern's Food Show
The Halperns’ 2023 Atlanta Culinary Showcase brought together 100 of Halperns’ top “center of the plate” providers from around the world with Chefs and Restaurateurs from the Southeast. Score a touchdown with today’s and tomorrow’s dining consumers. They closely reviewed the stats and are prepared to help you offer a winning menu. The Halperns’ 2023 Atlanta Culinary Showcase was on Tuesday, August 22nd at Mercedes Benz Stadium definitely gave me a boost. This opportunity gave everyone the chance to level up your game with the best meat, seafood and specialty products available from Halperns’, the Name in Quality. So, thanks to all the hard-working, quality-focused staff and participants who made the event a success! To to learn more about Halperns' please contact Steve Ginsberg at the Halpern's or by clicking on this link to Halperns.com! Phone: 404-767-9229
Email: [email protected]
Email for Online Sales: [email protected]
The Hansen Groups' Plexor
ACF Atlanta Chefs Association, Inc., Thanks to The Hansen Group team, and the PLEXOR team for rockin' cooking, learning, and tasting sessions! The PLEXOR Roadshow was held at The Hansen Group on August 23rd &24th. The Hansen Group's Chef Danny Cerqueda and Turbochef's Chef Bradley Dickens drummed up some amazing meals, with your help and using the PLEXOR Oven! If you missed the sessions and want to learn more about the PLEXOR oven please contact Alex Hansen at the Hansen group or by clicking on this link to The Hansen Group! Phone: 770-67-1544 or
Email: [email protected]
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
Timothy Archer
Danny Brooks
Samantha Hixson
Mario Menina
Oscar Murillo
Shannon Wright
Thank you to all the ACF Atlanta Chefs Members who renewed their membership!
Partners Spotlight
Energy-saving Upgrades for Small Businesses Get up to 70% of the cost of LED lighting upgrades for your business covered. We strive to help our small business customers make smart decisions that impact their customers, employees and the bottom line for the better. Energy efficient upgrades can help you save money, so you can focus on what matters most. Take advantage of benefits beyond energy savings by installing LED lights in your business. As a small business, making every dollar count is top priority. That’s where our turnkey program, Small Commercial Direct Install™, can help. 1. Schedule a no-cost lighting assessment. Our program implementor, FCI Management, will contact you to confirm eligibility and schedule a no-obligation audit. 2. Review your custom report of energy-saving opportunities. We’ll share ways to save money and energy with LED lighting upgrades. 3. Make the upgrades that are right for your business. We contribute up to 70% of the project costs and manage the entire process from start to finish. 4. Start reducing your energy costs now and for years to come. You’ll be on your way to realizing all the benefits beyond energy savings.Big savings for small businesses
See if you qualify today!
If your business is planning to make energy-efficient upgrades, there’s no time like the present to see if you’re eligible for Commercial Energy Efficiency Program rebates.
Get in touch
To discuss your upcoming project with a Commercial Energy Efficiency Program Specialist and get any questions answered about the program, please call our implementer, ICF, at 1-855-762-6732 or email [email protected].
More Rebates:
 |
Commercial Dishwasher $250 per dishwasher Customers who install an ENERGY STAR®, excluding low-temperature, dishwasher today may be eligible for a $250 rebate per unit. For more information on the specifics of this rebate, click here. |
ACF NATIONAL NEWS
Take your career to the next level with an ACF specialized certificate.
Validate your knowledge in specific culinary topics and earn a digital badge. Specialized Certificates
- COVID-10 Safety Training for Foodservice
- Culinary Cannabis and Edibles
- Culinary Essentials
- Baking and Pastry Essentials
- Personal Chefs
COVID-19 Safety Training for Foodservice
The foodservice industry has been dramatically impacted by COVID-19 in many ways and there will be challenges ahead. As the restaurant industry begins its recovery from COVID-19, restaurant diners will have new expectations, many related to the safety and sanitation practices and standards of dining outlets. Learn More
Specialized Certificate of Culinary Cannabis and Edibles
The Specialization Certificate in Culinary Cannabis and Edibles demonstrates an applicant’s proficiency on the skills, knowledge and competencies for safely handling culinary cannabis and edibles. Learn More
Certificate of Culinary Essentials
The ACFEF Certificate of Culinary Essentials demonstrates a student’s proficiency in industry-standard competencies and aligns with ACF’s Certified Fundamental Cook certification. Learn More
Certificate of Baking and Pastry Essentials
The ACFEF Certificate of Baking and Pastry Essentials demonstrates a student’s proficiency in industry-standard competencies and aligns with ACF’s Certified Fundamental Cook certification. Learn More
Specialized Certificate for Personal Chefs
Earners of the Specialized Certificate for Personal Chefs have demonstrated they have reached a benchmark of knowledge required of personal chefs. Learn More
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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!
What Does Giving Kitchen Do?
Giving Kitchen helps food service workers! Download this flyer to educate your staff and coworkers so that any food service worker who needs help can find their way to Giving Kitchen.
Visit our What We Do page for even more information.
How We’re Prioritizing Mental Health
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Mind Matters: We focus on mental health year-round, but every May, we dedicate the entire month to destigmatizing mental health conversations in the food service industry. Check it out here.
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QPR Suicide Prevention Training: QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer - three steps anyone can learn to prevent suicide. Learn these skills through a 45-minute course from QPR Institute. This training is FREE for food service workers using Giving Kitchen’s special code: GKQPR.
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Substance Abuse Recovery Initiative: Food service workers who undergo inpatient treatment for substance abuse may be eligible to receive financial assistance from Giving Kitchen. Any food service worker in the country can contact Stability Network for referrals to recovery services. The first step for anyone asking for help from GK is to fill out the Ask For Help form.
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.
