Sweet Heat in the Southeast!
A Message From your Southeast Region Vice President
It’s amazing that after more than 30 years of living in the South, the conversation is always about the heat! How hot it is in the kitchen, the car or the heat outside are all part of daily conversations from May thru September. Along the coast, we also have the added joy of humidity--so thick like grits with too much water cooked out.

Welcome to the first edition of the “Sweet Heat in the Southeast” newsletter. Thank you for your vote of confidence in my abilities to lead the Southeast Region to bigger and better days of sharing, learning, growing and finding more ways to enjoy our diversity on the plate and in our kitchens.

The ACF National Board of Directors had its first meeting in August. As a former ACF apprentice and member for a few decades, I have to say that the staff at the office was amazing! Getting us up to speed with reports on membership, events, marketing, certification, finances and so much more showed the staff’s commitment and dedication to helping the membership be the best it can be.

This Board is committed to growing membership through new initiatives. Something as simple as bringing a co-worker or colleague to your chapter meeting can help move the numbers up. If you’re an educator, how about a field trip to your local meeting? Lessons on networking, future opportunities through ACF, meeting local vendors and other like-minded cooks and chefs is a win-win for all.

Staying informed, connected and engaged is the reason why I will host a monthly call for those who want to hear the latest information or get answers to questions about our benefits and programs. Starting on Sept. 27, and on the last Wednesday of every month, you can dial in and engage in selected discussion topic(s) including: the latest on ChefConnect: Charlotte in February, competition updates, certification, seasonal menu ideas, best practices to run your monthly meetings to keep members coming back and attract new members, and more. Please join me for the 30-minute calls.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 27
Time: 8:30 p.m. EST

Call-in number:605-475-4120 
Access code: 8427426

Life is precious and spectacular, so keep it full in totality!

Kimberly Brock Brown, CEPC, CCA, AAC
Southeast Region Vice President
Southeast Region Award Winners
USA's Chef of the Year
Drew Garms
Drew Garms, executive chef, The Everglades Club, Palm Beach, Florida, competed against three other chefs to earn the title of 2017 USA's Chef of the Year. He is a member of ACF Palm Beach County Chefs Association.
Chef Garms' presented four courses, one of which was a corn and Benton's ham stuffed quail with crispy thigh confit, summer succotash and black-eyed pea puree.
Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award
Ralph C. Feraco, CEC, AAC
The Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Minor’s ® , honors culinarians who help elevate the status of chefs and cooks in the U.S. Chef Feraco is executive chef at Naples Sailing & Yacht Club, Naples, Florida, and is a member of ACF Caxambas Naples & Marco Island chapter.
ACF Chef Educator of the Year Award
Costa Magoulas, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC
This award pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise have enhanced the image of the professional chef and has given leadership, guidance and direction to students seeking a career in the culinary profession. Chef Magoulas is dean at Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College. He is a member of ACF Central Florida Chapter.
Congratulations to all the Southeast Region winners and regional competitors. Photos from the convention are posted on ACF's Flickr page and available for you to download. Interested in competing or nominating a chef? Click on the 2018 award applications below for more information and deadlines.
Hurricane Disaster Relief Efforts
The well-being of our members is very important to us and we want to lift the financial burden of those without food, shelter, power or employment. ACF members may be eligible for support from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Disaster Relief Fund.
 
If you know a member who is in need of immediate financial assistance, please fill out the ACFEF Disaster Relief Fund Assistance Request form also located on the ACF Members Portal at www.acfchefs.org . For additional information, please call (904)484-0220.

Disaster relief donations can be sent to ACFEF Disaster Relief Fund, c/o American Culinary Federation, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095 or Texas Chefs Association, 1415 S. Voss, Ste. 110 #397, Houston, TX 77057.
ACF Young Chefs Club: Join Today!
The ACF Young Chefs Club (ACFYCC) is going strong! Keeping our future chefs welcomed and engaged is vital to our growth and our culinary community. Seeing the Board in action during Cook. Craft. Create. was inspirational as they met attendees, especially 18- to 25-year-old members. Feeling a sense of inclusion is so important to young cooks new to ACF. I can remember feeling intimidated and not welcomed as a student by the chefs in my area, so please reach out and support these young culinarians in your chapter.

A nswer the form below to get involved and share your interests. Have a question or suggestion for an activity? Email [email protected].
Like many youth, the ACFYCC are socially engaged with blogging, Instagram and Facebook, and, of course, with Sizzle magazine.
Follow along for updates:
Facebook: @acfycc
Instagram: @acfycc
Snapchat: ACFYCC
ACFEF-Accredited Apprenticeship Updates
Are you currently involved in an apprenticeship program or were you involved with one in the past? Share your experience with ACF! National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 13-19, is a nationwide event in which apprenticeships are recognized as a valuable career pathway. ACF will celebrate this as part of a month-long event and publish members’ apprenticeship stories.
Important Dates and Announcements
ACFEF, through the Chef & Child initiative, will award a total of 30 grants at $150 each to support ACF chapters and chefs hosting nutrition outreach activities in celebration of Childhood Nutrition Day on, or around, Oct. 16 . Apply today at www.acfchefs.org/CND .
Speaker proposals are being accepted for the 2018 ACF event series. All proposed sessions must demonstrate innovative trends, information or techniques of interest to the culinary profession. Submit your proposed session title, description, learning objectives, preferred conference and a brief bio by Sept. 30 for consideration.
2017 Music City Challenge -- Fall Culinary Competition
Competitors are encouraged to enter the ACF-sanctioned 2017 Music City Challenge -- Fall Culinary Competition at The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville. Competitions include Pastry, Cold Food, Sculpting, Hot Foods, Mystery Basket and more. Prizes include ACF medals and cash prizes! Space is limited and the deadline to enter is Sept. 20. Click below for details.
ChefConnect: Charlotte, the Northeast/Southeast regional conference, will take place Feb. 25-27 at The Westin Charlotte, in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACF is offering a payment plan option until Oct. 1. Call the ACF national office at (904) 824-4468 and ask to speak with an events team member to take advantage of this offer.
Be a Contributor
Sizzle magazine, ACF's quarterly digital magazine for culinary students and educators, is seeking submissions for 2018. If you would like to contribute as a subject-matter expert or provide a step-by-step demonstration, please click below.
American Culinary Federation, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095
(904) 824-4468 | Fax: (904) 940-0741

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