ACF Member News & Opportunities
2017 ACF Certified Master Chef Exam
The ACF Certified Master Chef exam is being administered at Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan. During this progressive eight-day exam, candidates will verify their skills, professionalism and mastery of cooking.

Members can follow the candidates' journey on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and view additional photos on ACF's Flickr page.
Update on Hurricane Maria Disaster Relief Efforts
Our thoughts and prayers are with each person affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.  Funds from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Disaster Relief Fund are available to assist ACF members, schools with ACFEF programmatic accreditation and their students affected by catastrophic events and natural disasters. This form is also in the Members Portal.
Please consider donating to the  charity of your choice   or making a donation to the  ACFEF Disaster Relief Fund   to help affected members. Call the ACF national office to make a credit card donation at (904) 484-0220. You may also want to consider fundraising initiatives to support fellow culinarians in need.
CEC®/CEPC® Update
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, the CEC® and CEPC® certification levels will require a 30-hour course in Cost Control Management. No refresher course will be required. For more information, please contact certify@acfchefs.net or call the Certification Hotline at (888) 817-5344.  
Childhood Nutrition Day Grants Available in October
You can make a life-changing difference in a child's life by hosting a culinary demo or offering healthy treats at a local school or community event.

The ACFEF Chef & Child initiative has grants available at $150 each , provided on a first-come, first-served basis to help implement childhood nutrition programs in your community. Members can also earn continuing education hours by volunteering.

Visit www.acfchefs.org/CND for more information and program toolkits to get your chapter started. Tag @ACFChefs on Facebook or @acf_chefs on Instagram with the hashtag #ChildhoodNutritionDay to share what you're doing in your community!
Online Registration is Open for 2018 ACF Events
ACF events provide professional development opportunities to help build core skills and earn continuing education hours toward ACF certifications while networking with industry leaders, influencers and mentors.

Gather your colleagues and classmates to plan a trip to a regional event in Charlotte, North Carolina, or Newport Beach, California, or attend the national convention in "The Big Easy," New Orleans, next summer.

Discounted hotel blocks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pay attention to early registration deadlines to save money. Nonmembers receive a one-year membership with the purchase of registration.
2018 What's Hot Survey
Keep an eye on your inbox for the ACF and National Restaurant Association (NRA) survey this week. ACF and NRA want to know what ACF chefs think about upcoming food trends and techniques for 2018. Please participate and share your opinions.
Social Media Contest!
ACF wants to see how you use winter squash in your kitchen. To enter the October Ingredient of the Month social media contest, post a picture of a dish using winter squash on Facebook or Instagram along with the hashtags #ACFChefs and #IOTM and you'll be entered into a drawing to win cool prizes. Contest ends Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Click below to learn more and obtain recipes, then complete the quiz to earn one hour of continuing education credit toward ACF certification. 
September Ingredient of the Month Contest Winner
Congratulations to Alex Vasquez Jr., the winner of the September Ingredient of the Month contest! Alex showed us how he uses onions in his kitchen. Pictured here is Pollo fra diavolo: boneless chicken with sausage and vegetables in a spicy red sauce.
Earn CEHs as an ACFEF Apprenticeship Supervising Chef
As an ACFEF apprentice supervising chef, you can earn 12 continuing education hours (CEHs) per calendar year for the entire year you have supervised apprentices. Contact your program director for more information. Click below for the full list of ACF-approved CEHs.
Upcoming Deadlines
Chef Educators and Industry Chefs Needed
Serve on ACFEF Accrediting Commission and Apprenticeship Committee
All submissions will be reviewed and vetted by the ACFEFAC executive committee. Final candidates will be submitted for election by fellow educators of ACFEF-accredited programs, and newly elected commissioners will begin their term at the January 2018 meeting. Deadline to submit is Oct. 16 .
Register and compete in a "Jeopardy"-style competition with questions that cover nutrition, baking, culinary math, safety and sanitation, and the arts of classical and modern cooking. To compete for the national title, teams must enter and win in their respective regional competitions. Deadline to register is Nov. 30 .
ACF Chefs in the News
ACF chefs are in the news and make a positive impact in their communities. Share your chapter's news with ACF by sending clips to pr@acfchefs.net .

Chlebana, was named American Culinary Federation's National Pastry Chef of the Year in 2008. Chlebana is one of eight elite bakers to compete for $25,000 in  Food Network's "Best Baker in America" contest , which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday on the cable channel.

Program Directors have recently purchased two machines that make their own ice blocks to carve, and they are the only culinary school that offers this.

John V. Johnson, CEC, CCE, AAC, Wins Chesapeake Chef's Challenge Culinary Competition
Chef Johnson won the competition at the M id-Atlantic Food, Beverage & Lodging Expo hosted by the ACF Greater Baltimore Chapter. His dish, pictured below, included roasted duck breast wrapped in sausage with Minor's garlic baste; rhubarb sauce; white bean ragu broccolini with crispy lemon bread crumbs; and smoked carrot purée glazed carrots.
Trends, Techniques and Tastes
How to Watch for Temperature Abuse
Temperature abuse is a major factor contributing to foodborne illness. Learn how to instill food safety policies throughout your entire company.

It's All About Work Ethic
Work ethic is somewhat difficult to define, but when a person has it, everyone knows how it looks.

The Importance of Food Safety Training
Many times, food safety lapses occur when new employees are not properly trained or during a change in company policy. Training also gets neglected when finances are tight or things get busy.

Call for 2018 Contributors
Sizzle magazine is looking for culinary educators to partner with students for Classical vs. Modern. Continuing Education Hours are offered for contributors. Click below.
Members Advantage Program
Share Your Expertise
Are you an expert in your industry? Media and journalists contact the ACF national office seeking the expertise of ACF chefs. All ACF chefs in good standing who have five years or more experience in an area of expertise and hold a position of sous chef or higher are invited to apply for the Chefpertise Guide.
List your Restaurant or Find a Restaurant with an ACF Chef
Professional members can list the restaurant they work in or that they own in the ACF Dining Guide. It's a great way to meet fellow ACF members and support their businesses!
A fun and engaging learning tool! Replicate the Knowledge Bowl competition in your school or practice for an upcoming competition with the new Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl 2017 Practice Edition, which features 12 pre-loaded game boards and 12 customizable game boards. Get yours in the ACF store today.
American Culinary Federation, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095
(904) 824-4468 | Fax: (904) 940-0741