American Culinary Federation Press Release For Immediate Release: March 24, 2016

Media Contacts: Sarah Roy: (904) 484-0226, [email protected] Jennifer Manley: (904) 484-0247, [email protected]

Dominick Laudia, CEC, AAC, Receives Chef Professionalism Award from American Culinary Federation March 24, 2016, St. Augustine, Florida—Dominick Laudia, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club, Boca Raton, Florida, received the Southeast region’s Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) during ChefConnect: Atlanta, March 13-15, at Hyatt Regency Atlanta. The ACF Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, established in 1990 and named for Dr. Lewis J. Minor, food scientist and founder of Minor’s®, is presented to a chef who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism through certification, continuing education and training, culinary competitions and community involvement. As the ACF Southeast region recipient, Laudia is a candidate to receive the national award at Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19. “I had no formal culinary training, so I received all of my culinary training through ACF,” said Laudia. “It’s an honor to be recognized by my peers. Many people have contributed to my success, including my ACF chapter, students and the chef friends I have made. I’m grateful to ACF, so now, it’s time for me to give back to my students and community.” Laudia’s experience includes executive chef at various clubs, including Boca Woods Country Club, Boca Raton; Boca Rio Golf Club, Boca Raton; and Fresh Meadow Country Club, Lake Success, New York. He was also executive chef/owner, Culinary Café, Delray Beach, Florida. In 2003, Laudia was awarded an ACF President’s Medallion. An avid competitor, he has received various medals in ACF-sanctioned competitions and has coached and mentored many junior competition teams. Additionally, Laudia serves as a member of the Community Academy Advisory Board at the Culinary Academy of West Boca Raton Community High School, Boca Raton. He is currently serving his third term as chapter president of ACF Palm Beach County Chefs Association; was named chapter Chef of the Year in 2001 and 2012; and received the chapter Chef Professionalism of the Year Award in 2014. “Chef Laudia and Chef Recher are special,” said Matt Schimpf, division vice president, Chef2Chef Sales, Minor’s®, also referring to the Northeast region’s Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award recipient, Timothy Recher, CEC, executive chef/assistant general manager, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Virginia. “Each of them brings unique skill and passion to their craft and the businesses they lead. They are not alike. However, their contributions to their communities tie them together. Despite the demands of being professional chefs responsible to their staff, their companies, their guests and their own families, they both find and make the time to serve others. They are true artists; they create great flavor; they apply cutting-edge technology; and they share it all.” -more-

More than 450 chefs, students and foodservice professionals attended ChefConnect: Atlanta. The conference was part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides educational and networking opportunities for culinary industry professionals and students. Learn more about the conference at www.acfchefs.org/EventSeries, on Twitter @ACFChefs, #ChefConnect or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ACFChefs. Sponsors of ChefConnect: Atlanta were: Minor’s®; Custom Culinary®; Unilever Food Solutions; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc; Plugrá® European-Style Butter; Vitamix; Ecolab; Allen Brothers; Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board; Atlantic Veal & Lamb; American Technical Publishers; Par-Way Tryson Company; The Beef Checkoff; Irinox USA; Jones Dairy Farm; Sysco Atlanta; National Turkey Federation; US Foods; Alouette Cheese USA; Performance Foodservice; S&D Coffee & Tea; Friedr. Dick Corp. and Valrhona. About the American Culinary Federation The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), established in 1929, is the standard of excellence for chefs in North America. With more than 17,500 members spanning nearly 200 chapters nationwide, ACF is the leading culinary association offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef®, Certified Sous Chef®, Certified Executive Pastry Chef® and Certified Culinary Educator® designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs. ###