AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 9, 2016
Media Contacts: Sarah Roy: (904) 484-0226,
[email protected] Jennifer Manley: (904) 484-0247,
[email protected]
Ted Polfelt, CEC, CCA, Named 2016 ACF Southeast Region Chef of the Year St. Augustine, Fla., February 09, 2016— Ted Polfelt, CEC, CCA, executive chef, Jefferson Street Management Group, Roanoke, Virginia, was named 2016 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Southeast Region Chef of the Year on January 30. He received the title following a competition at the ACF Southeast Regional Culinary Salon held at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, Tucker, Georgia. At the regional competition, Polfelt prepared stuffed pheasant breast over farro with kale, glazed butternut squash, Bold Rock Hard Cider-braised pheasant, pickled red onions and an olive oil crisp in 1 hour, 40 minutes for a panel of judges. Polfelt will now prepare to compete for the national title against his regional counterparts during Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19. The national winner receives $5,000 and the title of 2016 U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year. The ACF Chef of the Year award, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions and established in 1963, recognizes an outstanding culinarian who works and cooks in a full-service dining facility. This person demonstrates the highest standard of culinary skills, advances the cuisine of America, and gives back to the profession through the development of students and apprentices. "Even being asked to compete at the regional competition is an honor,” said Polfelt. “I am very excited to move on to the national competition. It has been a humbling experience. I plan to continue to reach out to as many local chef mentors as I can so that when I compete nationally, I can represent the Southeast region to the best of my abilities." As executive chef at Jefferson Street Management Group, Polfelt, of Roanoke, oversees menu development and production at Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse, 419 West and Corned Beef and Co. Polfelt is also a culinary instructor at Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke. His experience includes sous chef, Blue Magnolias, Roanoke; and cook, Compass Group North America, Charlotte, North Carolina. He has an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte, and has received gold medals in ACF-sanctioned competitions. Polfelt was awarded an ACF Southeast Region President’s Medallion in 2015 and was the Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl team coach for ACF Southwestern Virginia Chapter. He has served as ACF Southwestern Virginia Chapter president since 2013 and was named the chapter’s Chef of the Year in 2013 and 2015.
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ACF Regional Culinary Salon Competitions are a part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides educational and networking opportunities through ChefConnect events and competitions for culinary industry professionals and students. ACF believes that culinary competitions play a vital role in the development of the culinary craft by testing chefs’ and students’ knowledge and skills in a competitive format. To learn more about ACF competitions, eligibility and rules, visit www.acfchefs.org/competitions. 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. ###