About Us

ACF Chicago Chefs

In 1925, the Chicago Chefs of Cuisine was founded and became a member of the ACF in 1929.

The early years of our association served as an employment and chef's reference office! This also marked an important event in our history when, on October 12, 1927, world-renowned Culinary Master Chef Auguste Escoffier visited Chicago, and our chapter presented him with a Lifetime Honorary Membership.

Since the very beginning, the ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine has been a part of many changes and achievements that have sculpted the landscape of Chicago as a Culinary Mecca to the Midwest and America. Membership with the Chicago Chefs of Cuisine can open doors to your Culinary Future.

We dedicate our time and energy to bring our members seminars that are informative. Networking with your fellow chef members can increase your culinary knowledge and professional awareness. The Chefs and Culinary Professionals of Chicagoland offers this opportunity to bring Chefs and their families together by hosting outside social events, which includes Family Outings, Chefs Golf Outing, American Academy of Chefs Dinner, the La Rabida Thanksgiving Day Feast, and Chefs Christmas Dinner. With this growth, we have been able to accomplish more and have a larger impact upon our community. We welcome you with open arms. Please inquire today about how you can become a part of our growing membership.

Our Mission

ACF Chicago Chefs strives to make a positive impact on the lives of chefs and cooks representing every segment of the foodservice industry, as well as students who aspire to cook professionally. The association promotes camaraderie, learning, and sharing within the local culinary community.

ACF Chicago Chefs welcomes all foodservice professionals to its ranks so that every member may benefit from the knowledge and experience of his or her peers.

Our Core Values

The following list of core values reflects what is truly important to us as an organization. These are not values that change from time to time, situation to situation, or person to person, but rather they are the foundation of our chapter’s culture. Many people feel ACF Chicago Chefs is an exciting organization to be a part of. These core values are the primary reasons for their feeling, and they transcend our size and our growth rate. By maintaining these core values, regardless of how large ACF Chicago Chefs becomes, we can preserve what has always been special about our chapter. These core values are the sauce of our chapter.

Provide Cutting Edge Education opportunities along with Experienced and Professional mentoring

We partner with our suppliers and sponsors to educate, inspire, and communicate the outstanding quality and benefits of new products and knowledge.

Engage renowned professionals who are willing to share their knowledge and experience to ensure that the next generation of professionals has the tools to succeed.

Fun and Entertaining

Our commitment to camaraderie and enjoyment are the spirit of the Chapter.

We are members of both a chapter and a family. We believe that the best teams are those that not only work with each other but also interact with each other outside of the business environment.

Socially Responsible

We treat everyone with respect, fairness, and integrity at all times and expect the same in return.

We respect our environment and recycle, reuse, and reduce our waste wherever and whenever we can.

Respected in our Communities, Industry, and by our Colleagues

We recognize our responsibility to be active participants in our local communities. We will give a proportion (TBD) of our time and talent to support a wide variety of community and non-profit organizations.

Fiscal Responsibility

Integrity in All Business Dealings.

Honesty and Communication.

We are committed to honesty, timeliness, and clarity in communicating with our members, supporters, and sponsors.

We seek to create transparency from top to bottom with respect to activities, planning, and opportunities.

Our Members

With over 160 members, the ACF Chicago Chefs embraces a spirit of inclusion, welcoming those representing restaurants, hotels, private clubs, catering companies, casinos, contract foodservice, culinary and hospitality educators, dietitians, manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors to foodservice.

Many within the ACF Chicago Chefs are certified by ACF as executive chefs, pastry chefs, chefs de cuisine, culinary educators, and more. Several members of ACF Chicago Chefs hold dual membership in the honorary society of ACF, the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), induction into which is by invitation and qualification.

Our Impact

A partial list of awards and honors won by the chapter and its members over the last few years:

2012 ACF Chef & Child Foundation True Spirit Award - Mike Hiller

2012 Central Region Conference Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions - Kendall College coached by Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE, Gold Medal and Second Place at 2012 ACF Nationals

2012 National Champion, Central Region Champion, What's in your Wok, Riviana Rice Competition - Austin Yancey, CEC, Le Cordon Bleu

2011 Central Region – ACF Region of the Year

2011 Chef Educator of the Year - Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE

2011 NATIONAL Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions - Kendall College coached by Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE

2011 American Academy of Chefs Honorary Fellows - Christopher Koetke, CEC, CCE, HAAC

2011 ACF Achievement of Excellence Awards - Goodwill Great Lakes at the Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill.

2011 President’s Medallion – Brian F. Lorge, CCTP

2010 ACF Achievement of Excellence Awards - Pier 37 Bar & Grill, Chicago IL 

2010 NATIONAL Chef Professionalism Award - John Reed, CEC, CCA, ACE

2010 NATIONAL Knowledge Bowl Champions - Kendall College coached by Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE

2010 President's Medallion - Linda Rosner, CEC, CHE

2010 Inductee, American Academy of Chefs - Robert Walter, CEC, CCA, AAC

2010 AAC Sharing Culinary Traditions Award - Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, HOGT

2010 Central Region Chef Educator of the Year - Timothy Meyers, CCC, CCE

2010 Central Region Chef of the Year Runner-up/Gold Medalist - Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, ACE, HGT

2010 Central Region Cutting Edge Award - L. Fernando Mojica (Student)

2009 Central Region Chapter of the Year

2009 Central Region Pastry Chef of the Year - Ford Culbertson

2009 President's Medallion - Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, ACE, HGT

2008 President's Medallion - Jill Russell, CEC, CCE

2008 President's Medallion - David Kramer

2008 President's Medallion - Robert Walter, CEC, CCA, AAC

2008 Honorable Order of the Golden Toque - Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, HGT

2007 Central Region Chef of the Year - Matthew Southard, CEC

2007 Central Region Pastry Chef of the Year - Michelle Garcia

2007 Central Region Educator of the Year - Michael Artlip, CEC, CCE, CHE

Central Region Chapter Achievement Award - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

Honorary Members

August Escoffier ~ 1927
Janos Kiss - 1986
Charlie Trotter ~ 2006
Jimmy Bannos ~ 2007
Rick Bayless ~ 2008
Carrie Nahabedian ~ 2009
Art Smith ~ 2010
John Kinsella ~ 2010
Tom Macrina ~ 2010
Cary Miller ~ 2010
Priscila Satkoff ~ 2011
Stafford DeCambra ~ 2012 AAC Chair
Don Gyurkovits ~ 2012 
President Canadian Culinary Federation
Ahron Goldman ~2012

Through scholarship and personal commitment by our members and education and supplier partners, ACF Chefs and Culinary Professionals of Chicagoland is ensuring qualified personnel for Chicago's foodservice workforce of tomorrow.  An assertive and successful apprenticeship program operated by the association supports Chicago's vibrant foodservice industry by instructing future cooks via time-honored hands-on training.

 Our Home

Members of ACF Chicago Chefs meet throughout the greater Chicago area over the course of the year, thanks to monthly educational meetings that shine the spotlight on food and issues facing culinarians.

ACF Chicago Chefs is headquartered at;

4318 River Rd

Schiller Park, IL 60176

1 (872) 221-3292

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