November Meeting of the ACF Naples Chefs at Lorenzo Walker Technical College

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) is a national organization of almost 20,000 members and 150 chapters nationwide. They are made up of chefs, food industry professionals and perhaps a food blogger or two.

For the most part, here is what ACF is all about. I cannot say this any better so I am quoting from ACF’s “About” page.

“We offer culinary competitions, certification, a national apprenticeship program, regional and national events, publicationsand much more to help foster the growth of professional chefs and the food service industry. If you are not part of our organization, we invite you to join us and gain access to the best culinary resources available“.

The local ACF Chapter is The Caxambas Chapter of Naples/Marco Island and their moniker on social media is ACF Naples Chefs (ACFNC).

Almost every month from March to January, ACFNC holds a general meeting.  Generally, a chapter member volunteers to sponsor one of these monthly events. Most of the time ACFNC monthly meetings are held at country clubs as chefs at these facilities comprise the majority of chapter membership. The November meeting was a bit different and was held at Lorenzo Walker Technical College. (LWTC)

Lorenzo Walker Technical College, Naples, FL

LWTC is run by Collier County Public Schools as part of their adult and workforce education Program. They teach employment preparation skills for labor fields such as cosmetology, drafting and welding among other programs. They help provide financial aid through local, state and federal grants and scholarships in addition to career placement for graduates. LWTC has around 1500 students enrolled in its various programs.

LWTC also offers a commercial foods and culinary arts program. It is a 2 year program with 1200 hours of instruction. Students are taught various aspects of food preparation, hospitality, dining room operations, instruction on kitchen sanitation and restaurant equipment operation.

After socializing for a bit attendees lined up for a Thanksgiving themed dinner prepared by LWTC students.

Naples ACF Chefs November Meeting 2016

Menu, ACF Naples Chefs November Meeting

The dinner included sweet potato pecan casserole,butternut squash soup,

 assorted salads,

and a bar with condiments for biscuits as a side dish

or for sandwiches from carved turkey or smoked skirt steak

with various gravies and sauces.

After that we were treated to a variety of various mousse, macarons and chocolates.

After a brief discussion of chapter business Chapter President Chas Tatigian and Membership Chairs Andrew and Megan Somerville acknowledged new members that month.

This was followed by a tasting of Felchlin chocolate.

Chef Rob of Swiss Chalet, the sole distributor of Felchlin chocolate in the U.S.,

gave us a bit of history of the Felchlin company followed by a video of chocolate Cultivation, Harvesting and Processing.

Felchlin was put on the map with its celebration of Maracaibo 65, a Venezuelan cacao bean chocolate  that won world accolades in 2000.

After the presentation, some of the students and instructors at LWTC were given recognition by the ACFNC chapter.

This was another great meeting of ACF Naples Chefs. It would not be possible without the largess of Oakes Farms, US Foods, Swiss Chalet, Felchlin Chocolate and LWTC.

Lorenzo Walker Technical College

3702 Estey Ave. Naples, FL 34104

(239)377-0900

Lorenzo Walker Technical College

Naples ACF Chefs

President Chas Tatigian, CEC, CCAPO Box 855Naples, FL 34106ctatigian@acfnapleschefs.org