The Naples and Marco Island Caxambas Chapter of The American Culinary Federation Award Dinner 2014

The American Culinary Federation is a national organization of over 20,000 members and 200 chapters nationwide supporting education, training and certification in the culinary arts. Their local chapter, representing Naples and Marco Island, FL is the Caxambas Chapter of Naples ACF Chefs. Every year they have an awards dinner to honor members both highly active and exemplary in a number of categories.

The 2014 meeting was held at a local gated development, Bonita Bay, in their club house.

They have a beautiful indoor dining space which was used for this event.

Beverages,

a variety of starters which included Cornets filled with fig Compote, crab/shrimp salad and Buffalo Chicken,

meats and cheeses such as Genoa Salami, Toscano Ham, Sage Derby Cheese and  Maytag Blue Cheese among other things,

and tastes of sesame tuna, melon and Prosciutto and smoked salmon with cucumber

were provided that evening for the social hour before dinner and the awards ceremony.

If this wasn’t enough before the main course in the dining room, mushrooms stuffed with ground pork

and barbecued shrimp/tomatoes with basil-infused olive oil 

were served to guests.

All were then seated in the dining room for the dinner and the award ceremony.

French Popovers

stuffed with a Mornay Sauce

started the meal which I thought was brilliant.

Here was the menu served that evening.

The soup course

entree

cheese plate

and dessert

were all really good. Hats off to chef Richard Brumm, CEC,CCA and his crew at The Bonita Bay Club for putting this together.

I do not have useable photos of the awardees but here are those that won this year.

AwardeeAwardAffilation

Richard Crisanti CEC                  Chef Of The Year                  Shadow Wood Country Club

Brian Lord  CEC                     Culinarian Of The Year            Colliers Reserve Country Club

Ron Landry CEC    President’s Award:Member Of The Year  Naples Sailing and Yacht Club

Dan Kniola                  President’s Award:Board Member       The Players Club, Lely ResortPaw Mikkelsen                  Pastry Chef Of The Year                    Mikkelsen Pastry ShopMarisa Crisanti MBA             Educator Of The Year                     Golden Gate High SchoolRichard Blumm CEC       Chapter Meeting Of The Year                        Arthrex Inc.Don Romeo                         Salesman Of The Year                    Gulf Coast Deli ProvisionsTerry Dean                            Vendor Of The Year                                Happy FoodsMerideth Benitez                    Student Of The Year                     Golden Gate High School

With the exception of The President’s Awards, all other categories were voted on by chapter members.

Afterwards, some of the crowd had even more fun dancing the night away.

Another great evening of food and fun and another post on Forks.

ACF Caxambas Chapter of Naples & Marco IslandPresident Chas Tatigian, CECPO Box 855Naples, FL 34106