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Opening General Session: Lessons I've Learned & My New Favorite Recipe

kicking off ACF National Convention with the 2019 AAC Celebrated Chef! Chef Gale Gand is a nationally acclaimed pastry chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, television personality, teacher, entrepreneur, and mother, who has also been recognized as Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year by The James Beard Foundation, as well as received numerous other awards and achievements. Chef Gand reveals some of the most important lessons she's learned over her 40 years in the food business, plus her most recent favorite recipe!

Who was the first person to figure out coca could be tasty?

General Session 2: Flavors of Mexico

Chiles of Mexico To define Mexican cuisine is impossible. Mexico is as diverse as it is vast. Within its borders lie rocky mountains, humid jungles, arid deserts, and endless coasts: a stark diversity that forced each region to develop uniquely rich cultural and culinary histories. Discover more about the history of Mexican Cuisine, with Chefs Diego Galicia and Rico Torres, who were recognized as 2017 Food & Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chefs" as co-owners at Mixtli in San Antonio. During this presentation Chef Torres and Chef Galicia will disucss Mexican Chiles from fresh to dry, their flavors and uses of this ingredient for it's many culinary applications.

Immersive Dining

Taking food beyond the plate, incorporating all of the senses to create a dining experience unlike any other. Learn to be creative with plating dishes using sight, scent, sound, touch and taste to make the dishes come alive and creating a sense of environment. Projection domes, scent cannons, edible paper, fire, liquid nitrogen, dry ice and many more presentation techniques to make the meal unforgettable.

Main Stage: Eating is an Adventure

Chef, Author, and Restaurateur, Edward Lee shares his insight on the changing landscape of food in America and how the new immigrant cuisines and cultures are driving that change. What will food look like in America for the next generation? What will be the focus? How do we navigate the food world that is changing? Chef will discuss the questions as well as the inspiration for his new book, Buttermilk Graffiti, as he encourages us to not only eat at the trendy Michelin starred restaurants, but the importance to also venture out to experience the small immigrant restaurants that are everywhere in America.

Key Life Lessons for Personal Sustainability

The mission of this session is for seasoned chefs to share key moments experienced to inspire the importance of “Personal Sustainability”. Chef Beriau, Chef Recinella and Chef O' Palenick have experienced such great careers and feel it's time to start passing on “priceless moments” that have helped them to be successful. Join us as the Chefs discuss important topics and wisdom on topics such as healthy life style choices, stress relief activities, financial stability, continual professional development, and smart career choices.

ACF Demo Stage: Smithfield Culinary

Join Chris Lilly, 2016 BBQ Hall of Fame Inductee, Executive Chef and author as he takes you for a look behind the pit and discusses such topics as pork selection, fuel types, wood types/age, cooking prep and procedures and holding pork when it comes off of the smoker. Sponsored by Smithfield Culinary

Chef Chris illy talks BBQ, sponsored by Smithfield Culinary

ACF Student Team National Championship &
ACF National Student Chef of the Year Competition

Marco Pierre White

Come and experience the man, the myth, the legend, Marco Pierre White! Attendees will be immersed in his discussion followed by the opportunity to submit questions for him to answer immediately following. Please note, strong language is anticipated for this session.

ACF Chef Educator of the Year Competition

American Culinary Classic Competition

ACF Neighborhood Discussion Pods

Impossible™: Business Bigger than Burgers

Impossible™ is transforming the global food system by turning plants into delicious, nutritious, sustainable meat. Compared to beef from cows, Impossible has a tiny carbon footprint, and meat lovers love it because it is so beefy and juicy. The possibilities for preparations are endless -- if you can do it with ground beef from cows, you can do it with Impossible. In this session, Chef J. Michael Melton is going to show you how to enhance your menu and build your business with this revolutionary product. Come experience what's possible with Impossible. Speaker: Chef J. Michael Melton

From Wasted to Wanted: Using Culinary Innovation to Design Waste out of the Food System

It is well documented that up to 40% of all food grown and produced is wasted. Chefs stand at the forefront of unprecedented change—reducing food waste is increasingly seen as one of the most effective means of combating climate change and food insecurity. As culinary professionals we are uniquely positioned to reduce waste and inspire new awareness simply by leveraging the skills inherent to our craft. Chef Adam Kaye of The Spare Food Co. will educate and inspire by curating a delicious journey into the unseen and under-appreciated to rediscover the lost culinary, nutritional, financial and environmental value in our kitchens, and demonstrate how today's scraps can become tomorrow’s delicious dish.

Chef and Farmer: Taking “Plant Forward” a Step Further

How Chef and Farmers can work together as ambassadors of the Plant Forward trend that advocates more vegetables on the plate. How Chefs can further this message by running a "no-waste" kitchen using every part of the vegetable as an integral aspect of the Plant Forward mindset.

Speakers: Farmer Lee Jones & Jamie Simpson