St Johnsbury Academy Culinary Arts instructor Gerard “Jerry” Prevost was among the honorees at this year’s American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention, held July 11-14 in Orlando, FL.
Prevost won the People’s Choice award in the “One-Pot Win-a-Lot” competition, which involved incorporating quick-cooking rice varieties into a main course dish for a well-balanced comfort meal prepared in the one-pot style of cookery.
Recipes could include no more than 10 ingredients, including a quick-cooking rice, and cooking time was limited to 15 minutes.
In addition to eight competitions, the convention included several opportunities for chefs, cooks, students and food service professionals to advance their career development and enhance their skills through 32 workshops and seminars, 24 demonstrations, and a two-day trade show featuring more than 100 exhibitors.
Established in 1929, ACF is North America’s leading professional organization for North American culinarians with more than 22,000 members spanning 230 chapters nationwide.
The organization is also the U.S. industry leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeships and accreditation, and operates the country’s most comprehensive chef certification program, according to the ACF website (www.acfchefs.org).
The Academy Culinary Arts program is accredited by ACF, and Prevost is certified as both a culinary educator and executive chef. To remain certified, chefs must participate in 80 hours of continuing education every five years.