In addition to the Hot Food Team competition, The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., hosts its
annual ACF Student Culinarian of the Year national competition, sponsored by Custom
Culinary, Inc., at the 2008 ACF National Convention, “Achieving Culinary Excellence; Cultivate,
Innovate, Educate,” held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, July 14-17.
The late Baron H. Galand, CEC, AAC, HOF, established the ACF Student Culinarian of the Year
award in 1987 to help student members establish their position within ACF. The award
recognizes an up-and-coming student who possesses a high degree of professionalism,
culinary skill and passion for the culinary arts.
This year, students from Colorado, Georgia, Illinois and New York will go head-to-head for the
title. Students were first nominated by an ACF chapter for their ability to cook, level of skill,
strong understanding of cooking fundamentals and classical cooking foundation. Then students
in each of the four ACF regions competed at the regional level. Now, one winner from each
region will compete for the national title during the annual trade show, held at MGM’s Grand
Garden Arena, July 15-16. There, students will participate in a competition and prepare a preselected
classical menu for a panel of distinguished judges who will decide the winner.
Representing SUNY Delhi, New York State and the Northeast Region is
Nicholas Hernandez of Hawley, Pa., is a student at State University of New York At Delhi,
Delhi, N.Y., and a member of ACF Chefs and Cooks of the Catskills Mountains. He currently
works at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. He was president of the culinary club at his
university, Escoffier Club, 2007, and received several awards while pursuing a bachelor’s
degree in culinary arts.
