The American Culinary Federation Inc. (ACF) honored chefs, culinary industry professionals and foodservice establishments at the 2009 ACF National Convention held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Fla., July 11 to 14.

U.S.A.'s Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions
Joseph Leonardi, CEC; executive chef, Somerset Club, Boston; ACF Rhode Island Chapter

ACF National Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda
Heather Hurlbert; executive pastry chef, Cherokee Town & Country Club, Atlanta; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Nestlé Professional
Dale Miller, CMC, WGMC, AAC; executive chef/owner, Dale Miller, Albany, N.Y.; ACF Capital District—Central New York

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
Wolfgang Bierer, CMPC, CEC, CCE, AAC; retired, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; ACF Chefs of the Low Country

President's Award
Dawn Sweeney; president/chief executive officer, National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C.

ACF Leadership Award
Paul Prudhomme, HAAC, HHOF; chef/owner, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Magic Seasoning Blends, New Orleans; ACF New Orleans Chapter

ACF President's Medallion Recipients
- Ronald Andrews, CEC; executive chef, Brays Island Plantation, Sheldon, S.C.; ACF Chefs of the Low Country
- Mickey Beriau, CEC, AAC; executive chef, White Cliffs Country Club, Plymouth, Mass.; ACF Cape Cod & The Islands Chefs Association
- L. Edwin Brown, HAAC, HHOF; ambassador, ACF, St. Augustine, Fla.; ACF Pittsburgh Chapter
- Louis Chatham, CEC, AAC; executive chef, PCI Gaming, Atmore, Ala.; ACF Choctaw Chapter
- Lorena Garcia; owner/executive chef, Elements, Miami; ACF National Chapter
- Jeremy Glas, CEC; executive chef, Wynkoop Brewing Co., Denver; ACF Colorado Chefs Association
- Fred Griesbach, CEC, AAC; sous chef, Sky Club, Plover, Wis.; ACF Middle Wisconsin Chefs
- Christopher Johns; executive chef, South Point Hotel Casino & Spa, Las Vegas; ACF Chefs of Las Vegas
- Patrick O'Connell; chef/proprietor, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va.
- Fawzi Ottman, CEC, AAC; executive chef, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.
- James Paul, CSC, CCE; director of dining services, Chartwells–University of Nebraska, Kearney, Neb.; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.
- Reimund Pitz, CEC, CCE, AAC; executive chef, Le Coq Au Vin, Orlando, Fla.; ACF Central Florida Chapter
- Michael Rand, HAAC; director of hospitality sales, Barber Foods, Portland, Maine; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.
- Lucien Salama; president, NewChef Fashion Inc., Los Angeles
- Kathleen Salemno, HAAC; owner, K P Kitchen Crafts, Hatboro, Pa.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter
- Rudy Smith, CEC; corporate chef, Unilever Foodsolutions, Lisle, Ill.; ACF National Chapter
- David Turcotte, CEC, AAC; executive chef, U.S. Army, Fort Lee, Va.; Old Dominion ACF Chapter

2009 National Chapter of the Year
ACF Pittsburgh Chapter

ACF Achievement of Excellence Awards
Casual Dining category
- Boca, Cincinnati
- Café in the Square, Buffalo, N.Y.

Fine Dining category
- All in Good Taste Productions, Pittsburgh
- Charlie Trotter's, Chicago
- Daveed's at 934, Cincinnati
- Deco, St. Augustine, Fla.
- The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.
- Hartstone Inn, Camden, Maine
- The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va.
- Le Coq Au Vin, Orlando, Fla.
- The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pa.

Noncommercial Dining Establishment category
The Seven Hills School, Cincinnati

Pastry Shop/Bakery category
Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli, Cincinnati

Private Clubs or Resorts category
Kenwood Country Club, Cincinnati

Chef & Child Foundation Awards
Michael Ty Endowment Fund
Joel Schaefer, CCC, manager of product development and special diets, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Chefs de Cuisine Association of Hawaii Honolulu

Little Oscar Award
Central: Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc., St. Louis
Northeast: ACF Great Bay New Hampshire Chapter, Durham, N.H.
Southeast: ACF Middle Tennessee Chapter, Nashville, Tenn.
Western: ACF Washington State Chefs Association, Seattle

American Academy of Chefs (AAC) Awards
Chair's Medal
John Minniti, CEC, AAC, HBOT; retired, Treasure Island, Fla.; ACF Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey

Joseph Amendola Award
Gunther Heiland, CMPC, AAC; retired, Pottstown, Pa.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter

Chef Good Taste Award
John Bogacki, CEC, CCE, AAC; executive chef, Westwood Country Club, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.

Lt. General John D. McLaughlin Award
Brig. Gen. Jesse Cross; commanding general, U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School, Fort Lee, Va.

Lawrence A. Conti, CEC, AAC, HOF, Chair's Achievement Award
Harry Hoffstadt, CEC, AAC, HOF; retired, Niles, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.

American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame
- Michel Escoffier; president, Foundation Auguste Escoffier, Villeneuve-Loubet, France
- Gerhart Koennecke, AAC (posthumously); Deptford, N.J.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter
- Phil Learned, CEC, AAC; retired, Andover, Maine; ACF Chapter of Northern New Hampshire
- John Minniti, CEC, AAC, HBOT; retired, Treasure Island, Fla.; ACF Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey
- Michael Rand, HAAC; director of hospitality sales, Barber Foods, Portland, Maine; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame Celebrated Chef
Patrick O'Connell; chef/proprietor, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va.

2009 American Academy of Chefs Fellows
- Scott Daniels, CEC, CCA; senior manager of dining and culinary services, Sodexo Senior Services Division, Wilmington, Del.; ACF First State Chefs Association
- Urs Emmenegger, CEC; executive chef, Entrée Preneur, San Diego; ACF Chefs & Culinarians of San Diego
- John Farris, CEC; food consultant, Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, Lansing, Mich.; ACF Capital Professional Chefs & Cooks Association of Greater Lansing
- Gary Leach, CEC; executive chef, Centerplate at Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, Md.; Delmarva Chefs & Cooks Association
- Charles Mattocks, CEC, CCA; food service director, Carolinas Hospital System, Florence, S.C.; ACF Pee Dee Chapter
- Mark Prece Sr., CEC; corporate executive chef, American Italian Pasta Co., Kansas City, Mo.; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association
- Brian Sode, CEC; executive chef, The Bear's Club, Jupiter, Fla.; ACF National Chapter
- J. Kevin Storm, CEC, CCA; executive chef, Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.
- James Thomas, CEC; executive chef, Ocean Forest Golf Club, Sea Island, Ga.; ACF Golden Isles of Georgia Chapter
- Mark Warren, CEC; chief food management sergeant major, U.S. Army European headquarters; Old Dominion ACF Chapter
- James White, CEC; director of dining services, Our Lady of the Angels Convent, Enfield, Conn.; Connecticut Chefs Association
- John Zelko, CEC; executive chef, Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc, Mich.; ACF Flint/Saginaw Valley Chapter

2009 American Academy of Chefs Honorary Fellows
- Robert Kinkead; executive chef/owner, Kinkead's, Washington, D.C.
- Arthur Ritt; retired, Deerfield, Ill.
- Lucien Salama; president, NewChef Fashion Inc., Los Angeles
- Dawn Sweeney; president/chief executive officer, National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C.

For the culinary educators and students awarded at the ACF National Convention, visit Chef Educator Today's blog, Online Tool Kit.