American Culinary Federation Press Release For Immediate Release: April 19, 2016
Media Contacts: Sarah Roy: (904) 484-0226,
[email protected] Jennifer Manley: (904) 484-0247,
[email protected]
Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC, Receives Chef Professionalism Award from American Culinary Federation April 19, 2016, St. Augustine, Florida—Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Astor House at Springbrook Oaks, Newberg, Oregon, received the Western region’s Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) during ChefConnect: Hawaii, April 3-5, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. The ACF Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, established in 1990 and named for Dr. Lewis J. Minor, food scientist and founder of Minor’s®, is presented to a chef who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism through certification, continuing education and training, culinary competitions and community involvement. As the ACF Western region recipient, Danna is a candidate to receive the national award at Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19. “It’s a great honor to receive this award,” said Danna. “The ACF Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award represents people who have devoted their lives to the culinary industry. This award is just not for me; it’s for the profession and the people who strive to make the profession better.” In addition to Astor House at Springbrook Oaks, Danna’s experience includes executive chef at two other Holiday Retirement communities, including Edgewood Downs, Beaverton, Oregon; and Gresham Manor, Gresham, Oregon. In 1975, he received culinary training at the Westin Benson Hotel, Portland, Oregon, through an ACFEF Apprenticeship Program. In 2000 and 2013, Danna received ACF President’s Medallions. He also received the ACF Western Region Chef Professionalism Award in 2011. Danna is an active volunteer in his community. Since 2006, he has served as chairman of the Bite of Oregon to benefit Special Olympics Oregon and has led his ACF chapter’s participation in the three-day culinary fundraiser. In 2015 and 2016, Danna served as the Western Region Sergeant at Arms. He is a member of ACF Pro Chefs Oregon, was named chapter Chef of the Year in 1999 and 2015 and has served as chapter president since 2011. Danna is also currently serving as the Western committee member for the ACF Government Relations Committee. “Chef Danna and Chef Thompson are special,” said Matt Schimpf, division vice president, Chef2Chef Sales, Minor’s®, also referring to the Central region’s Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award recipient, Kenneth Thompson, CEC, CCA, chef/instructor, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois. “Each of them brings unique skill and passion to their craft and the businesses they lead. They are not alike. However, their contributions to their communities tie them together. Despite the demands of being professional chefs responsible to their staff, their companies, their guests and their own families, they both find and make the time to serve others. They are true artists; they create great flavor; they apply cutting-edge technology; and they share it all.” -more-
More than 350 chefs, students and foodservice professionals attended ChefConnect: Hawaii. The conference was part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides educational and networking opportunities for culinary industry professionals and students. Learn more about the conference at www.acfchefs.org/EventSeries, on Twitter @ACFChefs, #ChefConnect or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ACFChefs. Sponsors of ChefConnect: Hawaii were: Minor’s®; Custom Culinary®; Unilever Food Solutions; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc; Plugrá® European-Style Butter; Vitamix; Ecolab; Allen Brothers; Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board; American Technical Publishers; Don Miller & Associates, Inc. (DM&A); Par-Way Tryson Company; The Beef Checkoff; Jones Dairy Farm; and Valrhona. About the American Culinary Federation The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), established in 1929, is the standard of excellence for chefs in North America. With more than 17,500 members spanning nearly 200 chapters nationwide, ACF is the leading culinary association offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef®, Certified Sous Chef®, Certified Executive Pastry Chef® and Certified Culinary Educator® designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs. ###