The American Culinary Federation (ACF) announced the 2009 award recipients at the ACF Southeast Regional Conference held April 18 to 20. The winners will compete for national titles against their winning regional counterparts at the 2009 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla. July 11 to 14.

And the winners are:
  • Chef of the Year P. Richard Brumm (photo below), CEC, executive sous chef, La Gorce Country Club, Miami Beach, Fla.
  • Chef Educator of the Year David Weir (photo below), CEC, CCE, associate professor at Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, Fla.
  • Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award Wolfgang Bierer (photo below), CMPC, CEC, CCE, AAC, retired, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
  • Chef Professionalism Award Edmund Chinners (photo below), CEC, CCA, operations manager, Sodexo, Columbia, S.C.
  • Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl ACF Greater Miami Chapter Epicurean Club, Johnson & Wales University-Miami, North Miami, Fla.: Alissa Ebel; Catherine Gonzalez, CC; Victoria Gonzalez; Rebecca Lerman; and Marisa Roussell. The team is coached by Alan Lazar, CCE
  • Student Team Regional Championship ACF Western North Carolina Culinary Association; Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville, N.C.: Michael Aanonsen, Shannon Ginn, Steven Goff, Anna McClintock and Travis McCloud. The team was coached by Charles deVries, CEPC
  • Chapter of the Year ACF Midlands Chapter, Columbia, S.C.
  • Chapter Achievement Award ACF Midlands Chapter; ACF Middle Tennessee Chapter, Nashville Tenn.; ACF Tampa Bay Culinary Association, Tampa, Fla.