Month: June 2021

Chef Ulla Liukkonen was invited to become an honorary member of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies – the award was handed over on June 9, 2021 in Lahti 

Ulla Liukkonen, President of the Finnish Chefs’ Association, has been awarded an honorary membership in the World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs). Liukkonen has been the chairman of the Finnish Chefs since 2008. Lifetime Honorary Membership of Worldchefs is the highest recognition a chef can receive from his colleagues.

– I am extremely grateful for the recognition I have received and I want to share it with our entire association. I warmly thank Wordchefs, the board of the Finnish Chefs Association, the member associations and all our members, as well as our supporters, for their cooperation over the years to promote Finnish food culture,” says Liukkonen.

– Recognition is granted on the basis of strict selection criteria, such as the member states’ support for the applicant and meritorious work for the country’s chefs’ association and Worldchefs, says Petri Selander, vice-president of the Finnish Chefs’ Association.

Osmo Norha (1974) and Martti Lehtinen (2006) have previously been invited from Finland to become honorary members of Worldchefs.

The recognition was announced at the Worldchef Congress on 15 August 2020, which was held as a remote congress instead of the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in St. Petersburg due to the corona situation.

Due to the situation, the harnesses were handed over to Liukkonen less than a year late. A solemn handover ceremony was held on June 9, 2021 in Lahti in connection with the board meeting of the Finnish Chefs’ Association. In addition to SKM’s board, representatives of the regional association Päijät-Hämeen Keittiömestarit ry congratulated them.

The Finnish Chefs Association congratulates Liuko on the recognition.

 

About Suomen Keittiömestarit (the Finnish Chefs’ Assocation)

The Finnish Chefs’ Association is a national association that acts as the central organization of regional chefs’ associations and as the guardian of the professional interests of its members, promotes professional skills and knowledge, and co-operates between communities, companies and individuals operating in the field. One of the main goals of the activity is to promote Finnish food culture and high-quality cooking skills. The association also supports competition activities in the field. The Finnish Chefs’ Association is a member association of the Nordic and world chef associations. Learn more at www.chefs.fi.

About Worldchefs

The World Association of Chefs’ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a dynamic global network of 110 chef associations worldwide. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries 91 years of history since its founding at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier. Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.

Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:

Education – Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculums, and the world’s first Global Hospitality Certification recognizing on-the-job skills in hospitality; 

Networking – Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;

Competition – Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge;

Humanitarianism & Sustainability – Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.

For more information about Worldchefs, visit us at www.worldchefs.org.

Keittiömestari Ulla Liukkonen kutsuttiin kokkien maailmanliiton kunniajäseneksi – käädyt luovutettin 9.6.2021 Lahdessa

Suomen Keittiömestarit ry:n puheenjohtaja, keittiömestari Ulla Liukkoselle on myönnetty maailman keittiömestariliiton The World Association of Chefs Societies -yhdistyksen (Worldchefs) kunniajäsenyys. Liukkonen on toiminut Suomen Keittiömestareiden puheenjohtajana vuodesta 2008 alkaen. Maailmanliiton elinikäinen kunniajäsenyys on korkein huomionosoitus, minkä keittiömestari voi saada kollegoiltaan.

– Olen äärettömän kiitollinen saamastani tunnustuksesta ja haluan jakaa sen koko yhdistyksemme kanssa. Kiitän lämpimästi Wordchefsia, Suomen Keittiömestarit ry:n hallitusta, jäsenyhdistyksiä ja kaikkia jäseniämme sekä tukijoitamme vuosien aikana tehdystä yhteistyöstä suomalaisen ruokakulttuurin edistämiseksi”, kiittää Liukkonen.

– Tunnustus myönnetään tiukkojen valintakriteerien pohjalta, joita ovat esimerkiksi jäsenmaiden tuki hakijalle sekä ansiokas toiminta oman maan keittiömestariliiton sekä Worldchefsien hyväksi, kertoo Suomen Keittiömestarit ry:n varapuheenjohtaja Petri Selander.

Suomesta maailmanliiton kunniajäseniksi on kutsuttu aiemmin Osmo Norha (1974) ja Martti Lehtinen (2006).

Tunnustus julkistettiin 15.8.2020 pidetyssä maailmanliiton kongressissa, joka järjestettiin koronatilanteen vuoksi etäkongressina Pietariin suunnitellun Worldchefs Congress & Expo -tilaisuuden sijasta.

Tilanteesta johtuen käädyt päästiin luovuttamaan Liukkoselle vajaan vuoden myöhässä. Juhlava luovutustilaisuus pidettiin 9.6.2021 Lahdessa Suomen Keittiömestarit ry:n hallituksen kokouksen yhteydessä. Paikalla onnittelemassa olivat SKM:n hallituksen lisäksi alueyhdistys Päijät-Hämeen Keittiömestarit ry:n edustajat.

Suomen Keittiömestarit ry onnittelee Liukkosta saadusta tunnustuksesta.

Suomen Keittiömestarit ry on valtakunnallinen yhdistys, joka toimii alueellisten keittiömestariyhdistysten keskusjärjestönä sekä jäsenistönsä ammatillisten etujen valvojana, ammattitaidon ja -tiedon edistäjänä sekä tekee yhteistyötä alalla toimivien yhteisöjen, yritysten ja yksityisten kesken. Yksi toiminnan keskeisimmistä tavoitteista on edistää suomalaista ruokakulttuuria ja korkealaatuista keittotaitoa. Yhdistys tukee lisäksi alan kilpailutoimintaa. Suomen Keittiömestarit ry on Pohjoismaiden ja maailman keittiömestariliittojen jäsenyhdistys.
www.chefs.fi

The World Association of Chefs Societies -yhdistyksen (Worldchefs) on keittiömestariyhdistysten maailmanlaajuinen verkosto, joka on perustettu 1928. Yhdistyksen jäseninä ovat yli 90 maan kansalliset keittiömestariliitot, jotka edustavat yhteensä yli 10 miljoonaa ammattilaista ympäri maailmaa.
www.wacs.org

Meet The American Culinary Federation President-Elect

*Originally published on We Are Chefs

The American Culinary Federation announced the election of Chef Kimberly Brock Brown, CEPC, CCA, AAC, as president, among other board positions, during an annual meeting on May 12. Chef Brock Brown will be inducted during the ACF National Convention in Orlando on August 5 and serve a two-year term. 

Chef Jeff Bacon, CEC, CCA, AAC, was elected National Secretary. A run-off election, held between May 19 and June 2 for Chef-Candidates David Ivey-Soto, CEC, CCA, and Kyle Richardson, CEC, CCA, AAC, will decide the National Treasurer. In addition, ACF announced the following regional vice presidents: 

• Central Region Vice President: Rajeev Patgaonkar, CEC, AAC
• Northeast Region Vice President: Barry Young, CEC, CCE, AAC
• Southeast Region Vice President: Bryan Frick, CEC, AAC
• Western Region Vice President: Greg Matchett, CEC

Remaining on the board for a two-year term are Chef Thomas Macrina, CEC, CCA, AAC, past president, and Chef Americo DiFronzo, CEC, CCA, AAC, American Academy of Chefs Chair.

Chef Brock Brown, who is currently serving her second two-year term as Southeast Region Vice President and who has previously served 2 terms as president of her local Charleston chapter, as well as 2 terms on the ACF ethics committee, said she decided to run for president because “I wanted women to have a voice and position of leadership in the organization. I have always preached to others that when opportunities present themselves, you should take them; now I felt it was my duty to practice what I was preaching.” 

Chef Brock Brown plans to focus, first, on membership engagement, both at the student level and the professional level. She also hopes to encourage more women and chefs of color to be active and represented in ACF activities and leadership roles. 

“We can and should be a diverse, 21st Century federation,” she says. “My work will focus on ways to train and mentor students, recent graduates and up-and-coming professionals. We should be grooming the younger generation to make sure their voices are heard.” 

Chef Brock Brown also hopes to encourage others to run for the board and take up other leadership opportunities within ACF. “It would be great to have more seminars geared toward leadership, or information about next steps, especially for mid-career chefs,” she says. 

As vice president, Chef Brock Brown focused heavily on enhancing communication between the board and membership. Soon after beginning her first term in 2017 she was the first to host a monthly conference call with regional members in order to keep them informed about ACF news, changes and happenings at the national and regional levels. That call became so popular that many members outside of the Southeast region would join in—including from New Orleans and Ohio chapters. “It has always been a great way to be able to talk, ask questions and exchange ideas with each other, and it was especially helpful last year when we couldn’t get together in person at all.” For many, Chef Brock Brown’s conference call has become a networking tool, not to mention an almost therapeutic outlet for members during tough, isolating times. 

As president, Chef Brock Brown hopes to continue her commitment to transparency and communication in order to drive member engagement. In addition, she hopes to find ways to drive resources—financially and otherwise—for members, especially those hit hard by the pandemic. 

“I’m one of the many chefs who got furloughed during the pandemic,” says Brock Brown. “So many have lost and are still losing incomes, jobs and careers, so I believe we need to be in a better position to be of help and to advocate for each other. Charity should and does begin at home.” 

Born in Chicago and raised in the Western suburb of Maywood, Chef Brock Brown has had interest in food and cooking since a young child. As an adult, she fled to warmer climates, beginning in Dallas and settling down in Charleston, South Carolina. Currently, Chef Brown runs her own business as owner and corporate chef of Culinary Concepts, LLC, offering catering, personal chef and consulting services. 

Her ACF membership began in 1981 while completing an ACF apprenticeship program at El Centro College in Dallas. She went on to work as an assistant pastry chef in Atlanta, and as an executive chef(Sweet & Savory) in healthcare and corporate settings in Asheville, North Carolina and in her current hometown. She has served as an adjunct baking and pastry teacher at Trident Technical College and Johnson & Wales University, both in Charleston.  Chef Kimberly has also served as co-owner and corporate chef for a specialty foods distributor in North Charleston. 

Chef Brock Brown has participated in a variety of competitions, including the Gulf of Mexico Seafood Challenge in the 90s and she served as a member of Team South Carolina in the Culinary Super Challenge (both ACF sanctioned events) in the years 2002 to 2004. She has also traveled internationally to serve as a judge and demonstrator at competitions in Serbia, South Africa and Turkey in the years between 2013 and 2015. 

Chef Brock Brown was instrumental in the development of ACF’s Certified Culinary Administrator certification, as well as becoming one of the first to earn that designation. She has received multiple awards, including an ACF Cutting Edge award in 2015, an AAC service award in 2016, and the ACF National President’s Medallion in 2019. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Dallas College – El Centro Campus in 2015. 

Chef Brock Brown is a self-published author of “Here I Am!: Chef Kimberly’s Answer to the Question ‘Where are the Female and Minority Chefs,’” and she has contributed to other books, including training manuals; “Real Women, Real Leaders: Surviving and Succeeding in the Business World” and ” Toques in Black: A Celebration of Black Chefs.” 

She also spent two years as guest chef on WCSC (NBC-5) television’s “Coffee With” cooking segment and eight years as a guest chef on Charleston’s WCIV (ABC) TV “Lowcountry Live” talk show.

To learn more about the ACF president-elect, visit kimberlybrockbrown.com.