President's Report

Hello Chefs, Members and Students,

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. It's great to be back in action with in-person meetings after November. If you missed it, we just had a great meet-up at Larder Delicatessen with Chef Jeremy Umansky. His knowledge and passion for koji and fermented foods was amazing and contagious. We had a great turnout and really enjoyed learning from him at his restaurant. While at Larder, we presented Chef Jeremy with our first ever ACF Cleveland Akron-Canton challenge coin for culinary excellence. Its a small token of our appreciation that we will use to recognize those in our area that contribute to our chapter or our industry in a positive way.

The board has been working on new events and meetings for the rest of the year, we can't wait to see what 2025 brings us. 

Ice Carving club is meeting this Tuesday at 11:00am at Images in Ice. Please reach out if you are interested in attending. (216) 396-4342

Our next meeting is Monday March 10th at JACK Thistledown Racino on the 6th floor in "The Bistro". Enter through the main central entrance that has the rounded stairs in front. Inside you immediately go to the right before the podium and take the elevator to the 6th floor.

The 2025 Great Culinary Classic is moving along nicely. You may have seen a request for volunteers come out last week. We could use your help in executing this great competition. We have 60 competitors signed up from all over the state and beyond, many of them students. I'm really excited that we have 10 ice carvers scheduled this year, so that will be a great showing from our local ice artists! If you can take a time slot, that would be greatly appreciated. Follow the link: 

Competition Volunteer Sign Up

This year the ACF national convention will be in Las Vegas. We are nominated again for Chapter of the Year for 2025. We won for the Northeast Region back in 2023 and this may be the year we take the national award!

We are nearing the election season for ACF Cleveland Akron-Canton officers. There are 3 positions that will be guaranteed vacant due to term limits. President, 1st Vice President and 2nd Vice President. We will be asking for nominations and intent to run information later in the year. The terms are 2 years starting in January with a 2-term limit consecutive per position. 

I wanted to welcome Jordan Krystowski to our leadership team as our new Chair of Membership!

One last thank you goes out to Carmela Foods, our latest corporate Bronze Level partner. If you are not familiar with their product line, they have extensive Italian imports, fine cheeses, meats and more. For information, reach out to Matt Kirby [email protected].

I look forward to seeing you soon at our next event,

Regards,

Derek Ivancic, CEC, CCA
President

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Welcome New Members

Welcome to our newest members!

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Calendar of Events

Upcoming Meetings & Events!

• March 10th - Kitchen Automation
  • JACK Thistledown
• March 21st & 22nd - Great Culinary Classic
  • TRI-C HMC Downtown
• April 12th - Certification Exam
  • Stark State College
• April 21st - Reducing Restaurant Costs
  • St. George Fellowship in Fairlawn
• May 26th - Guardian's vs Dodgers
  • Date Updated
  • Progressive Field
• June 23rd - Cleveland Whiskey Distillery Tour

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