IHCC’s trip to Lyon marked our second excursion to Europe and now that our eyes are open to the incredible educational benefits to our students, we plan on branching out on our own in next year. We’ve paired up with Kirkwood Community College for both Italy and France and hope to be able to raise funds and partner with professional chefs and cooks within our ACF of Iowa community for our next trip in May of 2010!
Don’t take this to be a luxury vacation, we spend full days working with professional chefs, assisting demonstrations, exploring local foods and customs as well as new ideas through cultural exchanges with the local population. I’m hoping to “plant the seeds” for next year’s trip with you, our members, in hopes of your participation with IHCC and her culinary students and staff. For more information contact me at: grader@indianhills.edu
Meanwhile, here are some images from the open air markets in and around Lyon. For more images of our recent trip to France, be sure to visit our blog at: http://acfofiowa.org/hillskitchen
Isn’t it amazing how time flies by? It has been quite some time since you’ve had a newsletter in your mailbox so I hope you won’t delete us before you’ve had a chance to “catch up” since our last correspondence. Business is good here at the school and I hope despite of our current economic problems you are all finding ways to “think outside” that box they always talk about and are coming up with new ideas to help continue your business’s growth. Everything is cyclical and in the “down times” there are great opportunities to take a new look at how we run our businesses and revisit the importance of customer service and quality product.
I’m “preaching to the choir” when I state that we’ve been incredibly busy. I’ve heard through the “grapevine” that a lot of you are taking on extra responsibilities, working harder and of course, putting in longer hours. That’s the nature of what we do regardless of the economy and I salute you all for the work that you do, especially in regards to the time you commit to our ACF chapter. I, on the other hand, have been sorely remiss in my duties as Vice-President but I have a really good excuse for not making meetings: I just don’t have the time anymore. Our program has grown dramatically over the past year and our enrollment numbers are up. I’ve been working with both Ottumwa and Mount Pleasant high schools to bring the ACF at the high school level to both programs and our Career Academy will bring even more students to our fall enrollment.
Just two weeks ago we returned from France where we worked with Chef Michel Bouit, a long time member and former national officer of the ACF, on what was a real “topper” to last year’s Italy trip! I’m working with Chef Michel once again to create next year’s travel event as well as talking with Angel Moreton from La Fundacion de la Lengua Espanola and the University of Salamanca on preparations for 2011’s trip to Spain. We’re also looking into the possibility of “Chef/student exchanges” with some of Spain’s “up and coming” new chefs. Angel will be visiting us in August and I will be making a trip to Madrid during winter break in December.
Speaking of visitors, Rick Tramonto will be coming to IHCC in the Spring of’10 for a book signing and demo with our students. Another advantage of our “Hill’s Kitchen” Website as a marketing tool is the fact that we’ve made many an important contact with chefs from across the country as well as grown our enrollment even outside of our 10 county area! We’re making a trip to Des Moines in November to see Anthony Bourdain (I’m sure they’ll call security once I get him cornered!) and I recently received email from Andrew Zimmern concerning a possible visit next summer.
Our students are working with local farms and their products to bring them into the ACF as well as devise ways to showcase those products through cooking. Potential revenue generation from seminars, cooking classes, spotlighting celebrity chefs, professional cooking seminars for restaurants and hotels in the area are just a few ideas we’re working with. The Southeastern Iowa Culinary Network will feature our students and area chefs producing demo videos for marketing and local entertainment purposes. I sincerely hope that those of you who have helped us in the past will continue to help us as we grow. You are very much appreciated.
Now, I’m neither bragging nor complaining, I’m just stating facts. Marketing has become a full time adventure along with teaching classes of course. I’m still attending my own classes and will be for another year and a half when I’ll hopefully graduate with that very expensive piece of paper for my wall. I may even get smart along the way.
What has happened as a result of all this movement has been some serious discussions about a possible subchapter for our area. The opening of Honey Creek Resort, the high school’s interest in the ACF and IHCC’s culinary program, HyVee’s interest in ACF membership, Tassel Ridge Winery, the country club in Fairfield and Maharishi University suggests that we have the potential for up to 80+ members. I’ve been talking with businesses for the last year and I believe that we finally have enough support to make this happen.
For me, this is a natural progression of growth and great news for the Des Moines chapter and the ACF nationally. I hope that we will have your support and blessing in this endeavor and our desire to continue to work with all of you for our students and our profession is stronger than ever. Despite of our uncertain economic times we must work together in a positive manner to strengthen and grow our presence in the state.
I’m still working our Websites and always keep Hill’s Kitchen updated on a weekly basis. I’m more than willing to add any information to our ACF of Iowa site that you might provide. It shouldn’t just be about what we’re doing here in Ottumwa. We should be hearing from you more often. Images and emails are easily sent and I’ll place the information.
Haven’t visited our work lately? Please drop in and please let us hear from you!
Happy summer and the very best to all of you!
Gordon
http://acfofiowa.org
http://acfofiowa.org/hillskitchen
http://acfofiowa.org/techniques
Earn a $500 scholarship through the NRAEF and Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation (CKSF)!
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on their scores on a 15 to 25 item quiz focusing on restaurant management. This month’s quiz content is based on the ManageFirst Program™ Controlling Foodservice Costs Competency Guide.
Go to www.cksf.org to learn more and test your knowledge. Each month, the top 10 students will recieve a $500 scholarship.
If you have questions about this scholarship, contact the NRAEF Scholarship Program at scholars@nraef.org or call 800-765-2122 ext 6738.
This scholarship quiz is open from 6/1/09-6/21/09.
The Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College will be hosting a Practical Exam on Sunday, July 26, 2009. If you are interested in taking the Practical Exam for your ACF certification, complete the Practical Exam Candidate Registration Form and return to the ACF national office with payment. The ACF member fee for the Practical Exam is $50. The non-member fee is $100. This payment can be made by check, money order or credit card.
In addition, you must contact the Test Site Host Administrator below to receive specific information about the test site and to be assigned a start time.
Chef Michael T. Roddey, CCC CCE
Institute for the Culinary Arts @ Metropolitan Community College
MTRoddey@mccneb.edu
(402) 457-2509
In addition to this Practical Exam, an ACE Training Session will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College. Complete the ACE Training Registration Form if you are interested taking this first step in becoming Practical Exam Evaluators.
If you have any questions, please contact ACF at 1-800-624-9458, Ext. 130.
Will take place on Thursday, May the 28th from 5 to 7 pm at the Bridge View Center located at 102 Church Street in Downtown Ottumwa! Five dollars at the door and 21 years of age or older to attend. Looking forward to a big turnout! Glazer’s will be helping to promote the event and Joe Foster will be discussing our wine choices for the evening!
Be sure to attend!
http://www.bridgeviewcenter.com/index.php
http://www.glazers.com/Glazers/initController.nonsecure
Join us on Tuesday the 19th of May at the Deerfield Retirement Community with Chef Brinkman!
More details to follow!
13731 Hickman Road
Urbandale, Iowa
http://www.deerfieldrc.com/
Career Positions Available
Adair /Bayard, Iowa Retreat Centers
Chef or Line Cook - Two years experience or fine dining experience a plus.
Great kitchen facilities and wage is very competitive.
Please forward resume to: tom@stgregoryctr.com or call 641-742-3636
Will be held at 3:30 pm at Indian Hills Community College this Thursday May the 7th in the Studio. Invitations have been sent out but all interested parties are welcome! Change is coming to Southeast Iowa and we want to be ready!
Meet us at 525 Grandview Avenue, Building #7 in Ottumwa!
