AZ Chef Lenard Rubin Receives High ACF Honors

Arizona Chef Lenard Rubin CEC Named  ACF Western Region Chef of the Year

Lenard Rubin, CEC, executive chef, The Country Club at DC Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona, was named 2016 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Western Region Chef of the Year on February 6. He received the title following a competition at the ACF Western Regional Culinary Salon held at The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology, Reno, Nevada.

At the regional competition, Rubin received a bronze medal for his dish: smoked maple-scented breast of pheasant, cooked sous vide, and roasted pheasant leg roulade; medley of chestnuts, wild mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, micro carrots, pearl onions and lardons; celeriac-potato puree; huckleberry agrodolce; sauce Périgueux; and micro celery. He prepared the dish in 1 hour, 40 minutes for a panel of judges. Rubin will now prepare to compete for the national title against his regional counterparts during Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19. The national winner receives $5,000 and the title of 2016 U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year.

The ACF Chef of the Year award, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions and established in 1963, recognizes an outstanding culinarian who works and cooks in a full-service dining facility. This person demonstrates the highest standard of culinary skills, advances the cuisine of America, and gives back to the profession through the development of students and apprentices.

“Being named the regional champion is the honor of a lifetime,” said Rubin. “To prepare for the national competition, I will train with my mentor and friend, Walter Leible, CMC, and study as much as possible to get myself ready for the ultimate culinary throw-down! Competing in front of my hometown crowd in Phoenix will energize and motivate me to perform at the highest level.”

Rubin’s experience includes executive chef, The Wigwam, Litchfield Park, Arizona; executive chef/owner, The Vig and The Vig Uptown, Phoenix; executive sous chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix; and chef/owner, Medizona, Scottsdale. Rubin has an associate degree in business management from Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island. He is an avid competitor and has received numerous gold and silver medals in ACF-sanctioned competitions. In 1998 and 2001, he was invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York, and in 2002, he was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame as Chef Extraordinaire. Rubin was a Western Region semi-finalist for ACF Chef of the Year in 2011 and 2014. He was ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona, Inc. chapter Chef of the Year in 2006 and 2013 and is the 2016 president.

ACF Regional Culinary Salon Competitions are a part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides educational and networking opportunities through ChefConnect events and competitions for culinary industry professionals and students. ACF believes that culinary competitions play a vital role in the development of the culinary craft by testing chefs’ and students’ knowledge and skills in a competitive format.

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*Re-published press release originally received 02.18.2016*