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Middle Tennessee Childhood Hunger Day -

October 19th, 2005
Upper Murrell School    10:00 am to 1:00 pm
1200 2nd. Ave. South

The Mission Statement:

“To educate and assist the family in
understanding proper nutrition and to be
the voice of the American Culinary Federation in its fight against childhood hunger.”

Every year in October, the ACF Chefs and Chapters have the opportunity to speak to the public about domestic childhood hunger. Chapter activities and the National efforts have been tremendously successful in raising awareness of childhood hunger issues throughout the U.S.

THE PYRAMID POWER FOODSHOW is 2005's presentation of the Middle Tennessee Chapter. Chairman Willie Jemison and his committee targeted several schools to invade with our foodshow format. We are using the six stations set-up to explain the new approach to the nutritional pyramid.

Thank You to the National Guard for their Drug Awareness Program. The display was popular with the kids.

Thanks to the American Diabetes Council for their booth on Diabetes and Nutrition

The Lentz Metro Public Health Center - was there to support nutrition, sanitation, protection from disease and every aspect of thge Pyramid

The booth on grains was a very popular destination- cereals and popcorn crunch.

We had lots of help over at the grains booth.

Vanderbilt Hospital and the Nursing School had a registered Dietician to help our show.

The fruits stand did a little better than the vegetable stand, but when you got to compete with chicken nuggets, its tough

The Vegetable booth was just a bit lonely - I mean come on - kids and vegetables don't mix.

See, we put the Pyramid next to the Crunch and Munch -

Purity Dairy had the distinction of being the final booth on the tour - the kids loved the Milk, OJ and the Ice Cream

This is Willie, giving his spiel and facilitating the show.

Nashville General Hospital at MeHarry opened a booth on nutrition and Health Care.

The Meat and Protein Booth was a real treat - who can resist chick nuggets

Starting with registration at 10:00 a.m., students received badges and bags of resources. Each student had the opportunity to walk around and visit each vendor booth and collect information about that particular vendor and received FREE giveaways. There were over 15 vendor booths set up. There were 70 Upper Murrell Students that participated—this represented the entire student body. The theme for this year was “The Power of the Pyramid.” This event introduced healthy eating habits, proper snacking and the NEW food guide pyramid to the youth. There were several dieticians from area hospitals who spoke about proper nutrition for young people. With the recent spotlight on obesity in our youth today, this and other booths have become more important for the education of proper eating habit. Also on hand were ACF Chefs from the Nashville area who manned booths that represented the NEW food guide pyramid. The big hit was the national guard’s drug prevention booth. This booth informed the youth about the dangers of drugs and the addictive properties.

A host of national and local vendors donated their time to this event. The national vendors included: Uncle Ben’s, Kraft foods, Purity Dairy and Pillsbury. The local vendors included: Freshpoint Overton, TW Wilsion and Sons, Food Sales of Tennessee and the Farmers Market. The metropolitan Lentz Public Health Department provided information on safety and sanitation as well as food born bacteria and other related issues.

Many Thanks go to the wonderful corporate sponsors named above plus MeHarry General Hospital, Vanderbilt University Hospital, The National Guard and of course all the volunteers from the Middle Tennessee Chapter.

Willie Jemison - Chairman             Cathy Hoormann        Anna Hicks      Dave Lorance       Elaine Parker
Ruth Sheflin        Michael Adams        Julio Orantes      Nancy Campbell      Michael Osborne      Don Sivley
and everyone else we may have neglected to name.

 

What a Glorious Day It Turned Out To Be, Kinda !!
Well, A Really Nice Day, Hmmm.. It was a day!

The morning of August 15th dawned bright and clear, with Josh Kiev and Gary Rawson busily icing down case after case of water and sports drinks at the pavillion of the Legends Club. All the preparations came together like the smooth movement of a watchmakers arts. The raffle items were displayed, and the tickets ready for sale. Nice gifts, a Sanyo flat screen television, an O'Gio golf bag, a Nautica gym bag. The prizes for "closest ball to the pin" and "longest drive " were a georgous set of 24 Titlest balls, and there were golf gloves, umbrellas, coffee mugs and shirts.

The Club pros tell us that 128 players are optimal for a shotgun start, and the ACF had 112 signed up with three or four jumping in at the last moment. The turnout was great as registration started. Cathy and Ramona got everyone registered as Ruth Schiflin and her husband sold the raffle tickets. There was a bunch of freebee's, hats, pens, divit fixers, box cutters, and the proverbial forever golf towels- everybody loaded up and jumped on their cart.

The teams included: Sheraton Music City, J&M Catering, Overton Produce, US Food Knoxville, US Food Lamb Weston, US Food Tyson, FoodService Inc, Atlanta Foods, T.W. Wilson, TRA, Nashville Gas, Unilever Best Foods, Lipman, JCD Manufacturing, Purity Dairy, Inland Seafood, Schwans Bakery, Robert Orr Sysco, Golf Nuts, Manchester Co. C.C., Bluegrass C.C., Buckhead Beef, Schreiber, Food Staff, Coca-Cola, Gordons Food Service, and Marketing Specialists. - Not a bad bunch of guys and gals.

By 3:00 pm the first thunder boomer dumped on the golf course. The horn blew and all the teams had to leave the fairways. The rain lasted about 20 minutes, and all were ready to jump back out on the course. Well... sure enough after 13 holes played, the rains came again, the horn blew again and everyone got off the course again. This time the field judges called the tournament due to rain. Unfortunately, a golf course gets unplayable and easily damaged after being soaked, so according to PGA rules, the judges called it.

Mark Weber and some of Josh's guys from the Bluegrass Country Club fired up the steaks and baked potatoes. The raffle prizes were given out, but the trophies will have to be bumped to next years tourney. A couple of guys did win on the two smaller contests. "Closest to the Pin" was won by Jeff Bailey of Fresh Point Overton, and "Longest Drive" was won by Mallory Church of Coca Cola - congratulations.

The steaks were great, the beer refreshing and the company was fun. Plus, the ice cream sandwiches provided by Purity Dairies were a big hit.

So, just like the fishermans story, this tournament is the big one that got away. A good story for the telling and held in high hopes for next year.

In primitive society, when native tribes beat the ground with clubs and yelled, it was called witchcraft; today, in civilized society, it is called golf.

Golf is an expensive way of playing marbles.

Golf is a game in which the slowest people in the world are those in front of you, and the fastest are those behind.

Golf: A five mile walk punctuated with disappointments.

The secret of good golf is to hit the ball hard, straight and not too often.

There's no game like golf: you go out with three friends, play eighteen holes, and return with three enemies.

Golf was once a rich man's sport, but now it has millions of poor players.

An amateur golfer is one who addresses the ball twice: once before swinging, and once again after swinging.

Many a golfer prefers a golf cart to a caddy because the cart cannot count, criticize or laugh.




The Great Chefs that participated:

On Sunday, July 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. we opened to the Public at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The tickets were economical for our first year $5.00/Person $10.00/Family our theme:
Celebration of National Ice Cream Day.
    This Ice Cream festival will become, we hope, an annual event that helps the Chapter raise money for Child Hunger relief efforts and the ACF Chef and Child Foundation. While not an ACF sanctioned Food Competition, special attention was given to the panel of judges in order to represent both the public and the culinary profession. The Judges were: Chef Richard Gerst C.E.C.  A.C.C. of Summit Medical Center - many years an Exec. Chef and Culinary Educator in Oprylands Apprentice Program. Ronnie Gaw - Ronnie is the master Ice Cream maker in charge of Purity Dairies Ice Cream manufacturing division. Ann Cox - Consumer Affairs & TV personality with Krogers Co. Supermarkets. Marcie - of CenterStone Community Resources- one of the recipients of the Childhood Hunger funds.

The competition was held as an annonymous blind tasting, where the judges used the guidelines of the ACF criterion and knowing each dish by number only. The judges were isolated from the event floor and each dish was brought to them in succession by runners.

Chef Heather Hardison - Bound'ry and South Street Restaurant Low-Fat Strawberry Angel

Chef Michael Osborne - Manchester- Coffee County Community Center Flaming Bananas in a Pecan Tuile

Chef Renee Kasman - Zola Restaurant Blueberry Caramel Cobbler Crunch

Chef Gary Rawson - Sheraton Music City Hotel- French Fried Ice Cream

Chef Stan McDonald - MTCACF Ice Cream Enchilada

Chef Rick Kahre - J&M Corporate Catering - Coffee Toffee Supreme

Chef Allison Trinkle - Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel - Peaches & Cream Crunch

Chef Laurie Potts - Wildhorse Saloon - Pistachio Fabuloso

Chef John Vogt - Nick of Thyme -"Presley"

Chef Tom Neville - MTCACF - Peaches & Cream Rice Cake with Butter Pecan

Chef Anna Lia Natardonato - Tutto Bene - Annia Banana Semi-Freddo

Chef Heather Hardison & Chef Jayne Rogovin - Boundry & South Street - Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Chef Greg Gilbert - Nick of Thyme - Old Fashioned Soda

Chef Paul Burnash - Renaissance Nashville Hotel - Monkey Pie

    Chairperson, Cathy Hoorman really did an exceptional job bringing this event into being. With the help of great sponsors like Purity Dairies, Mix 106 FM, Nashville Parent Magazine and the Second Harvest Food Bank, the day turned out to be a raging success.
    In an amazing display of cooperation, all the chefs showed up on time, and load-in went easily and rapidly. Many contestants spent considerable time and effort in creating their booths for the event. The kids who attended loved the decorations and they loved the idea that they could eat all the Ice Cream that they wanted, or at least all they could get away with. For a detailed look at some of the scenes Click Here.
The talent of the contestants was suprising to those who had never seen the quality work of ACF Chefs. The folks from Purity Dairies had it in the back of their mind that this was just going to be a big Ice Cream Eatery, and when they found that the dessert entries were creative, elegant and startlingly origonal they were blown away. For a look at the entries. Click Here.
   Estimates made the crowd out to be about 400 people. The Upper Mezzanine of the Second Harvest Food Bank was the perfect reception area for those 400 to eat ice cream. While the area is not air conditioned, Mark Rubin of Second Harvest set up large fans to cool the crowd. My estimates put the number of rug rats between 1 and 2 hundred thousand.
   Special Thanks to Alison Harris of  Purity Dairies,whose hard work and support made this first years competition such a success. Allison and Purity made all this happen, and deserve special recognition for the essential part they played. Second Harvest and Mark stepped up to fill a very important spot when they were needed most and we are most grateful. Thanks again to Nashville Parent Magazine for their support and advertising efforts, as well as Mix 92 FM radio station. A special extra notice to Kickin Coffee & Tea, for setting up a booth for beverages and for the help of their President, Cathy Hoormann.

In the final analysis, we raised about $1000.00 after expenses for the Hunger Relief. Skeptics may say that that isn't much for a fund-raiser, however, the Chapter is elated by the blueprint laid down for the future. The event was a success on every front, from the public, to the chefs, to the sponsors, and to the organizers. Next years effort has a terrific foundation laid down, and the fruits of this years event will keep growing for years to come.

The winners of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and popular vote:  Click for Pics

 


Words cannot express the thrill so many of us experienced as we watched the 20 campers from the Harry and Mary Zimmerman B’NaiB’rith Maimondes Camp for Visually Impaired Children. on Thursday, June 23 rd despite the 90 degree heat!

The children, enjoyed the outdoor swimming at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, the wonderful “gourmet children’s picnic” prepared by the wonderful chefs from the Middle Tennessee Professional Chef Association – Middle Tennessee Chapter and the dancing and music by a top notch band leader and his musicians topped off with delicious home-made ice cream sundaes with the various toppings, punch and delightful cupcakes surrounding a special 35 th celebration cake offered by the Tennessee Wedding and Event Specialists Association.

It was so much fun for all as they danced and played musical games…getting such a laugh with their “boom si dayzee” as they were guided in this joyous activity.

Under the direction of Elaine Parker, the founder of the camp, a cadre of local chefs prepared and served a special child –pleasing menu. Parker, who is both a chef and wedding planner, has enlisted the members of the two organizations both for the picnic, and music and dancing activities with TWESA member, band director Dennis Scott, Act IV, leading the musical festivities.

Anna Hicks, Chef of the Year served home made ice-cream with an assortment of toppings that was selected by the campers,, complete with fresh strawberries, blueberries, sprinkles and of course whipped cream with a cherry on the top. The number 35 topped the symbolic cake with the campers each having a special cupcake, prepared by TWESA member Christine Boulton owner of Indulgence and sipping fruit punch by Elaine and Shaun O’Day.

Each camper, ages 5 to 13, was crowned with a chef’s hat by Chef Richard Gerst before boarding the bus with farewells from the Camp Committee, headed by Mike Gryll and the President of the local lodge, Jean Roseman.

We closed the event singing a 35th happy birthday and the hope of another picnic next year.

 

 


On Saturday, October 1st - at 6:30 p.m. at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 3777 Nolensville Road, the annual fundraiser was held. As usual, the Middle TN Chapter was there helping to make the evening a success. Patrons Dined on fabulous food from some of your favorite local restaurants and caterers, participated in the silent auction, and danced the night away to great entertainment.  It was a wonderful evening no one will soon forget. 

Anna Hicks of Tutto Bene was there and she describes it as a wonderful evening. She had an ice sculpture on her table as a  centerpiece.  The sculpture was donated by chef "ice man" Matt Simond ACF member and the fastest chain saw east of the Missippi. The evening went smoothly,  and the decorations were outstanding. Anna served approximately 600 crostini, she had 4 different kinds:  Tomato mousse; Fig and onion confit on creamy goat cheese;  Savory egg with avocado, cucumber, olive, roasted yellow bell peppers and red onion with dill dressing; and last but not least orange ginger shrimp BLT.  The crostini were mainly  passed by servers.  

Cathy Hoormann of Kickin Coffee participated and she reports that he back lot of the Zoo was transformed into two gigantic Big Top Tents. The First filled with enticing auction items and appetizers. The Second with delectable dishes from some of Nashville's finest chefs and eateries. in the center of the Main tent the dance floor was a carousel - This matched the real carousel that was at the entrance to the event.

Tom Neville of Atlanta Foods took on the challenge of representing the Middle Tn Chapter at the ACF booth. Tom created a Barbeque Duck Confit on Corn Cakes that was topped with Cilantro Cream.

Some of the other participants were:

Aurora Bakery
Basantes
Bound’ry
Chapel Bistro
Jackson’s
Kickin’ Coffee
Levy Restaurants
Mafiaoza’s

Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Culinary Federation
Midtown
Mirror
Nashville Restaurant Group
Nick and Rudy’s
Noshville Delicatessen
Park Cafe

 Rumba
Southstreet
Sunset Grill
Tayst
The Trace
TuttoBene
Virago

The evening was set to raise money for the new addition of Giraffes to our Nashville Zoo.   The high point of the live auction portion was the naming rights of our new giraffe.

Signature Chefs of Nashville

March of Dimes


Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center   Nashville, TN
Monday, December 5, 2005
 
Governor's Ballroom

Indulge yourself in the experience of eclectic cuisine prepared by the most exciting chefs in the city, then find something special at the live auction afterward.  Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to support the March of Dimes.

6:00 PM - 6:45 PM - Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

6:45PM - 8:00PM - Gourmet Food Tasting

 8:00PM - Live Auction

This year again the ACF will participate in the Signature Chefs Event with the March of Dimes. Last year the guest chefs who help put on the affair contained a who's who from the Nashville Chapter. Julio Orantes from Arthurs, Peter D'Andrea of Opryland Hotel, Elaine Taubin of Loew's Vanderbilt Plaza, Willey Thomas the Park Cafe, Tom Neville of Atlanta Foods, Cathy Hoorman of Kickin Coffee, and a host of other future members. Check this website after December to get the photos and details.