Arizona Food Service Network

The Arizona Food Service Network connects all people, events, resources, and organizations associated with Arizona food, food service, and food science.

Industry Addresses the Coronavirus

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It’s all over the news and we can’t avoid it if we tried, everyone is talking about it. The Coronavirus disease, (COVID-19). Painful to watch how this is affecting our economy, uncertain at this point how long or how much impact this will have, and to be honest with you, I’m not sure how much of this I want to take on either.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

While doing research, I discovered many aspects of our industry are addressing the issue so rather than me giving you my uneducated opinion and researching this for hours, below is information shared by the different segments within our focus.

American Culinary Federation

Cactus IFT update for Suppliers’ Night Tuesday, March 31st.

Food Safety News

Institute of Food Technologists

National Restaurant Association

Stay informed, wash your hands, reduce the spread of germs, and continue to support local business.

The James Beard Award Semifinalists for 2020

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Drum roll, please….. The James Beard Foundation published the list of the 2020 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists and here’s the list for Arizona. Many new categories, many new faces, and many familiar ones too.

Best New Restaurant

Vecina, Phoenix

Outstanding Baker

Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ

Outstanding Bar Program

Little Rituals, Phoenix

Outstanding Chef (Presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters)

Nobuo Fukuda, Nobuo at Teeter House, Phoenix

Outstanding Hospitality (Presented by American Airlines)

Kai, Phoenix

Outstanding Pastry Chef (Presented by Lavazza)

Country Velador, Super Chunk Sweets & Treats, Scottsdale, AZ

Outstanding Restaurant (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix

Outstanding Restaurateur (Presented by Magellan Corporation)

Mike Mastro and Jeff Mastro, Prime Steak Concepts, Scottsdale, AZ (Dominick’s Steakhouse, Steak 44, Ocean 44)

Outstanding Wine Program

FnB, Scottsdale, AZ

Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer

Stephen Paul, Hamilton Distillers, Tucson, AZ

Rising Star Chef of the Year (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)

Cassie Shortino, Tratto, Phoenix

Best Chefs (Presented by Capital One)

Stephen Jones, The Larder + The Delta, Phoenix

Bernie Kantak, Citizen Public House, Scottsdale, AZ

Shinji Kurita, Shinbay Omakase Room, Scottsdale, AZ

Danielle Leoni, The Breadfruit & Rum Bar, Phoenix

Maria Mazon, BOCA Tacos y Tequila, Tucson, AZ

Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot, Scottsdale, AZ

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café Gran Reserva, Phoenix

Samantha Sanz, Talavera, Scottsdale, AZ

Jeff Smedstad, Elote Cafe, Sedona, AZ

Ryan Swanson, Kai, Gila River Indian Community, Chandler, AZ

The 2020 James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The 2020 Leadership Awards will be held on Sunday, May 3 in Chicago, and the 2020 Media Awards will take place on Friday, April 24, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

For more information and tickets, jamesbeard.org/awards.

Next ACFAZ Meeting, March 9th

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On March 9th, ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona welcomes Culinary Love, a local collective of chefs promoting wellness in the hospitality industry.

Culinary Love believes we are “an industry in need” of supporting the individuals who give so much of themselves in kitchens and dining rooms across all venues of foodservice.

The meeting will feature a panel discussion with ACF and Culinary Love members.

ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona is Walking to End Homelessness on April 18th at the Phoenix Zoo. Participants get a free pass to the Zoo that day!

Walk the Walk to support UMOM New Day Centers as we fight to end homelessness in our community.

Wear a chef coat, toque, or apron, to show your chef pride! If you cannot join us or the walk, please consider a donation in support.

Find our team page here:
https://fundraise.umom.org/team/279554

Click “Join Team” and follow directions to register for $5 or Click “Donate” if you cannot join the walk, but would like to donate in support.


ACFAZ with 2020 vision

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It’s the middle of February and past the New Year, New Me stuff yet for the ACFAZ, it continues. The first meeting of the year, and with the new board happened January 13th at Agave Farms and yes, it was a good turn out with many reasons to get excited about the new year for the association. Pictures of that event are below.

Agave Farms is a great place to hold an event, get involved with a community garden, but also a great place to purchase plants as well. I was impressed with their selection of roses. Roses grow very well in Arizona yet the colors of roses offered at local retail stores are very limited. Only one color is what I found last year.

ACFAZ January Meeting at Agave Farms

The new board election confirmed at the November 4th meeting held at Southwest Gas. Below are pictures from that event, and here is a list of the new ACFAZ Board of Directors.

ACFAZ November 4, 2019 Meeting

Fast forward to February again, much follow up happening and have to get into blogging again and getting the newsletter(s) fired up too. There is also chapter information I need to share too, and working on that too. You can see some of that on the ACFAZ.org website and on the ACFAZ Facebook page.

The next ACFAZ meeting is March 9th at Barry Goldwater High School in the school’s restaurant, Avenue 27, which is also their culinary arts department.

Here’s information about this event.

“On March 9th, ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona welcomes Culinary Love, a local collective of chefs promoting wellness in the hospitality industry.

Culinary Love believes we are “an industry in need” of supporting the individuals who give so much of themselves in kitchens and dining rooms across all venues of foodservice. The meeting will feature a panel discussion with ACF and Culinary Love members.

ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona is Walking to End Homelessness on April 18th at the Phoenix Zoo. Participants get a free pass to the Zoo that day!

Walk the Walk to support UMOM New Day Centers as we fight to end homelessness in our community.

Wear a chef coat, toque, or apron, to show your chef pride! If you cannot join us or the walk, please consider a donation in support.

Find our team page here:
https://fundraise.umom.org/team/279554

Click “Join Team” and follow directions to register for $5 or Click “Donate” if you cannot join the walk, but would like to donate in support.

Thank you!”

Watermelon Culinary Curriculum

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Is watermelon a fruit or a vegetable? Is watermelon or seedless watermelon GMO? Questions about watermelon? Looking for watermelon recipes?

The Watermelon Board’s website has the answers to those questions and have also made available lesson plans and presentations for online learning and ACF members can earn 5 CEHs for participating.

Learn more at www.watermelon.org

Cactus IFT: Diamondbacks vs Giants!!

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Come join Cactus IFT at Chase Field to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Francisco Giants!

Ticket price includes food and drinks, and of course tons of fun and excitement!

Seating is Suite Level and includes all your favorite stadium staples, such as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, chips, soda and water, plus a great view of the field!

Please be sure to register by July 31, 2019.

REGISTER HERE.

We hope to see you there!

I

ACFAZ & Hope for Hunger Food Bank

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Volunteer Opportunity!!

Monday, May 13, 2019

Hope for Hunger Food Bank, 5605 N 55th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85301

Two Shifts of volunteers: 9-11 AM and 11 AM – 1 PM

To sign up or ask questions, contact us via the ACFAZ via Facebook page.

Additional information for the event from the Phoenix Recuse Mission, and Chef Garry Waldie, CEC, CEPC, CCE, AAC, HOGT.

“Dear PRM Volunteer,

Thank you for your volunteer service with the Phoenix Rescue Mission. Your efforts on behalf of the Mission are truly appreciated. Your valuable time and services allow us as a Mission to offer superior programs and support to the Valley’s homeless and less fortunate.

All volunteers should be particularly aware of the following:

The minimum age for volunteer service is 12. You will not be permitted to serve if you do not meet this age minimum and are accompanied by an adult.  

Please read the Volunteer Guidelines prior to your service.  

Please arrive on time. Otherwise it will be necessary to arrange for a substitute.

Please do not bring more volunteers than scheduled, unless previously arranged. We have limited spots available for each service and they are reserved on first come first serve basis. We’ll be happy to schedule others for another time.

Please, dress conservatively, preferably:

Wear jeans or long shorts, T-shirt, etc. NO TANK TOPS OR SPAGHETTI STRAPS ARE ALLOWED!

Closed –toed shoes are a health code requirement. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SANDALS! (Otherwise you will not be able to serve.)

Parking is available in the small lot located on the south side of the building at 55th ave and Luke. Additional parking is available along Luke avenue, please observe and obey all posted parking signage. 

We look forward to seeing you.  Have fun!

Thanks Garry”

JBF Blended Burger Project™

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The 5th Annual Blended Burger Project™

Now is the time to make a difference through delicious food we create. There are more opportunities than ever to be recognized for making a sustainable difference on your menus. For the last four years, chefs across the country have joined The Blended Burger Project™, a movement that strives to make the iconic burger even better for your customers and for the planet by blending at least 25% fresh mushrooms into your burgers.  

Why join? Learn more on the JBF website.

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