Before the chef coats hit the conference rooms, the ACF National Convention in Las Vegas started with a big helping of community love. The first course? Our special Chef & Child Back to School Healthy Food Fest at Richard Rundle Elementary School!
Chefs from across the country teamed up with incredible local partners — Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Jamba Juice, Nevada Dairy Council, and Get Healthy Clark County — to serve up a day full of tasty bites, fun activities, and back-to-school excitement for kids and their families.
Armed with a “Food Passport,” students made their way through booths filled with adventurous eats:
🥑 Avocado Toast on Jalapeño Cornbread
🍕 Cauliflower Pizza
🥕 Maple Sweet Potatoes
🍏 Apple Chips
🧀 Cheddar Cheese Balls
🥗 Hummus
🍦 Gelato
🥣 Açaí Bowls
🌱 Jackfruit
🥛 Specialty Milks
…and more healthy, delicious surprises like dusted & baked green beans.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department brought their A-game with free school supplies, friendly smiles, and face painting — a hit with the kids! To top it off, the school’s library rolled out books so every student could choose one to take home and treasure.
After a morning of serving the community, it was time to swap aprons for name badges and head to Paris Las Vegas for the official convention. But our giving spirit stayed strong — ACF Chefs Las Vegas not only provided the bulk of the event volunteers, we also hosted a 50/50 raffle benefiting the Chefs for Kids Michael Ty Culinary Award. Thanks to everyone’s generosity (and the amazing kindness of winner Mike S., who donated his share back), we raised $1,170! Know a Nevada culinary or hospitality student? Share the 2026 scholarship application.
One of the most touching moments of the convention was watching the late Michael Ty’s wife, Mary Ann, and son, Marc, accept an award in his honor. The award celebrated not just Michael’s incredible charitable acts during his lifetime, but the lasting legacy his family continues today.
And we couldn’t let the week go by without bragging a little more about our amazing members who received special recognition at the event.
Our very own ACF Chefs Las Vegas President, Angela Armstrong, was honored with a prestigious Presidential Medal from the President of the American Culinary Federation! This well-deserved recognition celebrated her incredible hard work and dedication in making the Chef & Child event a shining success during convention.
Lucio Arancibia received the Chair’s medal from the American Academy of Chefs, which is given to an Academy Fellow who has demonstrated exemplary dedication and made outstanding contributions to the culinary profession, maintained the highest standards and ideals of the AAC, and worked to ensure excellence among future culinarians. Additionally, he was honored by Las Vegas City Council who named July 29, 2026 Lucio Arancibia Day.
Last but definitely not least, one of our student volunteers, Chasidy Farr, received special recognition from the President of American Culinary Foundation for being the top volunteer during the convention. Kudos to her and her Assistant Sous Chef Ferrari Collins Ryan who was a great help to her.
Throughout the week-long event, attendees immersed themselves in a packed schedule of educational seminars, masterful demos, hands-on workshops, and a bustling tradeshow filled with pop-up tastings, competitions, and networking opportunities
Enjoy these snapshots from a convention week that reminded us why we cook, why we serve, and why our chef family is the best family around! Special thanks to Que Images for many of the Chef & Child event photos.
