Patrick Mitchell, CEC, AAC, Named 2016 ACF USA Chef of the Year

Phoenix, Arizona, July 20, 2016 - Patrick Mitchell, CEC, AAC, executive chef/culinary adviser at Ben E. Keith Foods, Fort Worth, Texas, was named 2016 American Culinary Federation (ACF) 2016 USA Chef of the Year. Mitchell was named 2016 Central Region Chef of the Year on March 12 and competed for the national title against his regional counterparts during Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19.

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. 

Mitchell’s experience includes food and beverage director, Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine, Texas; and food and beverage director, manager and executive chef, Marriott International, Inc., based in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated from The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, with an associate degree in culinary arts. In 2004, he received the ACF Chef Professionalism Award for the Central region and became a certified ACF judge. In 2005, Mitchell was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs (AAC) and is currently serving as a regional academy director for AAC Central region. He won an individual gold medal at the Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup 2014, Luxembourg; two bronze medals at the 2012 IKA International Culinary Exhibition, also known as the “culinary Olympics,” Erfurt, Germany; and various medals at ACF-sanctioned competitions. Mitchell is a member of Texas Chefs Association and was named chapter Chef of the Year in 2015. He joined Ben E. Keith in 2008 as Executive Chef at the DFW division.