LEWISTON — Chefs, restaurateurs and hungry foodies filled the Ramada convention center Monday night for the Central Maine Chapter of the American Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year awards ...

The program, which is Sachs’ brainchild, was announced Tuesday at the meeting of the American Culinary Federation in Orlando, Fla. Tulane’s partner in this program is Johnson & Wales ...

“When I received my chef jacket for the event, I told my wife how I remember attending [the ACF convention] in 1999 as a part of a culinary team competing for the state championship," Cabrera said.

That includes Lea Patterson, who won the award for “ACF NWI Student Chef of The Year.” The western-themed dining spread at the ACF NWI gala on Saturday, Jan. 25. Photo courtesy of Jared Riddle.