Arizona chef earns prestigious honor after 20 years serving retirees: 'It takes passion'
For over a decade, Adolfo Aris Cabrera has worked at The Grill at Quail Creek, a restaurant in a 55 and older retirement community in the quiet town of Green Valley, Arizona. On July 26, the executive chef is being inducted into the American Academy of Chefs, an honor bestowed on only a select few chefs in the country, most of whom work at well-known restaurants in large cities.
According to the ACF, this award “represents the highest standards of professionalism in the organization, society and industry.”
What is American Culinary Federation?
The Academy is the honor society of the American Culinary Federation, which was established in 1929 and now has 170 chapters and 14,000 members across the United States. The organization is committed to providing education, apprenticeship and networking opportunities in the culinary world.
Being a member of the American Academy of Chefs has been a dream for Cabrera for more than 20 years.
“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. "As we were walking around during the convention, I see these award-winning chefs. These were the big shots with big names.”
The organization also honors lifetime achievements through the AAC Culinary Hall of Fame Celebrated Chefs (a different category than the hall of fame), which has included the likes of James Beard, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and Cat Cora.
“I remember telling my peers that one of these days I wanna be like that. I want to be part of that community. And it came to reality.”
From prison to the big screen: How this food stand owner rebuilt his life with prison-inspired recipes
Honoring a chef's commitment to his community
For 11 years, Cabrera has led the kitchen at The Grill at Quail Creek and in that time, he's become a role model for aspiring cooks and grown close with the community he serves.
“I talk to the members when I’m designing a menu,” he said. “Because they eat here more often than people do at regular restaurants.”
Mentoring is one of Cabrera’s passions. “I tell them, I came from Mexico and started as a dishwasher not knowing English and now I’m here. If I can do it, so can you,” he said. “One of my successes is that my sous chef was moved to another community as an executive chef. Seeing their success makes my heart swell.”
When asked how he got to where he is today, Cabrera said: “It takes passion and dedication. Everything else follows.”
The award ceremony and formal induction will take place in Las Vegas on July 26.
Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The chef at this Arizona retirement community wins a national award
