U.P. chapter of American Culinary Federation award Chef of the Year

MARQUETTE — One Negaunee man was given an honor Sunday night by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Upper Michigan chapter for the work he does both at his job and within the organization. The Upper Michigan chapter of the ACF held its annual dinner where they announced who would be their 2018 Chef of the Year.

The Chef of the Year winner is Eric Juchemich, who is the butcher and store manager of the Gris Gris Shop in Marquette, and he says that it was truly and honor for his peers to vote for him this year.

“Winning the award this year in interesting for me,” said Juchemich. “It’s nice because I’m no longer in the kitchen all the time cooking on the line by being a butcher now, but having my peers vote for me on this, it’s nice. It shows that I still belong and I’m still a part of the group. It’s interesting, it’s nice, I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

This is the third time that Juchemich has won the award, and he’s been a member of the chapter since 1998, and he says it’s about more than just being chefs.

“It’s fun. I’ve known most of these members that long, a few of them longer,” Juchemich said. “We’re more than just a group of chefs, we’re friends. We do a lot of things together outside of the chapter, we gather and just have a good time.”

The ACF is a group that is open to anyone to join, and to go to their Facebook page, click here.