90° in Chicago calls for BBQ, brats, beans … and burgers! Windy City Professional Culinarians, a chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), held its annual barbecue for 250 on June 21, and the starring event was the Second-Annual Burger Throwdown featuring seven culinary-student teams from Chicago-area high schools and colleges. This year was the first for a team from Kendall College, managed by Carlos Gaytan, chef/owner of Mexique in Chicago, who regularly accepts interns from The School of Culinary Arts.

“Students did a fabulous job,” says Linda Rosner, CEC, CHE, president of the ACF chapter. “They decorated their tables; they dressed according to their theme. They were enthusiastic and they really sold their burgers to the crowd: singing, dancing—whatever it took!  There was limbo, there was an Oriental gong, and students passed trays of [tasting-portion] burgers to the drooling crowds! We are proud, indeed, of ALL of our students who participated in this Throwdown, and hope they will start planning their strategies for next year.”

For more information on ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians, visit http://acfwindycitychefs.org.