Despite its many restaurants, Marquette hasn't been the home of the Chef of the Year for the Upper Peninsula until this year.
Chef Tom Wahlstron of
Elizabeth's Chop House in Marquette was honored this summer with the Chef of the Year award from the
Upper Michigan Chapter of the American Culinary Federation.
Wahlstrom, an ACF certified executive chef, is one of the federation's 45 U.P. members, who vote for each year's recipient. The award is given to a member who best represents the goals of the federation, including bettering the profession and constantly advancing in training and expertise.
"The award, to me, is a testament to the chefs that were before me and taught me, and the chefs that have worked with me and have learned, hopefully, something from me and have gone on to better their careers," says Wahlstrom.
He was honored with an 8-course dinner served by the previous year's top chef, Chef Jeremy Pomeroy of the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, at the chapter's yearly award presentation in late June.
Also nominated for this year's award were Chefs Eric Moe of Northern Michigan University and Eric Karvonen of Michigan Technological University.
The Upper Michigan chapter of the federation includes chefs, cooks, managers, bakers, owners, culinary instructors, students and other professionals. Nationally, the federation has about 250 chapters and 18,000 members in the United States. Internationally, it is a part of the World Association of Cooks Society.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Tom Wahlstrom, Elizabeth's Chop House
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