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Apr 24
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ACF Judges from 2018 competition at NFCI

NFCI to host culinary competition

By News Archive

April 24, 2019

The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) will host an American Culinary Federation (ACF) competition on Saturday, April 27 – Sunday, April 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on both days. This annual competition is geared towards promoting student and professional cooking excellence and is open to the public for anyone interested in viewing the action. There is no charge to attend.

NFCI offers a class specifically designed to train students to become culinary competitors. “Competition creates an atmosphere of learning and striving to take your abilities to the next level. Competitors involved improve their skills, and spectators build confidence by watching and prepare to take on the challenge of competing in the future,” says Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Culinary Arts, Chef Scott Steiner.

Some highlights of the 2-day competition include live ice carving along with pastry and culinary display work on Saturday. Sunday will feature a live cooking competition with professionals plating four entrees and student competitors plating two.

For more information on offerings at NFCI, visit 

Mar 28
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NFCI’s Scott Steiner honored as Chef Educator of the Year

By News Archive
Dorothy Morton, ACF of Greater Buffalo Chapter President, Chef Scott Steiner, Mark Wright, American Academy of Chefs National Chair

Dorothy Morton, ACF of Greater Buffalo Chapter President, Chef Scott Steiner, Mark Wright, American Academy of Chefs National Chair

March 28, 2019

Chef Scott Steiner, Assistant Professor and Culinary Arts Program Coordinator at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) was awarded the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chef Educator of the Year Award for the Northeast Region. The American Culinary Federation is the largest professional chefs’ organization in North America, with the Northeast Region covering 14 states.

Chef Steiner has been a faculty member at NFCI since it opened in August of 2012, and was instrumental in getting the program accredited by the ACF.  He has continually moved up and looked for opportunities to expand his role, including organizing an annual gingerbread competition in December as part of the Gingerbread Wonderland activities and running an ACF sanctioned competition and food salon at the end of each school year.  Chef Steiner has mentored many students during his career, helping them to receive substantial scholarships, ultimately putting them on a successful path to become professional chefs themselves.

Chef Steiner began his culinary journey as a student at Emerson Vocational High School in Buffalo and moved on to receive a B.S. in Career and Technical Education and an M.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies from SUNY College at Buffalo.  As an educator, he is always looking for ways to update the curriculum and keep courses relevant and current.  Most recently, Chef Steiner is assisting in the transition of Savor Restaurant, the fine dining establishment at NFCI to a fully academic operation for the fall of 2019.  In addition to his numerous duties at NFCI, Chef Steiner will be competing against 3 other chefs from different ACF regions across the country for the national title of ACF Chef Educator of the Year this August.