Thank you for your support in helping A-B Tech's award-winning Culinary Arts program continue to be the best in the nation for culinary education! A-B Tech student teams have competed in the American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Finals a record 16 times, more than any other program in the country.
- A-B Tech Student Culinary Teams placed 1st in the nation with gold medals in 2007 and 2024!
- A-B Tech Student Culinary Team won second place and a gold medal in 2025.
- A-B Tech Culinary Arts graduate named Best Young Chef in the World in May 2012.
A-B Tech Culinary students have the opportunity to join the award-winning Student Culinary Team, which has medaled 13 times in the past 20 years at the ACF National Finals, placing in the top four and winning the competition in 2007 and 2024.
The competition requires student teams to first demonstrate butchery and knife skills and then produce 6 portions of a 4-course meal in 90 minutes. Points are based on a total score of 100. Hot food competitors are judged on such criteria as flavor, taste, texture, and doneness of their foods; serving methods; portion sizes; and creativity. Floor judges also evaluate their organization, sanitation, teamwork, workflow, cooking techniques, and knife skills.
Culinary Team History
- Winner of North Carolina Student Culinary Competition: 1996-2001, 2003-2009, 2011-2015, 2017 (state competition ended)
- American Culinary Federation Southeast Regional Student Culinary Competition: First Place, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- American Culinary Federation National Student Culinary Competition
- First Place: 2007 and 2024
- Gold Medal: 2006, 2007, 2024, 2025
- Silver Medal: 1997, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2023
Bronze Medal 2017, 2022
