NFCI's Scott Steiner honored as Chef Educator of the Year

Chef Scott Steiner, assistant professor and culinary arts program coordinator at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, was awarded the American Culinary Federation Chef Educator of the Year for the Northeast Region. The American Culinary Federation is the largest professional chefs’ organization in North America, with the Northeast region covering 14 states. 

Steiner has been a faculty member at NFCI since it opened in August 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. Steiner has mentored many students during his career, helping them receive substantial scholarships, ultimately putting them on a successful path to become professional chefs themselves.

Steiner began his culinary journey as a student at Emerson Vocational High School in Buffalo and moved on to receive a bachelor’s degree in career and technical education and a master’s in multidisciplinary studies from SUNY College at Buffalo.  As an educator, he is always looking for ways to update curriculum and keep courses relevant and current.  Most recently, 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, Steiner will compete against three other chefs from different ACF regions across the country for the national title of ACF Chef Educator of the Year this August.