2025 ACF & SC Seafood Competition Judges
This Years Panel of Decision Makers!
Meet our team of Judges, who collectively bring with them the highest level of national talent to the 2025 competitions. We are excited to have this group of highly distinguished Judges with many years of expertise and a passion for the food sector of the Hospitality Industry.
LEAD JUDGE
ALEX DARVISHI
CEC, AAC, HOF
Alex Darvishi is currently the executive chef and culinary consultant of ARD Culinary Inc based in Houston ,TX.He has worked as the executive chef at some of the top restaurants and clubs.Chef Darvishi has won numerous gold medals in national and international culinary competitions (including a perfect score and 7 gold medals gold in 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2004 culinary Olympics).and a World Cup championship trophy and gold medals was a member of 1990 Culinary Team USA.
He is also an ACF and world certified international culinary judge and was part of the international culinary jury at 2018 and 2022 Culinary World Cup 2020 Culinary Olympics held in Stuttgart Germany. He is a member of ACF chefs Hall of fame and the recipient of several industry awards including National “Chef Professionalism” Award, Hermann Rusch regional chef achievement award and Academy of Chefs “Good taste award”.
Derrick D. Davenport
CEC, CEPC, CCE, MBA
Derrick D. Davenport was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, into a family that emphasized faith, food, and strong southern roots. His passion for cooking was nurtured by his grandmothers, inspiring him to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Derrick studied under five Certified Master Chefs at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan, while honing his skills at various fine dining establishments.
In 2000, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Culinary Specialist, allowing him to merge his love for cooking with his desire to serve his country. His impressive career includes being a cook on a nuclear submarine, training Afghan Army soldiers in foodservice, serving as chef to two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and cooking at the White House under two Presidential administrations.
Derrick is passionate about mentoring and teaching, with a long-term goal of becoming a leader in culinary education to help future chefs succeed.
Elena M. Wisler
CEPC, AAC
Elena’s pastry career spanned several decades where she worked in hotels, country clubs, corporate dining, and education. In 2022, Elena retired from commercial kitchens.
After furthering her education in photography, she launched ED&G Photography where she combines all her zeal for eating, drinking and gardening into her photography company. Elena is currently serving bloggers and industry partners with her food photography and has two online galleries: one for food and one for nature.
Elena is a Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC®)a, Fellow of the American Academy of Chefs (AAC®) and an approved ACF Judge. She continues to freely share her time and knowledge assisting other culinarians reach their goals through certification and competition.
In her spare time, Elena enjoys gardening, exercising, volunteering, reading and most of all spending time with her husband, Michael.
Michael J. Beriau
C.E.C., A.A.C.
Michael J. Beriau is an esteemed Executive Chef with over 40 years of experience, complemented by a decade in various culinary roles. He graduated at the top of his class from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he was recognized as the “Student Most Likely to Succeed.”
Chef Beriau has led culinary teams at some of New England’s finest hotels, resorts, and private clubs, specializing in menu design, recipe generation, and innovative buffet and plate presentations. He served as the Executive Chef at White Cliffs Country Club from 2004 to 2016 and previously worked as Corporate Executive Chef at Dole and Bailey, Inc., gaining extensive knowledge of the American cattle industry.
A Certified ACF Competition Judge, he is respected for his insightful critiques and has received numerous accolades, including multiple gold medals at international culinary competitions. Michael continues to share his expertise as a keynote speaker and culinary demonstrator across the U.S. and the Caribbean.
Edward Adel
C.E.C., A.A.C.
Edward Adel is a Professor culinary arts Johnson County Community College and a ACF Certified Culinary judge.
Edward has worked at Johnson County Community College for 15 years, previous to that he spent 30 years in hotels and restaurants working an executive chef and Food and Beverage director. Most recently I was and advisor to the Culinary Olympic Junior team in 2024, the Coach to Junior team USA in 2020 for the IKA in Germany, and the captain of a regional team at the culinary Olympics in 2016. I have coach culinary teams competing in regional, national, and international competitions since 2010 to present. I started competing in culinary competition in 1988 and was a junior member or the junior culinary Olympic team in 1992. I have competed in 4 different continents internationally as well as different regions of the United states.
Jason Hall
CMC
Jason Hall earned an associate degree from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts in 1995 and has built a successful culinary career across the United States, working in high-end private country clubs and restaurants from Ohio to California, as well as in the Carolinas and Florida. He currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Culinary Development for Southbend, Crown Steam & Firex of the Middleby Corporation.
Jason holds over 25 ACF and international competition medals and has been recognized for his contributions to the Northeast Florida Culinary Apprenticeship Committee. His charitable work includes supporting Habitat for Humanity and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In 2012, he became the 77th chef to pass the Certified Master Chef Exam (CMC®) at the Culinary Institute of America. As a member of ACF Culinary Team USA, he earned multiple awards in international competitions, including first place in the cold food category at the 2016 IKA Culinary Olympics. Currently, he chairs the Advisory Council of the American Master Chefs Order.