Chef Tomecek honored with AAC Award

Western Tech’s culinary arts instructor to be honored with 2024 American Academy of Chefs Joseph Amendola Award
Posted on 04/09/2024
Western Tech’s culinary arts instructor to be honored with 2024 American Academy of Chefs Joseph Amendola AwardTowson, Md. – The American Academy of Chefs has selected Lisa Tomecek, culinary arts instructor at Western School of Technology, to receive its 2024 Joseph Amendola Award.

The award will be presented to Tomecek during the American Academy of Chefs National Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., on Tuesday, July 16. The honor is named after Joseph Amendola, an ice sculptor and pastry chef renowned for mentoring future pastry chefs.

“Chef Tomecek's celebrated career and unwavering commitment to the art of pastry and baking have rightfully earned this prestigious award,” said Western Tech Principal Jewell M. Ralph. “This accolade, a testament to Chef Tomecek's dedication, recognizes the mastery of culinary skills and the generous spirit of mentorship that has inspired a new generation of chefs. I am ecstatic that she is shaping the minds of our culinary students.”

Last year, Tomecek was inducted into the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the oldest food and wine society in the world. In 2022, she was awarded a Presidential Medallion by the American Culinary Federation and was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs.

Tomecek has 13 years of industry experience. Her last private industry position was as executive chef/pastry chef for a local caterer. She has been a chef instructor for BCPS for more than 19 years.

Under her direction, Western Tech’s Culinary Arts program earned the distinguished ACF Education Foundation Accreditation in 2022. In addition to serving as chef instructor at Western Tech, Tomecek also serves as the school’s student service-learning coordinator. She is an ACF Certified Executive Pastry Chef, Approved Certification Evaluator, and serves as president of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of ACF. She also is a certified foodservice director and recognized by the National Restaurant Association as a Premier ProStart Instructor/Proctor and ServSafe Instructor/Proctor.