BYU Chef Named Utah's Best

Brigham Young University Dining Executive Chef John McDonald has been named the 2012 Utah Chef of the Year by the Beehive Chef’s Association, a chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). McDonald competed with three other chefs in a final competition that took place at the Salt Lake Marriott University Park for the ACF-recognized title.

According to BYU Dining Services, judges looked at the chef’s menu design, portion sizes, food safety, cooking technique and taste during the competition.

McDonald has worked for BYU Dining Services for six of his 24 years as a chef. He oversees all of the chefs and food organizations at BYU.

“I am always setting goals,” McDonald says. “Networking with other schools and chefs is important for getting new ideas, and then we take bits and pieces and see how they work when we try them out here at BYU.”