Last week’s premiere of Chef Ed Porter’s documentary, The Food That Fuels, at UC Merced was a celebration of community, sustainability, and collaboration. The film highlights the Central Valley’s dedicated farmers and the transformative impact of regenerative agriculture, and it was an honor to be part of such an inspiring evening.
We are proud to share those four members of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) played integral roles in this event. Chef Nicole Fleming, Chef Jonathan Gutierrez, Chef Anthony Pangelina, and Chef Mitch Vanagten not only appeared in the film but also worked together to organize the screening, guest panel discussion and food for the networking reception.
The evening concluded with a vibrant networking reception where attendees enjoyed dishes prepared by Monterey Bay Chef members using ingredients sourced directly from the farmers featured in the film.
A heartfelt thank you to Chef Ed Porter for sharing his vision and to all who joined us for this special event. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented chefs and to support a shared mission of honoring the farmers and food systems that nourish us.
