Aug. 11, 2026 – Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College Chef Instructor Michael Carmel has earned the elite 2026 Champion award from the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ). This national honor recognizes his contributions to CAFÉ and his dedication to the culinary arts and to the next generation of hospitality professionals.
Chef Carmel has over 40 years of experience as an industry chef and educator in post-secondary education. He has served as a chef educator and culinary director at culinary schools in Chicago, Orlando and South Carolina. He leads educational seminars across the country and works with chefs and culinary educators worldwide, teaching and developing culinary curriculum.
CAFÉ President Mary Petersen said, “I am so grateful for the support and encouragement of engaged educational partners like Michael Carmel. His commitment to culinary education and its delivery, relevance and outreach is inspiring.”
As a Culinary Institute of Charleston instructor and former department head, Chef Carmel has created numerous innovative community partnerships. For example, Chef Carmel connected students with a local aquarium and its Good Catch program to teach butchery skills using sustainably caught, locally sourced seafood. The cooked seafood was then donated to a local food bank serving nearly 5,000 food-insecure community members.
Chef Carmel gives to the community, and the community responds in kind. He oversaw two annual fundraising events at Trident Technical College that served more than 1,000 people and raised over $1 million for student scholarships in a single year.
Nathan Rex, dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston, said, “For over two decades, as Chef Carmel has helped build the Culinary Institute of Charleston, he has been building the foundation upon which countless culinary careers stand. His unwavering dedication, mastery of the craft and generous spirit have left a permanent mark on every student he mentored and every colleague who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
This culinarian’s commitment to students knows no boundaries. From helping students raise funds for their study abroad trips to introducing them to international chefs, Chef Carmel’s global culinary perspective has enriched his students and helped forge the next generation of culinary leaders.
Chef Carmel has also earned the Idaho Potato Commission and CAFÉ Postsecondary Educator of the Year award in 2024 and hosted CAFÉ’s 2023 Leadership Conference.