Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel chef earns culinary distinction

WORLEY — Alex Santos-Cucalon has earned Certified Executive Chef status from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) for completing an array of educational requirements and work experience.

Santos-Cucalon's certification is valid for 5 years.  

“Becoming an ACF Certified Executive Chef is a professional milestone that I take great pride in achieving,” said Santos-Cucalon. “It’s my goal and that of Coeur d’Alene Casino to provide our guests with top-notch food and beverage experiences.” 

Under Executive Chef Santos-Cucalon’s tutelage, Coeur d’Alene Casino is working with North Idaho College and ACF in a three-year apprenticeship program. It entails the Casino hosting an NIC student for three years, during which they spend one day a week doing classroom work at NIC and four days doing on-the-job training.

The student then graduates with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Culinary Arts and a Certified Sous Chef certificate from the ACF.

Wasting no time flexing his executive chef acumen, he recently introduced a dry-aging steak program at the Casino’s Chinook Steak, Seafood & Pasta restaurant, which is regularly selling out and drawing rave reviews.