Saturday, July 13, 2013

NACA Executive Chef and Founder, Nephi Craig



Executive Chef Nephi Craig Bio
 
Exec. Chef Nephi Craig
Nephi Craig is an enrolled member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Craig is also half Navajo on his late-father’s side. Chef Craig is also the chef and founder of The Native American Culinary Association (NACA) is an organization/network that is dedicated to the research, refinement, and development of Native American Cuisine. NACA has been developed to provide authentic, quality representation of Native Peoples in professional cookery. The Native American Culinary Association also serves as a networking tool for professional Native Chefs and emerging culinary talent. Chef and NACA Founder Nephi Craig provides training, workshops and lecture sessions on Native American Cuisine to schools, restaurants and tribal entities from across America and abroad. A highlight of his work with NACA is when Nephi was able to help prepare a Native American themed menu for the renowned James Beard Foundation at the James Beard House in New York City. This was Craig’s second James Beard Dinner in two years.

NACA Chef Nephi Craig has served as head chef for four international tasting dinners.
These culinary events were held in London, UK; Cologne, Germany; and Osaka, Japan. Chef Craig has also served as head chef in Sao Paulo, Brazil working for the United States
Consulate and Senac College providing training, workshops, and various tasting dinners
showcasing Native American Cuisine during the Shared Indigenous Heritage Festival
in April 2007.


Nephi Craig is also the co-founder and CEO of The Western Apache Center for Food and Agriculture or WACFA, a not-for-profit organization dedicated the protection of land, food, people and water rights in Western Apacheria. Executive Chef Craig, lends his international experience, vision and expertise in Restorative Indigenous Culinary Practices to the development of WACFA in order to empower local communities through indigenous food and agriculture.


OTHER WORKS
Craig is also a published author. Craig has written pieces for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. and the Center for American Indian Elderly. Craig writes about the current state and evolution of Native American culinary traditions affected by hunting, fishing and agricultural rights, as well as United States and Indian relations in Native American History.


Chef Nephi Craig is currently the Executive Chef at the Sunrise Park Resort Hotel on the White Mountain Apache Tribe.