When she retired from the Air Force earlier this year, she decided to become a chef consultant because she wanted to have a larger impact on the culinary field than opening a restaurant. And with this type of work, Chef Poullard can impact several chefs’ and organizations’ menus. As a chef consultant with her own company, Chef Opal LLC, Chef Poullard helps others with recipe testing, menu development, cooking demonstrations and as a guest chef. A firm believer in speaking things into existence, Chef Poullard encourages anyone with a culinary dream to keep at it. “If you have a dream or anything that you want to accomplish in this life, just know that it’s possible,” she said.
Chef Poullard is a Certified Culinary Educator through the ACF; she also carries a Professional Chef 1 certification through the Culinary Institute of America and Level 2 Award in Wines through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Management. She was selected by the First Lady of the United States of America, Dr. Jill Biden, to be a Guest Chef at the White House in 2023. Chef Poullard has also been selected as one of the top 12 chefs in America set to compete at the Inaugural U.S. Culinary Open in February 2025. She currently serves as the Vice President of the ACF Old Dominion Chapter as well as an Evaluator, certifying chefs across America.
HOSPITALITY NEWS NOV | Page 23
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