By Holly Beal
Chef Sarah Leavell, Executive Sous Chef at Cox Business Center and BOK Center, won a silver medal in the Hot Food Division of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) competition and placed third overall in the division. The competition took place during the Oklahoma Food & Equipment Expo in Oklahoma City.
Leavell isn’t new to culinary competitions. She won a bronze medal in the same competition and category last year and received 
top honors in the Oklahoma Restaurant Association Culinary Cup competition in 2017. Leavell has also represented Oklahoma twice in the Chain des Rotisseurs Young Chef Southwest Regional competition.
“We’re proud of Chef Sarah for both her winning medals and her winning heart,” said Assistant General Manager Angie Teel, CMP. “Beyond creating wonderful meals for performing artists, convention attendees and gala guests at Cox Business Center and BOK Center, she also manages to find the time to pursue her passion for culinary competitions and give back to the community by mentoring young people.”
An 11-year member of the ACF, Leavell is the secretary of the Tulsa chapter and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Society and National Technical Honor Society. She is a graduate of the OSU-IT Culinary Program and the Indian Capital Technology Center’s ProStart Program. She now serves on both the ProStart and OSU-IT Culinary Program Advisory committees, and also mentors with the Nathan Hale High School Culinary program and recently taught basic culinary skills to a local Girl Scouts troop.
Holly Beal is communications manager for SMG Tulsa.
