ALBANY — Chef Lionel Hughes was in the middle of an American Culinary Federation competition a year ago when he got a call from officials at Doublegate Country Club with a job offer. The inspired Hughes promptly won the competition with his specialty — roasted duck.
A year into his job at Doublegate, Hughes returned to the site of that year-ago triumph recently and defended his championship in an ACF “mystery basket” competition. The win gave the New Orleans-born Hughes a fifth silver medal to go with the gold and two bronzes he’s garnered in 10 competitions.
