One of New Hampshire’s top chefs can be found busy working in the kitchen every weekday – overseeing meals for students in Pelham and Windham.

Rick Sariceno, 40, the director of food services for the Pelham and Windham school districts was recently named 2007 Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation Professional Chefs of New Hampshire.

“You’re basically recognized by your peers for what you’ve done as a chef and what you’ve done for the organization,” said Sariceno, who was honored at the chapter’s recent Epicurean Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Nashua.

The chapter serves southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. The group promotes the culinary profession and the interests and welfare of chefs, cooks, pastry chefs and culinary students, according to its Web site.

The group hosts chocolate festivals, golf tournaments and other events and raises money for scholarships and charity.

Sariceno has been active with the group 10 years and has served two terms as vice president. He was nominated by previous winners and elected by the group’s members.

“(It’s) not necessarily who’s the best cook in the room, but who’s done a lot for the chapter,” he said. “There’s many pieces to the puzzle that makes up chef of the year.”

“I was very flattered,” he added.

“I was humbled, totally surprised, but it’s an honor, it really is.” Sariceno, who said he comes from a family of good cooks and whose background is in classical dining, has spent about two decades working in kitchens.

He earned an associates degree in culinary arts at New Hampshire College – now known as Southern New Hampshire University – in 1987, and worked at various hotels, restaurants and country clubs, places he said that had high expectations for their chefs.

Three years ago, the two school districts were looking for a new food service director. A fellow chef who was working for another school district passed along Sariceno’s name for the job.

Sariceno, who began working for the school districts in August 2004, calls his position a “dream job.” After working many hours, weekends and holidays over the years, the Nashua resident now has more time to spend with his teenage son. And administrators give him the freedom to get the best products he can and to experiment with different offerings for students.

Sariceno’s office is at Pelham Elementary School. He oversees about 35 employees who provide 2,200 to 2,500 meals daily to students at seven schools.

“I think I bring a unique talent as far as going from the private sector to what I do now,” Sariceno said. “I think I bring a different eye, as a professional chef, to a school setting.”

In his job, Sariceno said, he tries to provide students – whom he calls his customers – with foods they will like that are also healthy. He is interested in hearing from the kids about their particular tastes.

Chicken Caesar wraps have been a big hit at Pelham High School. GoGurt, yogurt in tubes, is popular with younger students.

“This award is a feather in my cap, obviously as an individual, but as well as the school districts’ because they’re allowing me the freedom to do what I need to do to service, cater to all the kids,” said Sariceno.

“A lot of that goes to my staff,” he added. “I couldn’t do it without them. I credit my staff for being caring and dedicated to the kids.”