Culinary Competition Submission

It’s time to get your winning team together!

AHF’s Culinary Competition is a career-changing opportunity for our competing member teams. Five teams of two are selected from self-operated facilities around the country. Each year our five teams compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze spots across a 75-minute timed competition with set ingredient options selected from AHF’s curated Market Basket. Competitors are selected through a rigorous, blinded, selection process. In 2019 AHF had its highest-ever submission rate and competition to gain a coveted spot was fierce. In 2020 AHF ran a virtual showcase in light of the pandemic. We are excited to get back to our regularly scheduled Culinary Competition. Be sure to attend AHF 2021 and watch our teams go for the Gold. 

    • 2021 Competition Rules – Coming Soon

For teams looking to submit themselves for selection, please read all our rules, regulations, and tips below carefully. Please be sure to request any additional equipment in the application.

    • You must have all the required documents in order to submit your application online.
    • When submitted successfully, you will receive a confirmation email with your completed form contents and a link to edit.
    • You may use the link to edit your submission before the deadline.

Deadline to apply: TBA

If you have any questions, please email AHF Staff at culinary@healthcarefoodservice.org.

Culinary Competition Past Finalists

Need inspiration? Click below to see a gallery of final plated dishes of past competition finalists.

Get Inspired

Webinar 

AHF panel of chefs presented a 30-minute webinar on tips and tricks to get your team selected for this year’s competition! Hear from 2019’s gold medalists Michael Vetro, CEC and Rick Farmer, CEC on some of the strategies that helped them stay focused and succeed. Moderated by Culinary Competition chairman, Michael Vetro, CEC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are you limited to how many items you can use in Basket B?

No, there is not a maximum, but you are required to use 3 items in Basket B; you can use more if you wish to. Be intentional about it.

Can the competitors heat water prior to the start of the competition?

Yes, we allowed this in previous years and will allow it again. 

Can the competitors bring their own stock?

Yes. If you wish to bring your own stock, you must find a way to ship it to the hotel and store it safely. The stock must be included in your original recipe and meet the nutritional guidelines.

Can you apply to compete with another member in a sister facility?

No, both team members must be from the same facility. Two teams from the same system may apply separately.

Can one team submit more than one recipe?

Yes, this has been done in previous years.

How many portions are you expected to prepare?

6 portions

When will the applicants find out if their team has been selected?

Typically this has been announced by the end of May, but the 2020 competition timeline will likely be earlier to allow more time for compeitors to prepare and those who did not select to identify other ways to attend AHF 2020.

Can you use sous vide?

Yes, sous vide is allowed. If you would like to bring additional equipment than what is provided on the Equipment List, please submit for approval on the online application.

Can you do Sous vide finishing or ahead?

No, you cannot do sous vide ahead. You will have to start the sous vide at the beginning of the 75 mins.

How many teams compete?

There are 5 teams of 2.

Will there be storage and refrigeration space available?

Yes, both dry storage and refrigeration will be available the day prior to the competition. More instructions will be given to selected finalists.

How much time will we have before the start of the competition?

1 hour to wash vegetables, arrange the space, boil water. No cutting vegetables will be allowed.

Are we supposed to go shopping for the ingredients before the competition?

Market basket ingredients will be provided for you. Any additional ingredients must be picked up before the event.  Local grocery stores in Orlando will be provided. If you are shipping any products, shipping instructions will be given to you.

Do we need to bring our own wash and sanitation station?

To be determined, varies by conference location. Your runner will have access to it during the competition.

Will there be station storage available?

Each team will be given a speed rack, with sheet trays that can be used to organize your materials.

Can the mystery ingredient be free of common allergens?

Yes, the committee will keep that in consideration when selecting.

Are eggs counted as an additional protein?

No, not if it is not center of the plate

Is there a list of food vendors that service the hotel?

Please contact culinary@healthcarefoodservice.org, so we can provide you with what will be made available.

Do we bring our own plates or are they provided?

AHF will provide each team with the 12″ white plates.

Is the selection committee using a specific software to determine nutrition requirements that we can use to be sure they match?

We recommend using whatever your hospital uses or a commercial version. Please do not use an open source one from the Internet.

When is the cost of the market basket provided?

Applicants should use their own costs for the market basket ingredients.

Testimonials

There was a great variety of sessions available that met the needs of everyone attending. I felt they were truly beneficial for my organization.

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The Fundraiser was the best ever. It was very interactive and created some new relationships especially for the new members

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Support is always amazing and friendly and full of knowledge. Great locations for the AHF Conferences. This is an event we look forward to every year.

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The educational content was great! I loved all the speakers. I got many ideas to take back and energize my team with!

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I love the camaraderie. You all have done a great job creating a culture that makes people want to come back!

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Phenomenal organization where everyone clearly cares and has a unified mission to support the members in their path to success.

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