The American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter is hosting the ACF Culinary Arts Competition again for the 21st year in a row. This competition takes place during the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Show held on September 10-12.
This year, they have some exciting changes in the competition schedule. Several competition favorites remain, but they have added a few new competition formats based on current trends in the restaurant industry. These new competitions will increase the variety of flavors and competitors at the show. It will be a showcase of good food, friendly competition, and themed fun.
The ACF-Approved competition categories that will remain are:
Cold Platter
Wedding Cake
Showpiece Chocolate, Cooked Sugar, Pastillage and Marzipan
“Taste of Elegance” Pork Signature Recipe Competition
“Farm to Table Signature Recipe Competition”
The NEW open competition categories are:
“One Pot Chili”
“Grilled Cheese”
“Chowder”
For the new categories, competitors will vie for two awards. One will be “People’s Choice”, judged by the FRLA Show attendees who purchase tickets to enter the competition area to sample and vote for their favorite flavors of the day. The “Judge’s Choice” award will be earned from a panel of local executive chefs and celebrities. Each award will be given to the top three competitors in that category.
The ACF CFC Culinary Arts Competition Committee will shortly announce their “competition theme” which will be utilized for the creative design in the competition categories and encouraged with each competitor or team’s production/serving area through props and costuming. “Team Theme” prizes will be awarded daily.
Roger Newell, American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter (ACF/CFC) President, had this to say regarding the changes:
“This new format will enable more of our local restaurants to get involved in our Culinary Arts competition for more friendly and fun competition and to receive some local notoriety for their unique flavors.”
Chef Jayson, 2017 AFC/CFC, Show Chairman Emeritus, had this thought to share:
“I felt that the time was right to introduce some more trendy and fun cooking competitions in the show format which should present greater opportunities for more local chefs to get their restaurants involved.”
Steven Jayson CEC, AAC, who for twenty plus years was the ACF/CFC Show Chairman and has “passed the baton” of daily show management over to Joseph Hardiman, HAAC, CHA who is also the Chapter Treasurer. Joe will be working closely with Chef Jayson to benefit from his years as the Culinary Arts Competition Show Chairman.
Competition Schedule
September 10:
Showpiece Chocolate, Cooked Sugar,
Pastillage and Marzipan
Wedding Cake
Chili
September 11:
Taste of Elegance (Pork)
Cold Platters
Grilled Cheese
September 12:
Chowder
Farm to Table Signature Recipe
