THE OPPORTUNITY – WHY PARTICIPATE?

• Cash prizes in each category (see below).
• Recognition as one of the top chefs in the country – in online competition broadcast and social media amplification.
• Notoriety for your brand – through a dedicated public relations effort celebrating the winning chefs and their culinary creations.
• Tools for self-promotion – Each finalist will receive a portfolio of public relations assets including photos and video.
• All-expense paid trip to California’s Napa Valley, where the final cook-off competition will take place at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia.

THREE CATEGORIES WITH TWO CHANCES TO REACH THE FINALS

Chefs will be asked to create dairy-centric dishes. Each participant will submit one recipe in either the Appetizer or Entrée category and everyone is allowed to submit in the Dessert category. The categories are as follows:

Appetizer – This category offers chefs the chance to focus on creating innovative Cal-Mex dishes that stand out and would make strong first impressions on diners.

Entrée – For this category, we will ask the chefs to create innovative center-of-the-plate Cal-Mex dishes that could become signature items on a menu.

Dessert – There are numerous Mexican desserts that showcase dairy as a primary flavor and ingredient. For example, flan, pay du queso (cheesecake), dulce de leche, tres leches cake, etc.  Again, this category will challenge chefs to provide their interpretation of a dairy-centric Cal-Mex dessert dish.

PRIZE MONEY

• Each category winner receives a trophy and $5,000
• Each category runner-up receives a certificate and $1,500
• Non-finalists receive a certificate and $500 each