The Culinary Challenge recognizes the exceptional culinary expertise within collegiate dining. The Challenge is a live competition at the regional level, with regional winners advancing to the National Conference, where they will compete before a live audience. The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) recognizes the skills necessary for chefs to bring together within their creations – a combination of organization, talent, technique, taste, and style. The winner of the Culinary Challenge receives a medal from the American Culinary Federation, recognition during National Conference, and is highlighted in Campus Dining Today®, the official magazine of NACUFS.

The individual competitors will face off against the clock to prepare a creative entrée featuring the mandatory ingredient, an 8 to 10 pound frozen, bone-in, skin-on, whole turkey breast, to create a nutritionally balanced plate.

Submit Culinary Challenge Application

Regional Culinary Challenge Dates

Continental/Pacific Conference - March 1, 2022, at the Row, in Reno, Nevada

Midwest Conference - March 7, 2022, at Union Station, in St. Louis, Missouri

Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Conference - March 21, 2022, at Hilton Norfolk The Main, Norfolk, Virginia

Southern Conference - March 28, 2022, at the University of New Mexico, Las Cruces, New Mexico