Orlando, FL – The American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter is excited to host 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, 2017.
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
SUNDAY, September 10th:
– Showpiece Chocolate, Cooked Sugar,
– Pastillage and Marzipan
– Wedding Cake
– Chili
MONDAY, September 11th:
– Taste of Elegance (Pork)
– Cold Platters
– Grilled Cheese
TUESDAY, September 12th:
– Chowder
– Farm to Table Signature Recipe
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The 2017 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show will take place Sunday, September 10th through Tuesday, September 12th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The Show is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (www.frla.org). For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit the official Show website at www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com. The tradeshow and conference is managed and produced by Urban Expositions, www.urban-expo.com, owned by Clarion Events.
Source: Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show
