Competitions

Competitions play a vital role in culinary arts as they continually raise the standards of culinary excellence. There is no better way for a culinarian to hone their craft than by putting their skills and knowledge to the test in a competitive format.

Participation in ACF approved competitions will also earn you continuing education hours for ACF certification.

2023 National Competition Qualifiers

March 11–13, 2023
Location: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas

2023 awards applications and competition guidelines are now available. The deadline to submit applications is December 31, 2022.

• U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year™
• Pastry Chef of the Year
• Student Chef of the Year
• Student Pastry Chef of the Year
• Student Team of the Year

The deadline to submit the 2023 Chef Educator of the Year application is December 31, 2022. CEHs can be sent as a separate document, but must be attached when sending applications via email to competitions@acfchefs.org.

• Chef Educator of the Year

ACF Competition Calendar

View upcoming competitions.

ACF Competition Manuals

• Professional Competition Manual (3.19 MB)
• Student Competition Manual (4.5 MB) - Updated 10/16/2019

Add Credibility to Your Competition

Register your competition with ACF.

ACF Culinary Knowledge bowl

Join us during the 2023 ACF National Convention, July 17–19, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana, for a “jeopardy-style” competition covering topics such as nutrition, baking, safety and sanitation, and the arts of classical and modern cooking. More

Student Team

Each year, four student teams prove themselves worthy of a greater challenge—the ACF Student Team Championship.

ACF Culinary Team USA

ACF Culinary Team USA exemplifies professionalism and creativity in major international culinary competitions. More

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