My mom is organizing her cookbooks and files in her basement (a.k.a. ‘The Culinary Cellar’) and she sent me some old Cooking Contest Newsletters from the pre-internet days before Cooking Contest Central.  Nowadays our members receive a weekly alert filled with contests, but back in the early ’90’s it arrived once a month via snail mail.  (Note:  An annual membership subscription was $25 way back then and it hasn’t changed since!  Quite a deal, eh?)  

One of the stories in the August 1992 newsletter was written by our very own Charter Member, Roxanne Chan.  It was a list of 9 contest tips for success.  Her cooking contest accomplishments and accolades could fill a book, so needless to say, this advice is from a true pro.  Every single piece of advice still holds up over 20 years later.

Contesting Tips

Written by Roxanne Chan in August 1992 Cooking Contest Newsletter

1.  For those just starting contesting, find out about local contests, festivals and newspapers;  plus send recipes to magazines that print reader’s recipes.  You have a better chance at winning locally, which will then boost your confidence.

2.  Get acquainted with the product and manufacturer.  Look at the recipes on the package to see what style and type they like – recipes from scratch or using convenience foods.

3.  Think of demographics.   If it is a national contest the ingredients should be widely available.  Some products we find in California are not readily available in Kansas, etc..

4.  Don’t develop recipes that are too avant garde.  Many winners are just new twists on an old favorite.

5.  Judges look for recipes that fit today’s lifestyle,  so check food magazines for current trends, fruits and vegetables in vogue.

6.  Put your recipe aside for a while then look at it again.  Does it still excite you?

7.  Look at recipes that you think are well written.  Try to write your in the same precise and simple language.

8.  Read and re-read the rules.  Not following the instructions can eliminate your recipe from the start, no matter how good it is!

9.  Try to enter more than one recipe.  Some contests are so hard to figure out what the judges might be looking for, especially if it is a new contest.

Roxanne Chan has been contesting for over 30 years, with 930 award-winning recipes under her belt.  Roxanne says, “I don’t enter contests specifically  for the prizes but enjoy the challenge of entering those contests that I feel suit my interest and ability, namely healthy savory dishes that feature fresh produce from my garden. But of course the prizes are a nice reward when one has met that challenge and landed in the winners’ circle.”  

She has been on a dozen and a half domestic and international trips, won a car, and attended 3 dozen cook-off’s in her cooking contest career.  Over the years some of the greatest joy has come not only from the wins, but the friendships developed along the way.  “This hobby is not only a personal one but a great social outlet as well, especially now in this electronic age where keeping in touch with cooking friends is just a click away.”