2024 ADULT Mushroom Cooking Contest

The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival celebrates our local mushroom industry, and our Kennett Square Community—the Mushroom Capital of the World. Festival attendees can sample a variety of mushroom inspired foods, from deep fried mushrooms to mushroom jerky and more. Learn about our unique process of growing mushrooms, meet our local mushroom farmers and take home local mushrooms! Attendees can also visit over 100 craft and food vendors, who offer mushroom-themed goodies while visiting the delightful Kennett Square boutiques, and enjoy a variety of restaurant options in downtown Kennett Square! The Mushroom Festival is a nonprofit organization, which distributes a portion of the proceeds from the festival, to various non profit community organizations thru a grant process. Please review our grant recipients on our website! Thank you for your continued support.

This year’s Amateur cook-off is going to be our version of a “Chopped” Challenge. Events will be held at the Mushroom Festival Culinary Stage (on Union Street at Cypress Street) on Saturday, September 7th at 10am OR 2pm AND the FINALE will be on Sunday, September 8th at 10 AM.

 

Applying for Adult Chopped Challenge (must be 18 years or over). Contestants must also be available both Saturday and Sunday if they make it to the finale on Sunday.

 

Rules & Descriptions:

The Chopped challenge is similar to the show you have seen on the Food Network. The Mushroom Festival‘s “Chopped” challenge is to combine all the foods in the mystery bag into a tasty and creative dish.

 

The contestants must cook their dish in 30 minutes or less. They will need to complete 3 plates for the judges. Once time is up the judges will critique the dishes based on taste, presentation, creativity and the best use of mushrooms. 

The FIRST place winner on Sunday will receive $1,000.The other contestants will each receive Mushroom Festival swag bag!

Each contestant MUST bring their own knives, cooking utensils, pots and pans or any other kitchen items they like to use. The contestants are responsible for bringing their own items. However, no contestant is allowed to bring any food items whatsoever!

 

Each contestant will have 2 tables to work from as well as 2 gas burners, a skillet, and a pot of boiling water. Contestants may bring powered machine such as a blender or small toaster however they need to provide their own outdoor power cords.

 

Each contestant’s table will be stocked with basics like butter, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. There will be pantry items for all contestants to use. The contestants will get a few minutes before the competition begins to look over the pantry items. 

 

The contestants will not know what is in the mystery bag until the contest begins.

 

Each contestant will be cooking at their own risk and the Mushroom Festival will not be held responsible for any problems or injuries. 

 

There will be 5 contestants chosen at random to compete in this challenge for each bracket on Saturday. The top 2 from each bracket will move in to the Finale on Sunday. 

 

You must apply online no later than Friday, August 16th and the chosen contestants will be notified by Monday, August 19, 2024.