2025 'Chopped' Mushroom Cooking Contest

The 40th Mushroom Festival's Amateur Cook off is going to be our version of a “Chopped” Challenge. Our Mushroom Cooking challenge will be similar to the show you have seen on the Food Network. The Mushroom Festival's 'Chopped' challenge will be to cook a dish, utilizing all the foods in the mystery basket.  The mystery basket will be provided to the competitors prior to the start of the competition and opened when the competition begins. Competitors will use the ingredients to make their tasty, creative dish which will feature MUSHROOMS.

Events will be held at the Mushroom Festival Culinary Stage @ S. Union St., on Saturday, September 6th at 10am and 2pm and ending with a finale on Sunday, September 7th at 10 AM.

A finale will feature the final FOUR winners, TWO from the Saturday morning competition and TWO from the Saturday afternoon competion who will advance to compete in a cook off finalee on Sunday, September 7th at 10 am.

Contestants need to be available to compete both days if they win on Saturday!

Applying and competing in the Adult Chopped Challenge: 

·      Must be 18 years of age or over

·      Must be able to appear and compete on Sunday, September 8th if chosen as a winner in either of the two competitions on Saturday.

·      Contestants must cook their dish in 30 minutes or less.

·      One dish will need to be provided to each of the THREE judges. Judges will critique the dishes based on taste, presentation, creativity and the best use of mushrooms. 

·      Applications must be submitted thru Eventeny.  No paper applications will be available.

·      Applications must be received no later than Friday, August 8h.

·      FIVE contestants will be chosen at random to compete in each of Saturday's contests

·      Chosen contestants will be notified by Monday, August 18th.

Bring your culinary tools!

Each contestant MUST bring their own culinary items for the competition:

·      Knives

·      Cooking utensils

·      Pots and pans or any other kitchen items they like to use.

·      Small appliances such as toaster, or mixer.  Please bring your own heavy duty electric cord to supply electric to your appliance.

No contestant is permitted to bring any food items whatsoever!

Contestants will be provided:

·      2 6-8 foot tables

·      2 gas burners

·      A pot of boiling water

·      Butter

·      Extra-virgin olive oil

·      Salt and pepper

     ·      Pantry items will be on location. Contestants will get a few minutes before the competition begins to look over the pantry items.

Contestants will not know what items are in the mystery basket until the contest begins.

First place winner on Sunday will receive $1,000 and a Mushroom Festival swag bag!  

All other contestants will each receive Mushroom Festival swag bag!