Show us how you use California dairy products on your menu for the chance to win $1,000 and have your recipe recreated in the Chef’s Roll studio!
Calling all US-based chefs and culinary professionals! Real California Milk wants to see all of the ways you showcase California dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, cultured and frozen dairy) on your menus. In this exciting new contest, you’ll submit a dish from a recent, current or upcoming menu item featuring California dairy products. 8 dishes will be selected as our winners and will be recreated in the Chef’s Roll Studio. Plus, the 8 winning chefs will each receive $1,000!
DISH REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Dairy ingredients (made from cow’s milk) must be a California brand
- Avoid burrata- or ricotta-focused recipes
- Prioritize high-protein dishes, hot and spicy flavor combinations paired with dairy, innovative mozzarella-forward recipes, non-alcoholic beverages using fluid milk and on-trend dishes*
- *Trends for dish consideration:
- Protein + fiber dish
- Global Cuisine: Kerala, Upscale Indian, Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, Caribbean
- Global coffee recipe
- Creative fusions of global flavors
- Swangy (sweet + tangy) or swavory (sweet + savory) flavors
- Wellness-driven concept: functional, gut health, antioxidants, collagen
- Portion-conscious
- Value/budget-conscious
- Customizable meal
- Nostalgic flavors with modern twists
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- Dish Submission: If you are interested in competing, submit your dish below by May 10, 2026. You are required to include a detailed dish description and a photo of your menu item featuring California dairy products. California dairy product(s) should be the hero ingredient(s) of the dish and it can be a breakfast/lunch/dinner appetizer/entrée/dessert or even a non-alcoholic beverage! We’re looking for cutting edge dishes that showcase today’s leading culinary trends, so while we love pizzas, flatbreads and sandwiches, we’re looking outside of those categories.
- Finalist Selection: 8 winners will be notified on or around June 8, 2026. To claim the $1,000 cash prize, winning Chefs must provide the full recipe for their submitted dish by June 15, 2026.
ENTER HERE
Terms and conditions apply. The full contest rules can be found here.
PRIZES
Eight Prize Winners will each receive $1,000 and their winning dish will be recreated in the Chef’s Roll studio to be photographed. Real California Milk will utilize the recipes, along with supporting imagery/video, across publicity efforts, such as earned and paid placements in foodservice trade media, owned social and digital content.
Images courtesy Real California Milk.
