AHF announces winners of its first Culinary Showcase

Centra Health in Lynchburg, Va., and Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis were named the winners of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice’s (AHF) first AHF Culinary Showcase. 

The showcase was a virtual cooking competition designed to replace the association's 2020 Culinary Competition, originally scheduled for AHF’s in-person conference that was to take place in Orlando during August.  

Competitors had to use a variety of components and one mystery ingredient (maple syrup) to create their dishes. The five teams that were finalists also had to submit a video that highlighted their techniques, the mystery ingredient and the participating chefs’ personalities. 

The submissions were voted on by AHF members and attendees of AHF’s 2020 virtual conference. The competition included two categories: a People’s Choice Award for the best recipe and presentation and a Best Video Award.

Centra Health won the People’s Choice Award for its Blackened Grouper Filet served over zucchini noodles with avocado pesto and pineapple citrus salsa, and Hennepin Healthcare won the Best Video Award for its Grouper Around the World dish. 

Both recipes will be included in AHF’s new recipe index on its website.