FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules?
- Contestant must use ALL 3 Mystery Ingredients in Dish for each Round.
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Round 1 – All recipes and pictures and/or video must be turned in by Oct 11, 2025 5pm PST to qualify for competition.
Recipes will then be reviewed by Sysco Representatives and be narrowed down to
5 Winners per Site (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Modesto).
Winners will be announced at the Sysco Holiday Food Shows October 28 & 30, 2025.
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Round 2 – In-person competition for Round 2: contestant will be held at each site in Jan 2026.
Each contestant will cook solo and be given a station with equipment. They will have use of the Sysco Pantry,
in addition to the 3 Mystery Ingredients. They will also have use of the Sysco kitchen large equipment
to share between all contestants. The round will be 45 minutes, with time starting when the Mystery Ingredients are revealed.
A panel of judges will use a point system to score dishes based on Taste, Innovation, Use of Mystery Ingredients.
- Round 3 – In-person competition for Round 3 will be held at CIA Copia in Napa, CA in March 2026. Each contestant will cook with the help of their Sous Chef and be given a station with equipment. They will have use of the Sysco Pantry, in addition to the 3 Mystery Ingredients. They will also have use of the CIA kitchen large equipment to share between all contestants. The round will be 45 minutes, with time starting when the Mystery Ingredients are revealed. A panel of judges will use a point system to score dishes based on Taste, Innovation, Use of Mystery Ingredients.
Who is eligible to compete?
Contestants must have an active Customer ID number with Sysco.
Sysco colleagues are not allowed to compete.
What are the important dates and deadlines?
Round 1: August 18–October 11, 2025. Recipes must be submitted by October 11, 2025 5pm PST.
Round 2: Winners from Round 1 must be available for an in-person contest in January 2026.
Round 3: Winners from Round 2 must be available for an in-person contest in March 2026.
Where will the competitions be held?
Round 2: In-person competitions will be held at your aligned Sysco site (Sysco San Francisco, Sysco Sacramento, or Sysco Modesto) in January 2026.
Round 3: The final in-person competition will take place at CIA Copia in Napa, CA in March 2026.
What are the prizes?
Round 1 Semi-Finalists:
Receive one personally engraved Chef Knife and a
$250 Credit on Sysco Invoice (week of Nov 9-15,2025)
15 Total prizes will be awarded
Round 2 Finalists:
Win a trip to Napa, Ca for the Finals including: 2 Night Hotel stay (2 rooms: one for the finalist plus guest and one for their sous chef plus guest)
VIP Dinner
$500 in McCormick Product
3 Finalists in Total
Round 3 Final Winner:
$1,000 Credit on Sysco account for Libbey products.
$2000 Cash Prize
Dinner for 4 at Michelin Star Restaurant (Chef+guest/Sous Chef+guest) Valued at $4000
Feature on Sysco Social Sites
1 Winner will be selected.