Submission Guidelines:

• Open to individuals and all culinary programs
• Open to secondary and post-secondary schools
• Include all contact information in your application
• Entries judged in the areas of quality of design, applicability, replicability, stewardship, success in implementation of the project or concept, impact upon the college and community and thoughtful innovation in practice and technique.

Deadline is April 1, 2020.

Submissions will be electronic and sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with Entrepreneurship Award in the subject line.

Winners will be notified no later than May 1. The Award will be given out at the 16th Annual CAFÉ Leadership Conference in Portland, Maine, at the Award Ceremony on the evening of June 17. The Award winner(s) will be given a complimentary registration to the conference. Travel and hotel will not be covered. Cash prize is $1,000.

For more information, email Mary Petersen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Back to School ... And Start Learning About Seafood!

The National Aquaculture Association would like you to complete an on-line survey, click here.

As a thank you for your time, they will send you a flash drive loaded with all kinds of information and a variety of other materials. All of these materials were designed to help you provide you/your students with science-based answers to their questions. Students are also invited to participate.

Don't Delay ... Get Started on Your Plans for 2020 Professional Development

The 8th Annual Deans and Directors Retreat (limited to 50 attendees) will be held in New Orleans, March 13-15, 2020.

It’s all about CHANGE!!

We will hear about Innovation Leadership, Future Food/Art and Science, Cannabis Ingredients, Plant Forward, Funding Your Program, Food Product Development, Ted-style talks from your peers, and some very celebrated speakers such as Poppy Tooker and Chef Charles Carroll.

Don’t wait! Hotel rooms are scarce! For registration and more information, click here.

The 16th Annual CAFÉ Leadership Conference will be in Maine, June 17-19, hosted by Southern Maine Community College.

The program is a full one, starting with a lobster boat ride (or brew pub tour or chocolate classes). We will have a full day of industry updates and a full day of educational best practices.

This is the best, most culinary-education directed event in the year. Bring your friends and enjoy the magic of Portland, Maine in the summer!

For registration and more information, click here.

IMPORTANT DATES

Cut Off Date for Deans and Directors Hotel
February 27, 2020

Deans and Directors Retreat
“A Case for Change”
March 13-15, 2020, New Orleans

Applications Due for CAFE Awards
April 1, 2020

Awards Announced
May 1, 2020

Cut off Date for Leadership Conference Hotel
May 16, 2020

16th Annual CAFE Leadership Conference
“Innovations and Inspirations”
June 17-19, 2020, Portland, Maine

Idaho Potato Commission Innovation Awards

CAFE is proud to be partnering with the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) once again as they sponsor the Innovation Awards for 2020.

This Award recognizes educators and/or programs at both the secondary and postsecondary levels who have shown to be innovative in their approaches to effective culinary arts education.

Examples of innovations can be in the areas of:

• New programs or
• New delivery methods or
• New partnerships or
• New relations with the local community

Click here for more information about the Innovations Award.

Sysco Educator of the Year Award

Thanks to Sysco for again sponsoring the Educator of the Year Award for 2020! This award is open to secondary and postsecondary educators as well as culinary educators working within the non-profit training sector. There will be two awards given.

The Committee will be looking for:

• a description of methodologies that exemplify innovative teaching techniques. Give examples.
• evidence of the educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and foodservice industry which might include school committee work, professional networking, and community involvement.
• a resume with the application.
• descriptions of ongoing professional development in both instructional and technical skills in the last few years.
• overall evidence that the educator has proven leadership in his/her profession; examples may include peer reviews, student evaluations, letters of recommendation, certificates and honors received, etc.

For more information about the Educator of the Year Awards, click here.