The Chef to Chef Conference, renowned for its rich tradition of culinary innovation and networking, is raising the stakes in 2024 with the return of the Club + Resort Chef of the Year Competition. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Austin, this mystery basket-style competition promises to be a high-energy showcase of skill, creativity, and mastery.

During an evening cocktail reception on Tuesday, March 5th, four club chefs will have just 60 minutes to stir, sauté, and sous-vide their way to victory, crafting an entrée and a small plate that will seek to impress a panel of their peers. The final dishes must resonate on multiple levels, as points will be awarded based on taste, plating aesthetics, and originality. The stakes are high, with the victor claiming the coveted trophy and title of Club + Resort Chef of the Year, a grand prize of $4,000 and a feature article in Club + Resort Chef. The runner-up will also be rewarded handsomely with a $1,000 cash prize.

Sam Brod, CEC, Executive Chef of The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, was the 2023 Chef of the Year Winner. He prepared a Southwestern lamb tartare and a seared, pistou-marinated lamb t-bone.

These competitors won’t go it alone. Each chef will be paired with an apprentice, highlighting the importance of mentorship and collaboration in club culinary. Armed with diverse ingredients, state-of-the-art equipment, and elegant plateware, they’ll bring their culinary visions to life.

“This competition isn’t just a test of skill,” says Joanna DeChellis, Director of Editorial and Programming for Club + Resort Chef and the Chef to Chef Conference. “It’s a celebration of artistry and a reminder that our industry thrives on continuously challenging ourselves in new and creative ways. It’s about pushing boundaries, inspiring each other, and igniting a passion for the craft in everyone who watches these chefs compete.”

The Chef of the Year competition is an incredible opportunity for chefs to showcase their talents, but the window is closing fast. Club + Resort Chef Editors and Chef to Chef Conference Coordinators have officially opened applications. To qualify, chefs must be registered for the 2024 Chef to Chef Conference and apply now through the Club + Resort Chef of the Year Application.

“Winning this competition was my way of showing all my mentors that their years of patience and dedication have paid off,” says the 2023 Chef of the Year, Sam Brod, CEC, Executive Chef, The Landings Golf & Athletic Club (Savannah, Ga.), who worked alongside his competition apprentice, Josh Nagel, sous chef of Bald Head Island (N.C.) Club. “I hope this win helps to motivate [others] to showcase their talents beyond the walls of [their] club and continually hone their craft.”

“I [loved] the pressure of executing at that level and showcasing what I’ve learned in my career in front of my peers,” says Geoffrey Lanez, MBA, CEC, Executive Chef of The Patterson Club (Fairfield, Conn.), who competed against Brod.

Geoffrey Lanez, MBA, CEC, Executive Chef of The Patterson Club (Fairfield, Conn.) prepared coconut-glazed lamb dumplings with soy-pickled jalapeño, toasted peanuts and sesame seeds as his small plate. For the entrée, Lanez prepared spiced lamb medallions with mint chimichurri, glazed carrot, garlic-and-tomato-braised potato and a fennel salad.

“Applying for the Club + Resort Chef of the Year Competition is about showcasing your culinary skill, embracing new challenges, and seizing an opportunity for growth and recognition,” says Scott Craig, WCMC, Executive Chef of Cullasaja Club, one of the Chef to Chef Conference Coordinators and one of the 2020 Club + Resort Chefs of the Year.

Apply here.

The Club + Resort Chef of the Year Culinary Competition is vital in the Chef to Chef Conference, offering an exciting, live cooking experience for attendees and competitors.

Former Club + Resort Chef of the Year winners include:

2023: Sam Brod, CEC, Executive Chef of The Landings Golf & Athletic Club
2022: Robert Meitzer, CEC, AAC, Forest Lake Country Club
2022: James Allen, CEC, Blackthorn Club at the Ridges
2020: Scott Craig, CEC, CCA, WCMC, Myers Park Country Club
2020: J. Kevin Walker, CMC, AAC Ansley Golf Club
2019: Eva Barrios, CEC, Austin Country Club
2019: Nelson Millán, San Antonio Country Club
2018: Brandon Gross, The Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington D.C
2017: Todd Walline, CEC, CCA, Blue Hills Country Club
2016: Thayer Johnson, Castlewood Country Club