The fourth annual International Canteen Championship will take place on June 17–18, 2025, at the Food Pavilion of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, which serves as a learning center for university students.
The CZU Dormitory and Canteen and their partner, Delirest Services, s. r. o., traditionally organize gastronomic competitions. In cooperation with experts, the organizers have set simple rules reflecting current gastronomic trends. Again, they use their experience with daily operations and canteen options.
This year, four teams will participate in the culinary competition: the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Primirest, and the domestic CZU–Delirest Services, s. r. o.
The central theme of the competition for 2025 is Think globally, eat locally. The competition teams will prepare a two-course menu consisting of a main course and dessert. The mandatory ingredients are potatoes, chicken, cottage cheese, and apples. The organizers recommend the use of seasonal ingredients.
This year, four categories will be in the game: Full menu / Audience Award / Nutritional balance / Sustainability.
The jury will assess the final products from many perspectives. The final evaluation will take into account parameters such as the taste and appearance of the competition dishes, their attractiveness, trendy culinary arrangements, laboriousness of preparation, compliance with HACCP, energy intake of 25 to 35 percent of the student's total daily energy intake, the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the content of selected micronutrients, the type of fat used according to the composition, the fiber content, the type of ingredients used, the origin of the ingredients, processing, the efficiency of the use of ingredients and energy intensity. The jury will consist of experts, professional chefs, gastronomy fans, and students.
This year, visitors can expect a rich accompanying program. They can try out the InBody device for free, taste insect flour desserts, test their senses in the sensory laboratory, and, of course, taste the competition menu. This year, Jiří Babica will take care of the culinary show.
The program also includes expert lectures by Dr. Diana Chrpová from CZU on dishes suitable for a gastrointestinal diet and Dr. Jan Pivoňka from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague on long-term sustainability and carbon footprint.
The 2025 Canteen Championship will once again offer not only competitive tension and inspiring performances by culinary teams but also the opportunity to taste modern, healthy, and sustainable dishes prepared with an emphasis on local ingredients and a professional approach.
