Some beekeeping and gastronomy-themed culinary competitions include the following:
1. Honey Recipe Contests
Many culinary competitions focus on creating dishes using honey as a primary ingredient. Some examples include:
- Beekeepers Association Honey Recipe Contest
- National Honey Board Recipe Challenge
- Local county fairs’ honey cooking contests
2. Mead Making Competitions
Mead, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey, is a popular category in many culinary competitions. Some notable mead-making contests include:
- Mead Free or Die Competition
- Mazer Cup International
- American Homebrewers Association Mead Competition
3. Pollinator-Friendly Cooking Challenges
These competitions focus on creating dishes that support and promote pollinator conservation. Participants are encouraged to incorporate ingredients that help sustain bee populations. Examples include:
- Pollinator Plate Challenge
- Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity Cooks’ Alliance competition
- Local farm-to-table cooking competitions with a focus on pollinator-friendly foods
4. Farm-to-Table Chef Showdowns
These competitions challenge chefs to create dishes using locally sourced ingredients, including honey and other bee-related products. Some popular farm-to-table chef showdowns include:
- Farm Aid Chef Challenge
- James Beard Foundation’s Farm-to-Table Cooking Competition
- Local farmers’ market chef cook-offs
5. Beekeeping Skills Competitions
While not strictly culinary, beekeeping skills competitions often include challenges related to honey extraction, hive maintenance, and beekeeping knowledge. Some well-known beekeeping competitions include:
- Eastern Apiculture Society Conference and Tradeshow
- American Beekeeping Federation Annual Conference
- International Bee Research Association Beekeeping Competition