THINK YOUR HOT DISH IS THE HOTTEST 
OR YOUR CASSEROLE IS KING? 

MINNEAPOLIS (September 14, 2026) --- Kelber Catering has cooked up a brand-new culinary event designed to bring the Twin Cities food community together. Registration is now open for City of 10,000 Flavors – A Culinary Competition, a celebration of the creativity, talent, and diverse flavors of both professional chefs and home cooks. The inaugural competition will take place Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The Home Cook Division of the City of 10,000 Flavors Culinary Competition celebrates the dishes that bring people together around the table. This division is designed for passionate home cooks who may not have professional culinary training but have a favorite recipe, family tradition, cultural specialty, or signature dish they are proud to share. The Home Cook winner not only receives a $5,000 cash prize, but their dish will be available on Kelber Catering’s menu for 2027! 

Registration Now Open for Home Cooks 

Registration is open now through October 15, 2026. Participants must be 18 or older.

Home cooks are encouraged to provide a recipe for a complete, composed dish similar in style to a hot dish, casserole, baked entrée, or one-pot meal. Dishes may reflect the contestant's family heritage, cultural traditions, personal experiences, Minnesota influences, or their own creativity. Traditional recipes are welcome, as are creative interpretations and completely original dishes.

Potential contestants should submit a complete recipe for their competition dish, including ingredients, quantities, preparation instructions, and any sauces, toppings, garnishes, or accompaniments that are considered part of the finished entry.

Registration details and competition materials are available at Kelber Catering’s City of 10,000 Flavors registration page. Interested competitors can download the registration form and submit it to Kelber Catering. For additional information about the competition, contact Kelber Catering at 612-335-6157. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

City of 10,000 Flavors

Inaugural Event – Free to Attend

The inaugural City of 10,000 Flavors – A Culinary Competition will be held on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Samples of the competitors’ dishes will be available for purchase at the event, with sample tickets priced at $1 each. A cash bar will also be available. This event is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is encouraged by signing up here:  City of 10,000 Flavors

Kelber Celebrating Our Culinary Community

“City of 10,000 Flavors is about celebrating the incredible talent in our community, creating opportunities for emerging culinary professionals, and bringing people together around something we all share - a love of food,” said Linwood Campbell, CEO and General Manager at Kelber Catering. “Through this friendly competition, we aim to strengthen community connections, highlight regional flavors, and create memorable experiences to nourish both body and spirit.”

Sponsors
This event is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors, including Kelber Catering, BIX Produce Co., CBIZ, the Minneapolis Convention Center, Meet Minneapolis, NACE Twin Cities Chapter, and SYSCO.

About Kelber Catering
Kelber Catering is the exclusive caterer for the Minneapolis Convention Center, delivering elevated culinary experiences and exceptional service throughout the venue’s 1.5 million square feet of event space. As a family-owned business, Kelber is distinguished by its people, personalized service, commitment to sustainable practices, and a workplace culture that respects, celebrates, and retains its employees.

Kelber’s culinary team creates innovative, trend-forward menus with the versatility to serve everything from intimate corporate gatherings and receptions to major sporting events and large-scale conventions. At Kelber Catering, every detail counts - from the first menu selection to the final guest served. kelber.com. 

Contact:            Molly Mulvehill Steinke, Nemer Fieger, molly@nemerfieger.com, 612-309-1677

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