COOK-OFF RULES & REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION

Team registration for 2024 Houston Borscht  Cook-Off is CLOSED!

1. • Those who have registered to participate MUST pay their registration fees in full to HTX4Ukraine for the registration to be valid.
     Participation will not be confirmed until the registration fee has been paid. 

   • Please note that your registration fee is a donation and is non-refundable.

TEAM REQUIREMENTS & EXPECTATIONS

1. • All teams must consist of at least two people.

   • Each team MUST be in possession of a valid Food Handlers Permit for at least one of its members. The permit must be completed by Nov 5th to be valid on Nov 8-9, 2024. If the team fails to present a valid Food Handlers Permit to the cook-off organizers, the team will be automatically disqualified and not permitted to participate in the cookoff.
     Please email a copy to htxborschtcookoff@gmail.com by Nov 6th, as well as bring a copy with you to the event.
     Permits can be obtained by completing a relevant official training (~$15) HERE (as an example).

   • Your team commits to using the highest quality ingredients, made available to you via our grocery sponsors (gift cards will be provided within two weeks of the event).
     You will be provided a BORSCHT COOK-OFF poster, to take a photo with at the store during your produce shopping trip. These photos must be provided by you to HTX4Ukraine for use by our marketing team no later than by November 7, 2024. 

   • Each team is responsible for all warming & serving utensils, set up and clean up.
     We will provide tablecloths and table skirts. 

   • Each team should supply all warming equipment: a single slow cooker/crockpot as a minimum is required to keep Borscht warm throughout the day. Please refrain from using pressure cookers.
     We will assist you in reheating large quantities of your borscht at the venue’s kitchen, transfering it to your slowcookers for serving to the public. 

   • Each team commits to cooking borscht no earlier than the day before the event. This is to ensure that it is fresh and safe for consumption by the cook-off attendees. Please plan on a cooling method to help keep the food safe overnight.

   • Based on the number of teams, each team will be asked to cook a specific amount of borscht to be enough for both judges and the public. This quantity will be communicated to the teams by October 27, 2024. In prior years, between 40-50 quarts have been requested.

ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT

1. • The cook-off site will open at 8 a.m. for registration and set up. 

   • Teams MUST be on site by 9:30am. A mandatory team meeting with cook-off officials will be held to review the rules. 

   • Teams will be assigned two 8’ x 2.5’ ‘tables setup into an L shape and two chairs for your preparation area. You are welcome to bring additional smaller tables but your total footprint must not exceed 10’ x 10’. 

   • Borscht samples and table displays must be ready for judging by 11am SHARP. 

   • The competition will officially begin at 12:00 p.m. 

   • Teams are to keep borscht pots/containers tightly covered when not serving and all team members serving food must wear gloves and hair coverings (hair nets, scarves or hats)  at all times.

   • Sampling cups & spoons will be provided by HTX4Ukraine Borscht Cook-off organizers to each team. 

   • Sampling serving size for the public is not to exceed ½ cup of borscht.
     This is to prevent waste of product as well as to give people the opportunity to try borscht from all participating teams, instead of getting full on the first few. Teams will be penalized for serving more than ½ cup of borscht.

   • Teams are asked to serve borscht supplimented by only one other accompanying baked item of their choice (which is optional and can be a small slice of bread or pampushky). Teams are welcome to bake or prepare any aditional foods for decoration value only. These are NOT TO BE SERVED to public. This is to ensure that people are able to taste all competitors' borscht, not filling up on extras prematurely.

   • Teams are encouraged, urged and otherwise motivated to decorate their area and themselves. The best decorated and costumed team will win a special prize. 

JUDGING

1. • Each contestant will be assigned a contestant number by the chief scorekeeper and given a serving tray with a number. Participating teams are asked to serve borscht in a bowl with any associated extras (sour cream, herbs, pampushky/bread as they see fit for presentation). Only borscht will be judged.
     An official of the cook-off will deliver the borscht entries to the judges for a blind taste test. 

   • Winners of the HTX4Ukraine Borscht Cook-off will be announced around 3:00 p.m.

   • Awards will be given in the following categories:

THE BEST BORSCHT voted by the esteemed panel of judges. Award will be given to the best tasting borsch, regardless of presentation

BEST PRESENTATION voted by the esteemed panel of judges.
Award will be awarded to the team who was able to best display the unique cultural heritage through both presentation of their dish to the judges but also through decoration and set up of their team’s table

PEOPLE’S CHOICE BORSCHT as voted by the public.
Each attendee of the cook-off will be able to pick their favorite borscht/team. The team with the most votes wins. Teams are prohibited from voting for themselves.

Judges’ decisions will be final.

We are very excited to welcome you to the 2024 HOUSTON BORSCHT COOK-OFF!

Should you have any questions - please don’t hesitate to reach out to Jenny, our Competitor Coordinator, at 346-336-3911 or via email at htxborschtcookoff@gmail.com .