Recipe Contest
Show off your mandarin magic — Sunday, Nov 22, 2026
Entry Deadline — Saturday, Nov 21 at 12:00 Noon
Questions? Email or call 530-5-ORANGE
How to Enter & Contest Rules
Entry Process
- Complete the Form & Recipe: Fill out the official entry form below. Your attached recipe must be TYPED and original.
- Email Submission: Send the form and recipe to by Saturday, Nov 21 at 12 noon.
- Deliver Your Dish: Bring your prepared dish to the Cooking Stage in the Garden Room @ The Grounds during the drop-off window.
Key Rules
- Canned or fresh (preferred) Placer-grown mandarin oranges or juice must be a primary ingredient. The judge's definition of primary is final.
- Original recipes only.
- One entry per person for each category.
- NO LATE ENTRIES — allow time for parking and walking to the stage.
- Food must be prepared and ready to serve (6 sample portions). No heating or cooling facilities available.
- All entries and recipes become the property of the Mountain Mandarin Festival and may be featured on the festival website or in festival-related publications.
- Please collect all dishes and display items immediately following the Award Presentation.
Can't submit online? Download the entry form.
Print, complete in ink, attach your typed recipe, then email a scan to or bring it in person during dish drop-off (11:30 AM – 12:15 PM, Sunday Nov 22). For help, call 530-5-ORANGE.
All formats contain identical content: full rules, all form fields, and the pre-submission checklist.
Contest Day Schedule
Now – Saturday, Nov 21 @ 12:00 PM
Entry Submission Window
Email your completed entry form and typed recipe to . Deadline: Saturday, Nov 21 by 12 noon — no late entries accepted.
Sunday, Nov 22 @ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Dish Drop-Off
Deliver your dish to the Cooking Stage in the Garden Room @ The Grounds, 700 Event Center Dr., Roseville, CA.
Sunday, Nov 22 @ 12:30 PM
Judging Begins
Our judges begin tasting all entries.
Sunday, Nov 22 @ 3:30 PM
Awards Presentation
Winners are announced and prizes are awarded. Please collect all dishes and display items immediately after.
Prizes & Judging Criteria
🏆 Prize Money & Awards
Best of Show — Grand Prize
5-piece Stainless Steel cookware set, valued at $2,200.
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $30
Judging Point Distribution
Click to toggle between judging types.
Submit Your Entry
✅ Submit online — recommended
Fill out our secure entry form and attach your recipe — a PDF, Word doc, plain text, or a clear photo (phone photos welcome). It goes straight to our recipe inbox — no email app needed — and you'll get an on-screen confirmation.
Max file size 15 MB. Larger file? Email it to from your own email. Deadline either way: Saturday, Nov 21 at 12 noon — then bring your prepared dish to the Cooking Stage during the drop-off window.