Recipe Contest
Show off your mandarin magic — Sunday, Nov 22, 2026
Entry Deadline — Saturday, Nov 21 at 12:00 Noon
Questions? Email Recipe@mandarinfestival.com 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 Recipe@mandarinfestival.com 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 Recipe@mandarinfestival.com 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 Recipe@mandarinfestival.com. 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
✅ Recommended: submit online
Use our secure online contact form. It sends your entry directly to Recipe@mandarinfestival.com — no email client needed, works on any phone or computer, and you'll get an on-screen confirmation.
Submit Entry Online →Tip: in the message field, paste your recipe (or describe it — you can attach the full typed recipe in a follow-up email after our reply).
Or, email your entry directly
Prefer to send from your own email client? Fill out the form below to open your email app with the details pre-filled.
Fields marked * are required. Clicking Submit Entry opens your email client with the details pre-filled — attach your typed recipe before sending.