August 7, 2025 —In October of 2024, Executive Chefs from nine communities across the Kendal System gathered at Sysco Headquarters in Houston, Texas, for a dynamic culinary showcase and cook-off. The event highlighted their exceptional culinary talents and facilitated camaraderie within the organization.
For the signature “Cook-Off” event, four teams of two chefs were randomly paired to compete. Each duo was presented with a market basket filled with premium ingredients, including strip steak, sustainably caught gulf snapper, lion’s mane mushrooms, fennel and spreadable salami.
Over the course of an hour and a half, they crafted four plates consisting of one appetizer and one entrée. The winning dish, recognized for its flavor, presentation and creativity, resulted from a collaboration between Executive Chef Eddy Dias from Kendal on Hudson and Director of Culinary Lisa Wilken from Kendal at Oberlin.
The event is not only a fun way for chefs to showcase their talents; it emphasizes Kendal’s commitment to high-quality culinary excellence and community spirit among its chefs.
Christian Ramsey, Director of Operations for Kendal, expressed his pride, stating, “This now signature Kendal event showcases the high level of culinary skill, talent and camaraderie Kendal Chefs exhibit each and every day in the Kendal communities they serve. The winning team’s dish was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. The Kendal team sincerely thanks Sysco for hosting the Gathering and for the use of their state-of-the-art test kitchen.”
Judged by a panel of culinary experts, including Laurel Elliott, Director of Culinary- Outside Consulting & Marketing Services NorAm for Entegra, the competition underscored the collaborative spirit and expertise within the culinary community.
“My sincerest thanks to Christian Ramsey and the team at Kendal for the invitation to judge their culinary competition at Sysco. Meeting Chris, Chef Neil and the team was an absolute pleasure! Thank you all for your continued partnership,” Laurel shared.
At Kendal, we believe in fostering an environment where creativity and community thrive. This is where tradition meets innovation and where the future of culinary arts is shaped.
The Culinary Cook-off is a showcase event held annually at the Kendal System Culinary “Gathering,” a Kendal tradition of bringing Kendal colleagues together across the country to improve skills, exchange innovative ideas and forge connections that transcend geographic boundaries.