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A dash of creativity, a pinch of competition and a whole lot of flavor — Millersville University’s Iron Chef Competition returns this year. Teams will chef it up to impress a panel of judges as they compete for the title of Iron Chef and this year’s theme is Local Lancaster. The competition will be held March 4, 2025, in the Upper Deck.
“When I returned as a staff member, I wanted to revive the event since it was a unique and different way to bring the campus community together,” says Samantha Wary, assistant director of campus recreation. “This event allows the campus community to find ways to celebrate their own culture and personality while accepting the challenge of our theme and secret ingredient.”
Since its re-establishment, the Iron Chef event has made some upgrades. Teams have been expanded to eight members rather than five and the event is now a partner of the Hunger Free Taskforce.
“The theme of Local Lancaster came from the State of the ‘Ville address that celebrated the vibrancy the local area offers. We wanted to continue this idea,” says Wary.
The contestants are expected to create small plates to serve to the judges that fit within the annual theme. At the start of the competition, Millersville’s Executive Chef, John Johnson, will announce a surprise ingredient that the teams will need to incorporate into their planned recipe.
Teams will be judged based on three criteria:
Organization (15 points)
- Cooking Skills and Techniques (15 points)
- Taste (15 points)
The winning team crowned the Iron Chef, will receive a plaque with a photo of the winning members. This plaque will live in a public place on campus to celebrate the team throughout the year. Other category winners will also receive prizes.
“We are hoping to have a large audience this year after relocating into a larger area in the Upper Deck,” says Wary. “We also are hosting the event during dinner to encourage students to stop by and watch the competition when they come in for food.”
Wary encourages contestants to have fun and celebrate what they enjoy most. “One of the dishes last year was a fried rice dish with a Cajian spin, and we’re still talking about it. The international student team found a way to celebrate their culture while still matching the theme,” she adds.
Team registration is now open and will conclude on Feb. 14, 2025.
Teams can sign up now using this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=lDfskvC4k0-3M3owqKK1G2fkLijiFUlIpX503rhfHARUMUlZTUtRVU01MzJIMDAzUEYxNVhFRzhKUC4u&route=shorturl.
