CULINARY CHEF'S COMPETITION
1 pm- 4 pm
Caution: May Cause Extreme Flavor Cravings to your Restaurant!
Ready to test your culinary skills against the best datil chefs around? A total of 30 datilicious creations ever!
3 Categories:
Savory, Sweet, & Beverage
Make All Three!
2024 Culinary Event Photo's
Don't miss this opportunity to showcase you and your restaurant to new customers!
Create a maximum of 200 small datil-infused hors d’oeuvres and/or datil crafted beverages (4- 8oz.). There will be a “traffic” count the week before the event for you to prepare. Bring whatever you need to keep the items to the temp you need.
We will have tents, tables, power, serving plates, cups, bowls, napkins and utensils available.
Pricing: No Charge - PLUS free datil peppers (if needed) for your participation from Mayhem Datil Pepper Farms- (email Troy – troy@savethedatil.com)!
Set-up Times: 10:30 am - 12:45 pm -Ps. If needed, we can supply volunteers to help set-up and serve if needed. Please reach out to us, so we can plan better for the help.
Datil Fest Tasting Experience Attendee Hours: 1 pm – 4 pm
Attendees have 45 minutes in each Color-coded Tasting Tent to enjoy one your tapa-sized datil creation or datil-infused libation (Alcoholic or Non).
Load Out Time: 4pm - Winners announced during live music shortly afterwards.
Marketing: Your Company will be listed on our website, datilfest.com, on a special Culinary Tasting Experience page with a link to your website until next year’s Datil Fest!
Limited Space: We only have space for 30 datilicious creations split into 3 categories: savory, sweet, and drink. Make all 3!
Last years Culinary Event "Sell-Out" was a huge success! We received great feedback and are making a few changes to make this year's event even better!
More Amazing Datil Creations:tions - up to 30!
Up to 30 items in all!
Space with 3 Tents:
We added more space- 3 tents, each color-coded and clearly marked with Entry Times.
Mystery Judges:
We have decided to add Mystery Judges to find the 2025 Datil Fest Champions in each category!
15 Minute Cooling Off and Re-staging Time:
We added a 15 min cooling off for both the culinary teams and the attendees tongues! Taste Badge Holders have 45 minutes per tent (3X10 stations each) to sample one item per station. Beginning at the top of the each hour, attendees enter the next tent which is Time & Color coded for simplicity.
Upgrades from 2024
The Plan For The Chefs
2025 Culinary Sign-Up Form
What our Festival Attendees Said About Last Year's Datil Fest
“Hands down the best food festival I’ve ever attended. The datil pepper is a hidden gem, and now I’m obsessed!”
Rachel M., Orlando, FL
“It felt like a big family reunion! My kids had a blast, and I got to sample some of the datil creations I’ve ever tasted. Just WOW”
Sarah G., St. Augustine, FL
“I came for the datil sauces… and left with a trunk full of datil everything. Amazing vendors, super friendly people, and such a great vibe.”
Donald S., Jacksonville, FL
“Meeting the datil farmers and makers was worth the road trip for me. It’s not just about spice—it’s about the heritage and passion they give this amazing pepper. Respect. See you next year 100%!”
Brian T., Savannah, GA
“The Datil Pepper Culinary Experience was amazing. I had no idea how many things you could make with datil peppers. From cobblers to cocktails—it was wild. Already planning next year.”
Jim D., Lochlossa, FL
“We happened upon the festival by total luck. The experience became the highlight of our vacation to Florida! Datil Fest 2025, here we come!”