Join Asociația Națională a Bucătarilor si Cofetarilor din Turism Romania for the Școala!
School of Taste 2026 (“Școala de Gust”) is Romania’s national culinary competition for students in vocational and technical gastronomy education, created by ANBCT, the National Association of Chefs and Confectioners in Tourism, to bring young people closer to the realities of the profession. In the competition, students cook live, work as a team and under time pressure, put their technique and creativity into practice, and receive direct feedback from gastronomy professionals.
The 2026 edition is a Worldchefs Regional Endorsed Competition, held on 3 October 2026 at the “Traian Vuia” Technical College in Oradea, under the theme “Romania on a Plate – Winter Holiday Traditions”. Up to 15 finalist teams reach the National Final. Teams are challenged to start from Romanian winter holiday cuisine and reinterpret it in a contemporary way, while preserving the taste, identity and authenticity of Romanian cooking.
Each team is made up of a main competitor and a commis, both students under the age of 25 (junior status, in accordance with Worldchefs standards), guided by a coordinating teacher during the preparation stage. In the final, each team prepares two dishes: a starter featuring sponsored trout, and a main course with pork tenderloin, two side dishes and a sauce. The live cooking is organised in accordance with Worldchefs principles and standards for regional competitions. Judging follows the Worldchefs Kitchen & Tasting Marks model, with a maximumof 100 points per dish and taste carrying the greatest weight; awards are granted by score thresholds (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Diploma), in line with Worldchefs practice.
Participation is free of charge. Transport, accommodation and meals for finalist teams are provided by ANBCT Romania. Registration is completed online and closes on 14 September 2026; finalist teams are announced on 18 September 2026.
The competition is organised by ANBCT Romania as main organiser, together with the Bihor County Education Authority and the “Traian Vuia” Technical College in Oradea as local organisers, with the support of partners and sponsors who invest, alongside ANBCT, in vocational education and in the next generation of chefs. Founded in 1971, ANBCT continues a long tradition of promoting excellence in Romanian gastronomy and supporting the professional development of young chefs.
To learn more, download the official rulebook below.
For more information, please contact Munteanu Cezar.
Location: Oradea, Bihor, Romania
Dates: 3rd October 2026
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Take your competition to the next level with Worldchefs competition endorsement, a prestigious recognition, achieved by competitions that meet the highest standards of quality. This endorsement provides exceptional opportunities for visibility to an audience of culinary professionals.
Benefits include:
- Tap into a global community of chefs for greater networking and business opportunities.
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Learn more and apply to endorse your competition: https://worldchefs.org/Endorsement/
