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Taking Cuisine Out of this World: NASA and Worldchefs Announce New Partnership

Empowering young chefs to bring gastronomy to space exploration, Worldchefs and NASA’s Hunch program partner on the 2023 Astronaut Culinary Challenge.

Paris, 10 of November 2023 – NASA’s HUNCH program and Worldchefs have announced an exciting collaboration that gives new meaning to haute cuisine. Their partnership empowers young chefs to pioneer space-ready culinary innovations through the Astronaut Culinary Challenge.

As part of HUNCH’s culinary initiative, the Astronaut Culinary Challenge nurtures skill development and the creation of space-friendly cuisine for astronauts. Each year, culinary teams from over 30 schools craft innovative dishes based on a central theme, bringing gastronomy to space exploration.

NASA HUNCH
culinary students
space challenge

The HUNCH program’s mission is to inspire students through project-based, student-centric STEM learning. Participants acquire 21st-century skills and gain career-launching experiences by designing and fabricating valuable products for NASA.

Phoebus High School students prepare their dish for judging at the 2020 HUNCH Culinary Challenge at NASA Langley. Credit: NASA

Students learn about space physiology, how nutritional needs change for a body in a microgravity environment, and what to consider when food processing for space flight. Competitors then develop an entree to satisfy the nutrition needs and provide a taste experience for astronauts, ensuring that their creations adhere to the exacting standards of the NASA Johnson Space Center Food Laboratory.

The 2023 Astronaut Culinary Challenge theme is a savory breakfast item that includes a vegetable, with set nutritional guidelines including calories, fats, sodium, and fiber to ensure that astronauts launch into their day with optimal nutrition.

A preliminary round of competition will be held the first week of March, 2024. Teams who advance in the preliminary round will be invited to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for the competition final in April, where their work will be judged by Food Laboratory personnel, industry professionals, the ISS program office, and astronauts for quality, taste, and their research presented in technical paper and video presentation. The winning entree will be processed by the Johnson Space Center Food Lab and sent to the International Space Station for astronauts to savor.

“We are very happy to announce our extraordinary partnership with NASA’s HUNCH program. Together, we can empower young chefs to take their culinary talents beyond our planet’s boundaries, pioneering innovative, space-ready cuisine,” says Thomas A. Gugler, President of Worldchefs. “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to raising industry standards and inspiring the next generation of chefs to build skills for the future. One small step for chefs, one giant leap for gastronomy!”

Winners of the Astronaut Culinary Challenge will be honored at Worldchefs Congress and Expo 2024 in Singapore.


For more information on the HUNCH program, visit nasahunch.com/programs/culinary. For more on the competition guidelines of the Astronaut Culinary Challenge and how to get involved, visit the competition website.

Founded in 1928, the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs) represents the largest international membership of food and beverage professionals dedicated to raising industry standards.
With over 240 member national chef associations, educational institutions, and F&B companies, Worldchefs is the global voice of culinary professionals.

Learn more about Worldchefs partnership opportunities at www.worldchefs.org/partnership.

Cover image:
High School Students Look to Improve Astronauts’ Palates, Workspaces via HUNCH Program. Credit: NASA

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2024 Gelato World Cup Introduces New Format and Worldchefs Partnership

Making the world of gelato even sweeter, the 2024 Gelato World Cup introduces new format and Worldchefs partnership, with culinary excellence and global camaraderie set to take center stage in 2024.
  • The Gelato World Cup and the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs) have formed a collaborative partnership, with the 10th Gelato World Cup set to take place in January 2024 in Rimini, Italy.
  • The 2024 Gelato World Cup will feature teams from five continents competing in various gastronomic trials, fostering culinary excellence and international camaraderie.
  • Learn more about Worldchefs partnership opportunities at www.worldchefs.org/partnership.

Paris, 2 of October 2023 – The Gelato World Cup, the world’s benchmark event for artisan gelato, and the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs) have announced a new collaborative partnership. The 10th Gelato World Cup, also known as Coppa del Mondo della Gelateria, will be held as part of SIGEP – International Exhibition of Artisan Gelato, Confectionery, and Bakery, The Dolce World Expo, at the Rimini Exhibition Centre from January 20 to 24 2024.

Since its inception in 2003, this biennial competition has consistently been a highlight of SIGEP, eagerly anticipated by gelato artisans, pastry chefs, and ice sculptors from across the globe. At the core of this prestigious competition are the principles of integrity, professionalism, and fairness, which extend to all nations participating. The event enjoys the invaluable support of a World Committee of Honour, comprised of some of the world’s most eminent gelato experts. It is organized collaboratively by SIGEP – Italian Exhibition Group Spa and Gelato e Cultura s.r.l.

Breaking new ground, the 2024 Gelato World Cup introduces a new format with teams representing five continents engaging in a demanding gastronomic challenge. After intense national and continental trials, the crème de la crème from each continent will converge in Rimini to compete in five distinct trials: Gelato, Pastry and Chocolate Making, Ice Sculpture, and Haute Cuisine.

Leading up to the main event in January 2024, countries around the world will host their own national selections, contributing to the anticipation and excitement. European contestants will vie for their place in the competition during the European selection rounds in 2023.

“We are proud to enter into this exciting collaboration with the Gelato World Cup, an event that provides such a great opportunity for competition excellence and international camaraderie,” says Ragnar Fridriksson, Worldchefs Managing Director. “We share a common commitment to enhancing the excellence of global cuisines and providing opportunities for culinary professionals in all sectors. We look forward to January 2024!”

Stay tuned for more from the 2024 Gelato World Cup, where culinary excellence takes center stage in a truly international showcase of talent and innovation.

Visit www.gelatoworldcup.com for more information.

Founded in 1928, the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs) represents the largest international membership of food and beverage professionals dedicated to raising industry standards.
With over 240 member national chef associations, educational institutions, and F&B companies, Worldchefs is the global voice of culinary professionals.

Learn more about Worldchefs partnership opportunities at www.worldchefs.org/partnership.

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