The Eat Local Challenge (ELC), now in its 19th year, is a little like Christmas at Bon Appétit. Of course, Bon Appétiters celebrate the bounty of local foods year-round, but every September, accounts across the country participate in this one big day that shines a national spotlight on our commitment to supporting local food systems.

Blog: Chefs
+ Blog Categories

Agriculture Up Close: Curtis Institute of Music Connects with Lancaster County Farms
- Blog
From dill flowers to heirloom melons and selfies with pigs, the Curtis Institute of Music team got an up-close look at the work of Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-operative farms on a recent trip out into the field.

Healthy Kids in the Kitchen with Bon Appetit’s Food Education Team
- Blog
We’re looking back at the impact of the Healthy Kids in the Bon Appétit Kitchen series of food education classes we held over the past few months for kids all over the country. The Food Education team hosted over 20 classes and reached 400 children this summer. Hooray for watermelon pizza!

Executive Chef Doran Payne’s Culinary Adventure: Celebrating Bon Appétit’s Chef of the Year 2023
Meet Bon Appétit’s nominee for 2023 Chef Appreciation Week Chef of the Year, Doran Payne!

Buying with Purpose: Local Sourcing at Scale with Rancho Llano Seco
Under the leadership of Culinary Director Kristela Nazario-Mendoza, the Bon Appétit Management Company at Chase Center team is putting Bon Appétit’s Farm to Fork program into action at one of the world’s premier sporting arenas.

Bon Appétit Chefs Shine at Women in Culinary Showcase
We’re thrilled that three Bon Appétit chefs – Chase Center Culinary Director Kristela Mendoza, Linkedin Chicago Culinary Director Kristine Subido, and Kitami Lentz, Executive Development Chef of Culinary Training and Activation at a large technology company – were selected to participate in the Women in Culinary showcase after being nominated by regional leaders.

Meet 2023 Women in Culinary Showcase Participant Kristine Subido
Launched in 2019, Compass Group’s Women in Culinary program goes beyond simply recognizing female culinarians for their work, to providing dedicated training and leadership development opportunities. An exciting element of the program is Compass Group’s Women in Culinary Showcase, which provides a platform for 23 female chefs – including Kristine – to display their extraordinary culinary talents.

Meet 2023 Women in Culinary Showcase Participant Kristela Nazario-Mendoza
Launched in 2019, Compass Group’s Women in Culinary program goes beyond simply recognizing female culinarians for their work, to providing dedicated training and leadership development opportunities. An exciting element of the program is Compass Group’s Women in Culinary Showcase, which provides a platform for 23 female chefs – including Kristela – to display their extraordinary culinary talents.

Meet 2023 Women in Culinary Showcase Participants Kitami Lentz
Launched in 2019, Compass Group’s Women in Culinary program goes beyond simply recognizing female culinarians for their work, to providing dedicated training and leadership development opportunities. An exciting element of the program is Compass Group’s Women in Culinary Showcase, which provides a platform for 23 female chefs – including Kitami – to display their extraordinary culinary talents.

Lunar New Year Recipes from Chef Jet Tila
Watch a virtual cooking demo hosted by Jet Tila and explore numerous regional recipes.