We are looking forward to our three teacher trainings this summer with almost 100 Florida ProStart teachers attending! 
KNIFE KITS Returning attendees, don’t forget your knife kits! First-time attendees will receive a knife kit.
HOTEL Prior to your training, Laura Rumer will email you a hotel confirmation number.
CHEF COATS Each attendee will receive two complimentary chef coats at their event, but attendees are welcome to wear their own each day.
Let us know if you have any questions and we will see you soon!
Universal Handheld is Now Universal “The Next Epic Dish” Competition
Universal Orlando has made a big change to their annual Handheld competition. It is now The Next Epic Dish competition. This year, the Epic Dish will be Starter-focused. 
“The Next Epic Dish” is a culinary competition challenging Florida ProStart High School teams to create an original Starter with the potential to become part of a future menu update at a restaurant within Universal Orlando Resort.
A Starter consists of soup, salad or appetizer. Starters should contain multiple components and utilize a meat, seafood or alternative protein, and should showcase culinary skill, scratch cooking and have an elevated level of execution. Total portion size of the dish should be between 6-10 oz total weight.
Students will showcase their culinary creativity, technical skills, and menu development knowledge by designing a menu item suitable for theme park guests. Teams will develop a concept that balances flavor, creativity, practicality, and menu viability for a high‑volume theme park environment. Judges from UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and Universal Orlando Resort will evaluate submissions.
We encourage teams to think boldly and to get inspired by the creative storytelling of Universal Orlando Resort when ideating and creating the next “Epic” Starter.
CLICK HERE FOR THE RULES and COMPETITION TIMELINE
Two ProStart Teachers Receive Honors
Carl Stanton Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Carl Stanton, ProStart teacher at Marathon High School in Monroe County, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging
Association’s Monroe Chapter Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards on April 16, 2026.
Carl has been teaching ProStart for over a decade and during that time has been Florida ProStart Teacher of the Year and heads up a Premier ProStart Program.
CLICK HERE for the full article.
Congratulations to Carl and well done!
Chris Bates Wins CAFE Technology Award
Christopher Bates, ProStart teacher at Wekiva High School in Orange County, won the 2026 Technology Award from the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ).
Chris has been teaching ProStart for over a decade and during that time has also been Florida ProStart Teacher of the Year and heads up a Premier ProStart Program.
CLICK HERE for the full article.
Fresh From Florida
REGISTER FOR UPDATES! Want to learn how to improve the flavor and freshness of your students’ culinary creations and at the same time, support Florida farmers? Learn from the fun and engaging resources at FreshFromFlorida.com! To have FREE access to over 400 recipes and receive seasonal information from Florida’s Culinary Ambassador Chef Justin join the Fresh From Florida Club. Follow them to stay updated on Instagram or Facebook @FreshFromFlorida or at their website, followfreshfromflorida.com!
Smart Study for ProStart & ServSafe
Help your students with ServSafe Manager exam and ProStart Foundations exam preparation via adaptive learning techniques. ServSafe Smart Study Modules personalize learning based on each student’s unique needs and guides them to master the most critical course objectives. The program assesses individual knowledge, identifies and corrects misinformation, and redirects students to topic areas where they show struggle. The results are efficient learning, long-term retention, better prepared instructors and overall improved performance on exams.
Features include:
• Just in time multi-media “learning bursts” to address knowledge gaps
• Learning experience rooted in cognitive science for quick mastery and
long-term retention
• Confidence-based learning to improve performance and productivity
CLICK HERE to preview ProStart Foundations Smart Study
CLICK HERE to preview ServSafe Smart Study
For more information or to order, contact Lauren Robin at [email protected]
9th Edition ServSafe Coursebook Released
- Updated regulatory and safety guidance
- Clearer, more robust food safety concepts
- Improved instruction on operations and risk reduction
- Expanded training, inspection, and food coverage
- Facilities and equipment updates
Instructor Resources
The updated online resources include:
- Test Bank & Printer Reader Customizable Chapter Exams
- Customizable PowerPoint Presentations
- Instructor Guide
- Chapter Handouts
Register here to become a certified instructor and gain access to these resources and more. If you are a registered Dual Role Instructor/Proctor, you can access the resources now.
If you are interested in purchasing the 9th edition Coursebook, contact Amy Parker at [email protected] for the price list
Career Connection Event
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is looking for young adults from all areas of study to introduce them to career options in the food industry that they may never have considered.
The IDDBA is hosting the Career Connection Live on June 9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It’s a free, half-day event during our national food industry trade show, open to all areas of interest—business, marketing, engineering, tech, sustainability, and more. Students and their faculty advisors can network with professionals, explore career paths, and hear from a live Career Advice Panel.
CLICK HERE for the info flyer.