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Deadlines this Month:
November 6
Data Survey Closes–required for Premium and Full ProStart schools
November 13
ProStart JumpStart Grant Deadline
Universal Orlando EPIC Dish – Appetizer Edition –Top 10 Set!
The Top Ten Finalists of the Universal Orlando EPIC Dish – Appetizer Edition have been selected. These teams will compete in-person at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality on December 1, 2026. After the top ten teams cook and present to the judges, the top three will be selected. Chefs from Universal Orlando will travel to these three schools to work with the team to help perfect their entry. The Final stage of the competition is February 2, 2027 at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality where the top three teams will compete for the top spot. The winners will have their item showcased in one of Universal Orlando’s theme park restaurants and the school will also receive a check for their program along with scholarships from UCF Rosen.
Clay High School – Adobo Gochu Bites Deland High School – Elotes Bites Horizon High School – Philly Fusion Bombs Keystone Heights High School – Masa Trio Lyman High School – Aji Risotto Cake MAST Academy – The Divine Catch (Ahi on Tostone) Milton High School – Bayou Royale Seafood Beignets Strawberry Crest High School – Chimichurri Rock Shrimp Tostada Wekiva High School – Crispy Seoul Steak Bites University High School – Celestial Dragon Shrimp
2026 ProStart JumpStart Grant
The ProStart JumpStart Grant provides a unique opportunity for one school to send ProStart students to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, May 22-25, 2027. This allows students to see the industry come alive by exploring exhibits, imaging themselves in their future careers by meeting industry experts and returning home inspired by what is possible.
Deadline – November 13, 2026
What the Grant Covers – Travel, accommodation and show participation fees, plus up to $2500 for incidental expenses during your stay in Chicago
How winners are selected – An impartial panel reviews the applications based on the overall impact the experience will have on the school’s ProStart program and the students’ career journeys.
For detailed information visit the JumpStart website. Complete the application to allow your ProStart students to experience the industry’s premier event.
NRAEF Data Survey Closes — Friday, November 6
The Annual NRAEF Data Survey is open. All Florida ProStart instructors were emailed a link to take their survey or a link to register at the site. If you did not receive a link, please email Hayley Klees at hklees@FRLA.org.
Why complete the data survey? Completing the annual survey ensures that your school is considered a confirmed ProStart program for the 2026-27 school year. That means…
Competition Eligibility: Only confirmed programs can compete on a state and National level.
Grants: Only confirmed programs are eligible to apply for grants like the Rachael Ray Grow Grant or the grant to attend the NRAEF’s annual ProStart Professional Development course or apply for a Florida ProStart Mini Grant.
COAs: The Certificate of Achievement portal in MyProStart is only open to educators and students from confirmed ProStart programs.
The survey closes THIS FRIDAY on November 6. All survey completers will receive $800 in free foodsafety training from the FRLAEF.
Florida Rule 6A.6.0576 CAPE Industry Certification Funding
Regarding Florida Rule 6A.6.0576 CAPE Industry Certification Funding list item 8 regarding web lockdown browsers. The National Restaurant Association Solutions, LLC ServSafe Manager Exam can be administered using the web lockdown browsers that may already be in place at schools, school districts, or counties. The following are some web lockdown browsers recommended for schools that do not have their own web lockdown browser in place.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) team is reviewing options to provide safe and secure exam environments for schools and students to administer the ServSafe Manager exam, including additional Web Lockdown browser options. NRAEF will keep us apprised of these developments and options moving forward to maintain a high level of secure exam testing for schools and students.
For additional questions and support, please reach out to:
Liz McGinnins, Sales Manager, Academic K-12 E 312-579-3825 or lmcginnis@restaurant.org
Lauren Robin, Senior Manager K12 Academics 312-627-2424 or lrobin@restaurant.org
Please keep in mind the pen and paper scantrons are always available as the web lockdown browser rule does not apply.
St. Thomas University Young Chefs Summit & Chef Leadership Summit
Young Chefs Summit Join the ultimate culinary exploration experience for high school and college-level culinarians in the vibrant city of Miami. Hosted at St. Thomas University, on Friday, January 29, 2027, NextGen Rising is where passion meets purpose, bringing together future chefs and hospitality professionals to master essential career-building skills beyond the kitchen. Come and explore what the industry and St. Thomas University have to offer. There is no cost to attend the event and all Florida ProStart schools are invited.
Engaging keynote presentations by industry leaders
Panel Discussions
Culinary, Hospitality and other program options
Culinary Demonstrations by Industry Professionals
Opportunities to network with fellow chefs, students and educators.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
Chefs Leadership Summit The Chefs Leadership Summit returns to St. Thomas University for another year of transformative growth and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned executive chef or just starting your culinary leadership journey, this one-day summit is designed to inspire innovation, sharpen your business acumen, and elevate your impact in the kitchen and beyond.
This year’s theme, New Perspective, New Tools: Navigating Tech, Talent and Taste, focuses on equipping culinary leaders with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. There is a cost to attend the Chefs Summit. Click below for rates.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
Sunshine Plate Challenge at the FRL Show
Shoutout to Carl Stanton from Marathon High School for competing in the Sunshine Plate Challenge at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show. This event was hosted in partnership with the American Culinary Federation.
Mini Grants
The FRLAEF Board met on October 20, 2026 to award Mini Grants. Laura Rumer emailed all of the applicants that afternoon. If you were awarded your request, her email included instructions on how to purchase your item(s). If your item(s) were not approved but the board set aside funds, her email included details on how to purchase other items you need. If you have not seen your email, contact Laura at laura@frla.org.
Fresh from Florida – Sea-sonal Recipes From Florida Waters
Fresh, locally harvested Florida seafood is one of the best ways to bring flavor, nutrition and coastal tradition to the table. Whether you are hosting fall gatherings, developing a recipe to share with guests, planning weekend cookouts, or gearing up for tailgate season, Florida seafood delivers unmatched freshness and quality all year long.
Florida is home to an incredible variety of seafood, including shrimp, oysters, clams, grouper, mackerels, tunas, stone crab, lobsters and more. Stone crab season started October 15, making all the perfect time to enjoy one of Florida’s most iconic seafoods. Most of Florida’s seafood is harvested wild from our coastal waters, and Florida also leads the way in farm raised oysters and clams, which are available year-round. Choosing Florida seafood means choosing freshness. Florida seafood is naturally rich in omega three fatty acids, lean protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a wholesome option for families looking to eat well.
It is a great time to celebrate Florida seafood with fresh, flavorful dishes like our Florida Spiny Lobster Skewers, Florida Stone Crab Claws with Key Lime Mustard Dipping Sauce and our Florida Group Fajitas. Perfect for tailgates, grilling, weeknight meals, or fall gatherings, these recipes make it easy to enjoy Florida’s coastal bounty.
When you choose Florida seafood, you are supporting fishing familiar, local communities and Florida’s coastal economy while bringing home food that is truly fresh. Look for the Fresh From Florida logo when shopping for seafood, and ask for Florida seafood at restaurants, retailers and grocery stores across the state. Find more recipes, preparation tips and seasonal inspiration at FreshFromFlorida.com.
Food Safety Training!
Do not forget to order your FREE Food Safety Training! If you returned your completed Letter of Agreement, Hayley Klees sent you a SurveyMonkey for $350 worth of Food Safety Training. As you complete the NRAEF Data Survey, Hayley Klees will send you another SurveyMonkey for $800 worth of Food Safety Training. If you have questions about either of these items or cannot find your SurveyMonkey email, please let us know.
ProStart Innovation Lab is Back!
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is excited to announce the relaunch of the Inspire Brands Flavor Forward: ProStart Innovation Lab, a hands-on, project-based learning experience designed to help students connect classroom learning with real-world restaurant and foodserivce careers.
The lab returns this year in response to educator feedback, with a renewed focus on providing flexible, ready-to-use resources that reduce planning time while increasing student engagement. Educators can implement the experience as a semester-long project, capstone assignment, end-of-unit assessment, or independent learning opportunity.
Learn more and access the Innovation Lab resource hub today.
ProStart Culinary Team Competitions
The 26th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions will take place Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7, 2027, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.
On Saturday, March 6, most of the Culinary Teams and Management Teams will compete along with all Edible Centerpiece teams. On Sunday, March 7 the remaining Culinary and Management teams will compete along with all of the Waiter’s Relay Teams. The competition will be followed by an awards dinner at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.
STIPEND FOR COMPETING SCHOOLS The FRLAEF will provide stipends to offset the cost of participating in the event. The stipend will be $425 per competition with a school receiving a total of $1700 for competing in all four events.
RULES Florida’s Culinary and Management Competitions mirror the national rules. Therefore, we cannot release Florida’s Culinary or Management Competition rules until the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) finalizes the national rules. NRAEF did release their rules, and we updated ours to match. However, there are questions that need to be answered so we removed our rules until further information is available from NRAEF. We do know there will be some changes to the competition rules. For teams beginning to think about their Culinary Menu, please know all teams will need to demonstrate a Shallow Pouch as one of their two cooking methods.
HOTEL The Rosen Plaza Hotel will be the host site for the 2026 ProStart Culinary Team Competitions. The room rate at the Rosen Plaza is $175 per night. To reserve hotel rooms contact the Rosen Plaza at 800-627-8258 and reference the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. The deadline to make hotel reservations is Wednesday, February 3, 2027. Do not wait to book your rooms! You may always adjust your reservation as the event gets closer.
The ProStart Culinary Team Competitions webpage is live and contains all of the rules.
Hospitality Industry Internships
The Hospitality Industry Internship (HII) provides the opportunity for Florida ProStart & HTM instructors to work in a foodservice/lodging establishment for at least 40 hours. Once the required paperwork has been processed, the participant will receive a personal check for $800.
To qualify for an HII, the instructor must teach the ProStart curriculum during the 2026-2027 school year. If you are already employed at a restaurant or hotel, you MAY NOT use that site for your internship. The restaurant/hotel must be a new work experience for you, not somewhere you have worked before or used as an HII internship location.
The applicant must secure a position at a foodservice or lodging facility where a minimum of 40 hours of hands-on experience is guaranteed. The host location may pay the recipient but is not required to do so.
The FRLAEF will award 11 HII’s this school year on a first-come, first-served basis. So apply NOW! Work experience may begin once the applicant receives an award notification from the FRLAEF.
Become a Premier ProStart School with Free ProStart Exam Materials
Teachers often ask how they can become Premier ProStart schools when they are doing everything required to be Full ProStart schools. In order to get to Premier, you must have at least one student earn the ProStart Certificate of Achievement (COA). If you have a student already working in the foodservice industry, this could be a pathway to get to Premier status. To earn their COA, students must:
Work at least 400 hours in the foodservice industry
Pass both Foundations exams
Have their manager complete the Work Experience Checklist
For a detailed list and a how-to of these steps click here.
The FRLAEF offers free ProStart exam materials each year to Premier and Full ProStart schools. Once we have received a teacher’s Full Implementation contract you are free to request complimentary scantrons or online codes.
Scholarships
The FRLAEF will award at least $65,000 in scholarships during the 2026-2027 school year. Each scholarship awarded will be in the amount of $2,000 and will be a one-time, non-renewable scholarship.
To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:
Be enrolled in a ProStart program in a Florida secondary school
Be a graduating senior who will begin post-secondary education in 2027
Be entering a culinary or hospitality post-secondary program
Return a copy of their OFFICIAL high school transcript to FRLAEF by application deadline
APPLICATION TIMELINE The FRLAEF Scholarship application will become available in January NewsBites. The application deadline is April 9, 2027.
ProStart Teacher Training
The FRLAEF will conduct three ProStart Teacher Training events during summer 2027. Training will be held at the St. Thomas University in North Miami, Keiser University Sarasota campus and at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality in Orlando. All events will begin on Tuesday evening and conclude at Friday lunch.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2027-2028 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
SAVE THE DATE
Attendees may choose from one of the trainings below when the registration link becomes available in the March NewsBites.
June 7-10, 2027 St. Thomas University, North Miami
June 15-18, 2027 UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality
June 22-25, 2027 Keiser University, Sarasota