Friends In Deed Calls for Culinary Competitors for 2026 Cooking for a Cause

Friends In Deed is now accepting applications from Pasadena-area home cooks and culinary enthusiasts to compete in the 2026 Cooking for a Cause, a high-energy cooking competition and fundraiser taking place Monday, September 28th, at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery.

Aspiring local chefs are invited to apply to go head-to-head in front of a live audience, preparing dishes using pantry staples and surprise mystery ingredients sourced from Friends In Deed’s Food Pantry, mirroring the real-life challenges clients face when planning meals with the groceries available to them. A panel of local chef judges will score each dish on flavor, presentation, and ingenuity, crowning one team the 2026 Cooking for a Cause champion.

Applications are now open through Sunday, August 23rd, at midnight. Interested competitors,18 years or older, can apply at friendsindeedpas.org/cookingforacause.

“Every year, this competition brings out the best in our community–creativity, generosity, and a shared commitment to making sure our neighbors have full plates and full hearts,” said Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Chief Executive Officer of Friends In Deed. “We’re excited to see who steps up to the challenge this year, and grateful to everyone who competes, attends, or gives to support our Food Pantry.”

All proceeds from Cooking for a Cause benefit Friends In Deed’s Food Pantry, the largest food bank in Pasadena, which serves hundreds of families each week. In conjunction with the live competition and in honor of Hunger Action Month (September), Friends In Deed has launched a $10,000 Crowdfunding Challenge, an additional fundraising goal to help keep Food Pantry shelves stocked for local families. Supporters are encouraged to give $70, the cost of providing a family of four with groceries for one week.

The event will be held Monday, Sept. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery, 40 W. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91105.

Tickets are limited and start at $250. To apply to compete, purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or contribute to the Crowdfunding Challenge, visit friendsindeedpas.org/cookingforacause or contact development@friendsindeedpas.org.

Friends In Deed, a human and social services agency which celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2024, provides supportive services with compassion and dignity to neighbors experiencing homelessness and vulnerability.