OUR STORY
The community behind the contests.
The premier online community for cooking and recipe contest enthusiasts—bringing competitive cooks together since 1997.
HOW WE STARTED
Three decades of contesting, carried forward
Cooking Contest Central was founded in 1997 by Betty Parham to create an online cooking contest community where culinary competitors could gather, share information, and become friends. The site was later led by Kristina Vanni, a third-generation recipe contester whose expertise and dedication helped strengthen CCC’s role as a reliable, competitor-first resource. Today, CCC is owned and operated by Brittany Furbee, an award-winning competitive home cook, recipe developer and longtime CCC member. After more than a decade competing in culinary competitions herself, Brittany is carrying CCC into its next chapter while preserving what has always made it special: helping cooks find opportunities, improve their skills and celebrate each other’s wins.
OUR LEGACY
The women behind CCC
Cooking Contest Central has been shaped and carried forward by three women who share a passion for food, competition and the community surrounding it.
1997
Betty Parhm
FOUNDER
Founded CCC in 1997 with a simple idea: create an online home where cooking and recipe contest enthusiasts could gather, share opportunities and become friends.
2012
KRISTINA VANNI
FORMER OWNER
Took the helm and continued to grow and nurture the CCC community, keeping it a trusted resource for contest cooks everywhere.
2026
BRITTANY FURBEE
CURRENT OWNER
Proud to carry the legacy forward—honoring what Betty and Kristina built while leading CCC into its next chapter.
WHY WE LOVE COMPETITIVE COOKING
More than prizes. It’s about the challenge.
Cooking contests give home cooks a reason to get creative, push their skills and see how their recipes stack up. And yes—there are incredible prizes along the way. CCC exists to help cooks discover those opportunities and make the most of them.
BEYOND THE COMPETITION
Come for the contests.
Stay for the community.
For nearly three decades, Cooking Contest Central has brought together people who share a love of cooking, creativity and a little friendly competition.
Here, contest cooks celebrate each other’s wins, swap advice, share experiences and encourage one another through every part of the competition journey. What starts as a search for your next contest often turns into friendships with people who simply get it.
