The 2023 Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational

The 2023 Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational will take place in State College on March 1, 2023

Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational (PAPSI)

ProStart students from across Pennsylvania are invited annually to compete in the Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational, a one-day event which allows students to showcase their skills and talents in restaurant management and culinary arts. This is our state’s qualifier for the National ProStart Invitational which takes place this year in Washington DC from May 2-4, 2023.

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How does the competition work?

The Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational (PAPSI) is composed of three distinct competitions—management, culinary, and *NEW for 2023*, cake decorating! Students must impress judges from leading industry businesses, colleges, and universities with skills they’ve developed through ProStart.

Management

Management teams develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and pitch their idea to a panel of industry judges. Judges evaluate teams’ critical thinking skills and ability to react to management challenges with a Q&A session.

Culinary

The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. Students are evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety and sanitation.

Cake Decorating

*NEW for 2023*: Cake decorating teams (1-2 students) will have 60 minutes to decorate a cake, pre-baked by the team offsite. Teams will be judged on their theme, icing, decorating, level of difficulty, consistency, safety/sanitation, and documentation.

Who can participate?

All high school students, currently enrolled in a confirmed ProStart program recognized by the NRAEF, who have been certified to represent their school or region at the Pennsylvania State competition are eligible to compete.

Culinary & Management Competition Rules

Baking Competition Rules

Student Waiver

Registration:

Schools must register their teams using the digital form below by December 16, 2022.

Industry members – register as a competition judge or exhibitor using the forms below.

Team Registration

Judge Registration

Exhibitor Registration

Sponsorship Opportunities

Elevate your brand, company mission, and organizational goals to an audience of fellow industry executives and the best of the restaurant industry’s next generation. Click the button below:

Sponsor PA ProStart

Membership Has Benefits

Resources for Hospitality Businesses, Vendors, Sponsors, Students. Membership is for Everyone!

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