Our Story

More than a competition. A celebration of care.

Central Florida's senior living communities come together through food, storytelling, and generosity — all in support of Seniors First.

Experience the Showdown
📅
OCT 7, 2026
UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center

Culinary competition with a purpose

Senior Chef Showdown, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded to raise funds and awareness for services that support Central Florida's senior community. Each year, culinary teams from local senior living communities compete in a live tasting competition in front of guests, judges, and sponsors — all in support of a chosen local beneficiary.

In 2026, we're celebrating Seniors First's 60th anniversary with a Birthday-themed event built around one shared ingredient: honey. Every competing team incorporates honey into an original dish, and every dollar raised works toward our $60,000 Sweet 60 goal.

Chef plating dishes at Senior Chef Showdown
$60,000
Sweet 60 Goal
4th
Annual
100%
Benefits Seniors First
01

Compete

Senior living communities enter a culinary team, incorporate the year's common ingredient into an original dish, and compete for the Senior Cup.

02

Taste & Vote

Guests sample every dish and cast a live vote for their favorite, alongside a panel of judges scoring on taste, presentation, and creativity.

03

Give Back

Ticket sales, table sponsorships, and a silent auction raise funds that go directly to that year's beneficiary organization.

Dessert display at Senior Chef Showdown

One shared ingredient. One shared purpose.

Every competing chef builds an original dish around honey — the thread that ties this year's competition together. It's a small, sweet detail with a big point: one ingredient, a dozen different visions, all in service of Central Florida seniors.

Guests taste, vote, and celebrate the creativity of chefs from senior living communities across the region — while every dollar raised goes directly to Seniors First.

Our board & committee chairs

Beau Herman headshot
Beau Herman
President & Social Media Chair
Beau is the owner of Assisted Living Locators and a Certified Senior Advisor®. He is a dedicated community partner for all professionals who serve older adults in our community.
David Hopkins headshot
David Hopkins
Vice President
David serves with Assisted Living Locators.
Jarod Carter headshot
Jarod Carter
Treasurer
Jarod is owner of Family Home Care of Central Florida, where our goal is to help seniors maintain their independence by aging in their residence.
Sabrina Ramsurat headshot
Sabrina Ramsurat
Secretary & Auctions Chair
Sabrina is the Marketing Coordinator at the Elder Law Center of Kirson & Fuller.
Shea Sen headshot
Shea Sen
Sponsorship Chair
Shea is the CEO of Silver Lining Home Services.
Tee Rogers headshot
Tee Rogers
Volunteers Chair
Tee is a pre-planning deathcare professional with Dignity Memorial, an advocate for inclusion in deathcare, and a professional Celebrant.
Tiffany McIntyre headshot
Tiffany McIntyre
Registration Chair
Tiffany is a Brain Health Social Worker, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, and an ADRD Training Specialist.
Mercer Herman headshot
Mercer Herman
Decorations Chair
Mercer is a lifelong resident of Winter Park and co-owner of Assisted Living Locators of Central Florida. Mercer’s passion for helping seniors find the right senior community began when her own family struggled to find a community in Winter Park that could meet her Grandmother’s needs.
Sage Stewart headshot
Sage Stewart
Grant Writer
Sage Stewart (they/them) is a grants professional with more than six years of experience in grant writing, grants management, and nonprofit leadership. They hold a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from UCF and, as the founder of Level Five Consulting, work alongside nonprofits and community organizations to strengthen funding strategies and bring meaningful projects to life. Based in Orlando, Sage is especially passionate about funding work that directly benefits the local programs and communities they call home. They are honored to support Senior Chef Showdown at this year’s Sweet 60 and to be part of its mission to improve the lives of older adults across Central Florida!

Senior Chef Showdown is organized and run by a volunteer board and committee of community leaders. Full contact info is on our Contact page, or explore our Hall of Champions to see past winners.

Join us at the table

Get your ticket, or bring your business on board as a sponsor.