MEET THE 2022 WINNERS!

Calmex Chad Clevenger 285

CHAD CLEVENGER
La Menonita En El Molcajete

Appetizer

$5,000

Calmex Claud Beltran 285

CLAUD BELTRAN
Grilled Panela And Eggplant

Entrée

$5,000

Calmex Marco Colin 285

MARCO COLIN
Winter Corn

Dessert

$5,000

MEET OUR FINALISTS!

Cal-Mex Invitational - Category Appetizer

Chad Clevenger

With nearly 20 years of culinary experience and a proven track record for developing... Read More
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Victoria Elizondo

Like a lot of successful chefs, Victoria Elizondo was initially inspired by her mother’s... Read More
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Cal-Mex Invitational - Category Entree

Claud Beltran

Growing up in Los Angeles Claud was always fascinated with food, cooking his first meal... Read More
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Mark Casale

Chef Mark Casale has been the executive chef at Dos Coyotes more than 28 years. During... Read More
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Cal-Mex Invitational - Category Dessert

Manny Barella

Monterrey, Mexico-born Manny Barella’s culinary journey has led him to Denver, where he... Read More
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Marco Colin

Chef Marco Juarez Colin describes himself as a “homegrown” chef hailing... Read More
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MEET OUR JUDGES

Hugo Ortega Headshot

HUGO ORTEGA

The winner of 2017 Best Chef: Southwest James Beard Foundation Awards started with very humble beginnings.  Hugo Ortega was raised in Mexico City and Puebla and learned his love of cooking from…

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Ben Diaz Headshot

BEN DIAZ

A native Angeleno, Chef Ben Diaz puts his homegrown passion into every dish he prepares at “Leoness Cellars”. Using local provisions and seasonal farmers’ market finds as inspiration, he elevates classic dishes…

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Claudette Zepeda Headshot

CLAUDETTE ZEPEDA

An award-winning, San Diego-based chef and culinary entrepreneur known for her fearless style and bold approach to regional Mexican cuisine. A celebrated culinary anthropologist, Zepeda draws upon 20+ years…

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INAUGURAL EVENT TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE CAL-MEX CREATIONS FOR A CHANCE AT OVER $22,000 IN PRIZES

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is hosting a new culinary competition for professionals celebrating the culinary fusion of California and Mexican cuisines – the CAL-MEX Invitational.

A select group of professional chefs will be invited to submit Cal-Mex recipes covering three courses with a focus on showcasing the innovative use of Hispanic-style Real California Cheese and dairy in each dish.

A panel of expert judges will select the top two recipes in each category, and the winning chefs will be invited to the cook-off final at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, Calif. on Aug. 3, 2022.

MEET OUR SEMI-FINALISTS