How to Create a Cooking Competition on Dine With Me
Step-by-step instructions to set up your first cooking competition, invite friends, and start competing.
So you want to host your first dinner competition? Great news: it's easier than you think, and you definitely don't need any culinary credentials. Whether you're a kitchen veteran or someone who just mastered scrambled eggs, Dine With Me makes it simple to bring people together over food.
Here's everything you need to know, step by step.
Before You Start
All you need is a free Dine With Me account. Once you're in, head to your Dashboard and click "Create Competition". The creation wizard will guide you through five clear steps.
If you're unsure about any field, look for the help icons next to labels. They explain exactly what each option does.
Step 1: The Basics
Start by giving your competition a name and a short description. This is what participants (and the public, if it's a public competition) will see first, so make it inviting.
Next, choose your rating categories. Every competition includes three required categories:
You can add up to 7 more optional categories like Aroma, Texture, Technique, Authenticity, or even Costume for themed nights. Mix and match to fit your party's vibe.
Want to know more about how each category affects scoring? Read our guide on how dishes are scored.
Step 2: Image & Dates
Add a cover image for your competition. You can search from a library of free photos or upload your own. Then set your start and end dates.
The dates tell participants when cooking begins and when the competition closes, so everyone knows the timeline.
Step 3: Location
Type in the location where the dinner will take place. The platform uses location autocomplete to help you find the address quickly. This helps participants know where to go and makes your public competition discoverable by location.
Step 4: People
This is where you decide the format:
You also choose the competition type: Singles (individual cooks), Couples (pairs cook together), or Mixed (both welcome).
As the host, you can also decide whether you want to participate as a competitor or just organize and judge.
Ready to try it yourself?
Step 5: Prize & Pricing
Set the cost per participant using the slider (from 0 to 150 in your chosen currency — EUR, USD, GBP, or BRL). The total prize is calculated automatically based on the entry fee times the number of participants.
You have two options for the prize:
Some of the best competitions we've seen are completely free. It's not about the money — it's about the bragging rights.
How Much Does It Cost?
Creating a competition is free. The Dine With Me platform doesn't charge you anything to host. Here's how the money works when there's an entry fee:
If you set the entry fee to zero, it's a completely free competition — just fun, food, and friendly rivalry.
All payments are processed securely through Stripe with bank-level encryption. You never have to handle money directly.
What's Next?
Once you hit Create, your competition goes live (or is saved as a draft if you want to finalize details later). Participants get notified, the countdown begins, and your dinner party is officially on the calendar.
After the competition, Dine With Me automatically calculates scores, applies tiebreaker rules if needed, and distributes prizes. You don't have to manage any of it.
All that's left is to cook, eat, laugh, and enjoy the evening. That's what it's really about.