Approximately 50 R&D members of the American Culinary Federation gather during Annual Convention to formulate the concept of an association to meet the specific needs of the research chef

RCA's Association Bylaws were written and the first Board of Directors was elected

The Research Chefs Association (RCA) is founded

RCA hosts its first Annual Conference in Cleveland, OH

Second RCA Annual Conference held in Kansas City, MO

RCA membership reaches 500

Certified Research Chef (CRC®) logo created and criteria established

RCA hosts their first stand-alone conference in Chantilly, VA

The term Culinology® is born

First stand-alone RCA Annual Conference held in New Orleans, LA

First four CRC®s announced at the annual conference: Dan Sortwell, Skip Julius, Greg Grisanti and Joe O'Connor

Culinology® becomes a registered trademark of RCA

First Culinology® 101 class for chefs held at Rutgers University

Research Chefs Foundation (RCF) formed to provide educational scholarships

RCA membership reaches 1,200

Certified Culinary Scientist (CCS®) logo created and criteria established

First Culinary Arts for Food Scientists class held at the CIA in Hyde Park, NY

Donald Moss earns first bachelor’s degree in Culinology® from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Launch of CULINOLOGY® magazine

Certification Commission (RCACC) formed to oversee certification programs

Second Culinology® 101 workshop for chefs at Johnson & Wales University

RCA membership reaches 2,000

RCA Lifetime Achievement Award initiated

RCA hosts its inaugural Student Culinology® Competition

Michelle Block Memorial Scholarship instituted

First RCA-approved high school level Culinology® program established at Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro, NJ

Bill "Pops" Hahne Memorial Scholarship instituted

RCA certifies more than 200 CRC®s and CCS®s

More than 40 students graduate from RCA-approved Culinology® degree programs

Total scholarship grants awarded by RCF since inception: $80,000

RCA celebrates its 15-year anniversary

The first international Bachelor's Degree in Culinology launched at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

RCA hosts its inaugural Professional Culinology® Competition

RCA launches its new, online member community, RCA Connect

$180,000 awarded to date in scholarship monies by RCF

The first-ever Culinology textbook: Culinology®   —  The Intersection of Culinary Art and Food Science (Wiley, 2016) is published

On October 18, 2016, RCA celebrates its 20th anniversary!

On March 15, 2017, RCA reveals its new corporate positioning and identity. The launch of a new identity allows the association to transform with the industry today and in the future.

RCA Hosts the First Culinology® Cocktail Competition

The first-ever Culinology® Cocktail Competition, sponsored by Flavor Dynamics, Inc., took place at the RCA After Dark where participants competed to create the best cocktail.

2019 RCA Conference Attendees Raise $19,500 for the CEF

The professional headshot booth, Food Truck Friday and live auction at the Thoroughbred Awards Reception and Gala all helped to raise more than $19,500! Your generosity directly supports qualified students and professionals pursuing higher learning and continuing education in Culinology®.

The RCA Event in Napa

The RCA Event in Napa brought together an exclusive group of product developers and innovation specialists to take part in a two-day, hands-on experience at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia during harvest season.

2019 RCA Conference Recognized as a High-Growth U.S. Trade Show

the 2019 RCA Conference, held March 13-15, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky, has been honored in two categories of growth by Trade Show Executive Magazine (TSE):

1. The Next 50 – By Net Square Feet of Exhibit Space; and
2. The Next 50 – By Exhibiting Companies.

Hosted RCA Powered Up in light of COVID-19

RCA Powered Up was a digital transformation of the 2020 RCA Conference, leveraging the innovation of online learning delivery to meet the needs and interests of the RCA community from the comfort of their homes, offices, labs and kitchens.