FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fairfield University’s Chef William “Bill” Reardon triumphed in the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) 2025 Culinary Challenge, securing first place in the Northeast region, after competing against top collegiate chefs at the NACUFS 2025 Spring Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last month.
Reardon’s winning dish, a masterfully prepared chicken galantine with winter vegetables and port wine reduction, earned him an American Culinary Federation (ACF) gold medal.
“It was an honor to represent Fairfield University at such a prestigious event,” said Reardon. “This win is a testament to the incredible work happening across the university’s dining services.”
With his regional victory, Reardon now advances to the national stage, where he will compete against the best chefs from across the country at the NACUFS 2025 National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, from July 8-11.
Launched in 2001, the NACUFS Culinary Challenge is one of the most prestigious competitions in collegiate dining. Each year, chefs prepare a unique, nutritionally balanced dish featuring a designated protein, and are judged on organization, technique, and flavor—evaluated on a 100-point scale by the American Culinary Federation (ACF).
Reardon brings the same creativity and expertise to Fairfield’s Tully Dining Commons, Stag Diner, and Levee Restaurant, where students enjoy elevated culinary offerings. Under the guidance of Chef Reardon, Fairfield’s dining services cater to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences, providing an exceptional culinary experience. This win further solidifies Fairfield University’s position as a leader in excellence and innovation in collegiate dining, underscoring its commitment to high-quality, chef-driven cuisine.
Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 44 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 46 countries, are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.