My sim only won a cooking contest so far, she made Grandma's Comfort Soup and looked very nervous waiting for results. But she won and she loves to check out the badge she got for it.

so far every sims ive placed in a cooking compettion has won it, only tried 3 sims so far though each with a different meal and 2 were in the zone (all higher leveled meal) but when i can actaully get a dance one going (ive been having trouble getting a 4th person) theyve only managed second but i have yet to try it with one in the zone as well, ive nevered tried a game one im not liking that hobby very much and usually change my sims out of that one for another