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Qualifiers
Qualifiers
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Meatstock Australia
in Bendigo, - 03/15/2025
Meatstock is the ultimate celebration of barbecue culture and a carnivore's dream! It's one of the largest food festivals in Australia and New Zealand. In the BBQ pit yard, national and international teams will battle it out in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, vying for the title of best in their specific protein category. Meanwhile, the butchers will showcase their skills in the meat-filled showdown, the Butcher Wars. VIEW SITE -
Indiana Pork Taste of Elegance
in Indianapolis, IN on February 4, 2025
Indiana Pork hosts this event for Indiana chefs to showcase pork in exciting ways. The chef competition is part of a bigger event featuring lawmakers, ag industry professionals, pig farmers and many more. VIEW SITE -
Taste of America: Elevated with Marcel's Modern Pantry
in Online, on February 11-24, 2025
Through The Taste of America Challenge: Elevated with Marcel's Modern Pantry (Contest) participants will be challenged to create their best dish infusing one of the following Marcel's Modern Pantry products: Whole Milk, 2% Milk, 1% Milk, 1% Chocolate Milk, Oat Milk, Sweetened Almond Milk or Original Almond Milk. Products must be identified in the recipe submission. VIEW SITE -
Meatstock New Zealand
in Hamilton, on February 14-15, 2025
Meatstock is the ultimate celebration of barbecue culture and a carnivore's dream! It's one of the largest food festivals in Australia and New Zealand. In the BBQ pit yard, national and international teams will battle it out in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, vying for the title of best in their specific protein category. Meanwhile, the butchers will showcase their skills in the meat-filled showdown, the Butcher Wars. VIEW SITE -
Gulf Coast Beer and Bacon Festival
in Gulfport, MS on March 1, 2025
This event is a sellout each year and we plan to grow to an all-day or two-day event in the coming years. We sell out 600 tickets, and offer beer, liquor and food tastings to those who purchase tickets. In addition, we have People’s Choice Awards and award two Golden Tickets to the World Food Championships. We expect to have more chefs join in this year and in coming years as we have changed locations to a more appropriate location for chefs to compete. VIEW SITE -
ACF Greater Indianapolis President's Gala Small Bite Challenge
in Carmel, IN on March 1, 2025
Join us for the 55th annual President's Gala and Chef's Masqarade, hosted by the Ritz Charles for a celebration of culinary excellence combined with a small bite competition between four high school teams. Formal attire recommended to defend against certain operatic haunts. VIEW SITE -
Meatstock Australia
in Toowoomba, on March 7-8, 2025
Meatstock is the ultimate celebration of barbecue culture and a carnivore's dream! It's one of the largest food festivals in Australia and New Zealand. In the BBQ pit yard, national and international teams will battle it out in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, vying for the title of best in their specific protein category. Meanwhile, the butchers will showcase their skills in the meat-filled showdown, the Butcher Wars. VIEW SITE -
Taste of Lake Murray
in Lake Murray, SC on March 27, 2025
Taste of Lake Murray, presented by Lexington Medical Center, is set for 6 PM on March 27, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia! Taste of Lake Murray is the sole fundraiser for Lake Murray's Independence Day Celebration and is a super-regional qualifier for the World Food Championships, where attendees have a chance to vote for their favorite bite of the night by sampling flavors from around the region and voting for their favorite chef! Two participating chefs will win a golden ticket securing their spot to compete in the 2025 World Food Championships representing their restaurant and Team Lake Murray Country! VIEW SITE -
Coupe de France du Burger by Socopa
in Lyon, on April 2-3, 2025
This is going to be a 2-hour competition with six chefs competing under a "Surprise basket theme." Their cooking and autonomy will be assessed during the competition to determine the winner. VIEW SITE -
ACF Greater Indy April Fools Mystery Basket Competition
in Indianapolis, IN on April 5, 2025
The third annual Greater Indy ACF April Fools Mystery Basket Competition pairs students and professional Chefs for an unforgettable Mystery Basket Challenge. Each team will work together to create a menu based on the mystery basket ingredients, with a surprise protein and our April Fools ingredient announced at the start, and a surprise ingredient announced thirty minutes into the competition to be incorporated in the final dish. Each team must create two plates of an appetizer and two plates of an entree utilizing the mystery ingredients in two and a half hours. Professional Chefs may pair with a student in advance or be assigned a student on the day of the competition. VIEW SITE -
BBQ Pit Stop Steak Championship Thermoworks
in American Fork, UT on April 12, 2025
Do you cook the best steak in your neighborhood? Are you the king of your cul-de-sac? Bring your backyard skills to an SCA sanctioned cookoff and compete for cash, trophies, prizes at a one day event. Most SCA steak cookoffs feature a $1000 first place prize and typically will pay the top ten places in the steak category! The SCA's primary focus is STEAK, but we also conduct ancillary categories to challenge cookers and involve the entire family. Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment and a fair competition. It's about cooking, not who has the most money. The promoters of SCA events provide all the steaks, to ensure a level playing field. Our double blind judging process adds to the integrity and the best cook wins. SCA events are family friendly and it's common to see the entire family participating. We've had husbands and wives create their own teams to compete against each other, even father and sons, and sometimes three generations competing at the same event . If you have a passion for grilling and the great outdoors sign up for an event today. You will meet a great group of people that soon become friends and you too will use #SCAFAMILY. VIEW SITE -
Nashville Scene's Iron Fork Chef Competition at the Music City Food & Wine Festival
in Nashville, TN on April 26, 2025
Now taking place as part of Music City Food & Wine Festival, Iron Fork brings four of Nashville's top chefs together in a head-to-head cooking competition modeled after the popular show Iron Chef. The twist? A secret ingredient the chefs have one hour to figure out how to include in their dish to present to our panel of judges. The Iron Fork Chef Champion wins access to the World Food Championships, our prestigious Iron Fork Trophy, ultimate bragging rights in Music City and more! VIEW SITE -
Lancaster BBQ Supply
in Lancaster, PA on April 26, 2025
Do you cook the best steak in your neighborhood? Are you the king of your cul-de-sac? Bring your backyard skills to an SCA sanctioned cookoff and compete for cash, trophies, prizes at a one day event. Most SCA steak cookoffs feature a $1000 first place prize and typically will pay the top ten places in the steak category! The SCA's primary focus is STEAK, but we also conduct ancillary categories to challenge cookers and involve the entire family. Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment and a fair competition. It's about cooking, not who has the most money. The promoters of SCA events provide all the steaks, to ensure a level playing field. Our double blind judging process adds to the integrity and the best cook wins. SCA events are family friendly and it's common to see the entire family participating. We've had husbands and wives create their own teams to compete against each other, even father and sons, and sometimes three generations competing at the same event . If you have a passion for grilling and the great outdoors sign up for an event today. You will meet a great group of people that soon become friends and you too will use #SCAFAMILY. VIEW SITE -
Miracle League Burger Competition (MLBC)
in Little Rock, AR on April 27, 2025
Miracle League Burger Competition is in Little Rock, Sunday, April 27th. The competition is open to Food Enthusiasts, Home Cooks and Professional Chefs who will be stepping up to the plate in hopes of hitting it out of the park with the BEST BURGER in the competition! Judging will be "blind" plus a People's Choice. The overall winner will be awarded a Golden Ticket with entry to compete in the World Burger Championship at the World Food Championships! For more information contact peggy@miracleleaguear.com. VIEW SITE -
Roanoke Round-Up
in Roanoke, TX on May 3, 2025
Do you cook the best steak in your neighborhood? Are you the king of your cul-de-sac? Bring your backyard skills to an SCA sanctioned cookoff and compete for cash, trophies, prizes at a one day event. Most SCA steak cookoffs feature a $1000 first place prize and typically will pay the top ten places in the steak category! The SCA's primary focus is STEAK, but we also conduct ancillary categories to challenge cookers and involve the entire family. Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment and a fair competition. It's about cooking, not who has the most money. The promoters of SCA events provide all the steaks, to ensure a level playing field. Our double blind judging process adds to the integrity and the best cook wins. SCA events are family friendly and it's common to see the entire family participating. We've had husbands and wives create their own teams to compete against each other, even father and sons, and sometimes three generations competing at the same event . If you have a passion for grilling and the great outdoors sign up for an event today. You will meet a great group of people that soon become friends and you too will use #SCAFAMILY. VIEW SITE -
Meatstock Australia
in Sydney, on May 9-11, 2025
Meatstock is the ultimate celebration of barbecue culture and a carnivore's dream! It's one of the largest food festivals in Australia and New Zealand. In the BBQ pit yard, national and international teams will battle it out in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, vying for the title of best in their specific protein category. Meanwhile, the butchers will showcase their skills in the meat-filled showdown, the Butcher Wars. VIEW SITE -
Get Wild with Wild Rice Recipe Contest
in Online, on May 9-June 9, 2025
Enter your original wild rice recipe in the ‘Get Wild with Wild Rice’ recipe contest for your chance to wild prize packs, cash prizes, and a ‘Golden Ticket’ to the World Food Championships. Entries must include at least ¼ cup or more of cooked wild rice per serving and one or more of the sponsor products. VIEW SITE -
SmokeSlam
in Memphis, TN on May 15-17, 2025
ATTENTION BBQ TEAMS - WHO WANTS THAT CROWN? Is it a heavyweight championship competition? A concert? A carnival? A battle royale for braggin’ rights and big bucks? A celebration of all things Q? The best three days of your life? For fans of smoked meat and good times, the answer is all of the above. SmokeSlam will be a barbecue festival like no other – serious about competition and making the event a great experience for teams and guests alike. VIEW SITE -
Japan Burger Championship 2025
in Tokyo, on June 13-15, 2025
Japan Burger Championship is a hybrid food event combined food festival and cooking competition and an official qualifier of the World Food Championships. There were 72 entry submissions from all over Japan and 12 teams who will pass the qualifying round in March will face off in Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and compete for a coveted Golden Ticket to represent Japan at the 2025 World Food Championships. VIEW SITE -
Intercontinental Croix Valley Cookoff - USA
in Hudson, WI on June 14, 2025
The Croix Valley Intercontinental Cookoff is the 1st-ever Steak Cookoff Association contest happening simultaneously on 2 continents. Steak, Mac 'n Cheese, and Stroopwaffel categories will be conducted in Hudson, Wisconsin, and Meppel, Netherlands, crowning Champions from each location. VIEW SITE -
Intercontinental Croix Valley Cookoff - Netherlands
in Meppel, on June 14, 2025
The Croix Valley Intercontinental Cookoff is the 1st-ever Steak Cookoff Association contest happening simultaneously on 2 continents. Steak, Mac 'n Cheese, and Stroopwaffel categories will be conducted in Hudson, Wisconsin, and Meppel, Netherlands, crowning Champions from each location. VIEW SITE -
Car-B-Que Steak Cookoff
in Folkston, GA on June 21, 2025
Do you cook the best steak in your neighborhood? Are you the king of your cul-de-sac? Bring your backyard skills to an SCA sanctioned cookoff and compete for cash, trophies, prizes at a one day event. Most SCA steak cookoffs feature a $1000 first place prize and typically will pay the top ten places in the steak category! The SCA's primary focus is STEAK, but we also conduct ancillary categories to challenge cookers and involve the entire family. Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment and a fair competition. It's about cooking, not who has the most money. The promoters of SCA events provide all the steaks, to ensure a level playing field. Our double blind judging process adds to the integrity and the best cook wins. SCA events are family friendly and it's common to see the entire family participating. We've had husbands and wives create their own teams to compete against each other, even father and sons, and sometimes three generations competing at the same event . If you have a passion for grilling and the great outdoors sign up for an event today. You will meet a great group of people that soon become friends and you too will use #SCAFAMILY. VIEW SITE -
Meatstock Brazil
online on June 29-30, 2025
Meatstock is the ultimate celebration of barbecue culture and a carnivore's dream! One of the largest food festivals from Australia and New Zealand is now coming to Brazil! In the BBQ pit yard, national and international teams will battle it out in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, vying for the title of best in their specific protein category. Meanwhile, the butchers will showcase their skills in the meat-filled showdown, the Butcher Wars. VIEW SITE -
River City Steak Cookoff
in Mason City, IA on July 4, 2025
Do you cook the best steak in your neighborhood? Are you the king of your cul-de-sac? Bring your backyard skills to an SCA sanctioned cookoff and compete for cash, trophies, prizes at a one day event. Most SCA steak cookoffs feature a $1000 first place prize and typically will pay the top ten places in the steak category! The SCA's primary focus is STEAK, but we also conduct ancillary categories to challenge cookers and involve the entire family. Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment and a fair competition. It's about cooking, not who has the most money. The promoters of SCA events provide all the steaks, to ensure a level playing field. Our double blind judging process adds to the integrity and the best cook wins. SCA events are family friendly and it's common to see the entire family participating. We've had husbands and wives create their own teams to compete against each other, even father and sons, and sometimes three generations competing at the same event . If you have a passion for grilling and the great outdoors sign up for an event today. You will meet a great group of people that soon become friends and you too will use #SCAFAMILY. VIEW SITE -
Nashville Scene's Burger Week
in Nashville, TN on July 7-13, 2025
50+ local restaurants will offer $8 burger specials for one week (July 7-13) in hopes of winning the votes of Nashvillians. Guests will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites in three categories — Best Overall Burger, Best Traditional Burger and Most Unique Toppings. VIEW SITE -
Curley Que Classic
in Oahu, HI on July 25-26, 2025
The KCBS Sanctioned BBQ contest in Oahu, Hawaii, will take place on July 25-26, offering a sizzling event for BBQ lovers and competitors. In its inaugural year, the event will focus on the Master Series BBQ Competition, with a current prize fund of $5,000, which will grow as teams and sponsors join. Held on the stunning island of Oahu, the contest will showcase top BBQ talent, with teams competing in chicken, ribs, pork and brisket categories. On Friday afternoon, three exciting ancillary contests will also take place, adding a creative twist and allowing participants and judges to explore unique island flavors. This event promises to be a must-attend for BBQ enthusiasts, with a blend of competition and local flair. VIEW SITE -
Holy Cross Wine & Cheese Festival
in Indianapolis, IN on July 26, 2025
The Holy Cross Wine & Cheese Festival features an annual cheese wars competition allowing professional chefs to compete for a Golden Ticket while utilizing a cheese theme to create a dish for a select panel of judges using the EAT Methodology. Every competition includes an audience vote for fan favorite. This year's cheese theme is Mac-N-Cheese. Chefs will have two hours to prep and two hours to serve judges and audience participants. All participating chefs will receive a prearranged ingredient reimbursement. VIEW SITE -
Perfect Bite Championships
in Indianapolis, IN on September 21, 2025
The competition will center in three Golden Ticket categories (named by June 1). All 20 participating chefs will be competing in one of the three categories. In this way, winners will move on to the World Food Championships in the same category they practiced at the Perfect Bite Championships. Beginning at 6 PM and lasting for one hour, guests will have a single ticket for voting for their favorite bite. With 150-175 in attendance, Chefs should be prepared to serve at least 175 bites. At the end of the first hour, all tickets will be counted. The chef with the most tickets in each category will automatically make the finals and have a chance for a World Food Championship Golden Ticket. A team of culinary experts (who will also be judging the finals) will determine the second chef moving on to the finals in each category, and must consider the popular vote in their decision. THE FINALS: The six finals chefs will compete head-to-head in the three categories. The finalists can cook with a single sous chef (of their choosing) in a 45-minute head-to-head “perfect plate” challenge. Finalists will have a pot of boiling water, cutting board, and an induction burner with induction pan in addition to a stocked pantry. A team of culinary experts will judge the finals using the E.A.T. methodology from the World Food Championships. The winning chefs in each category receive $750. VIEW SITE
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