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Topping The
News
News
Elite
Qualifiers
Qualifiers
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Canadian Festival of Chili & BBQ
in Langley, BC - Postponed to 2022
The 33rd Annual Canadian Festival of Chili and BBQ returns to Langley as WFC’s official Food Championships of Western Canada. With three days of tasty fun for the whole family, this is the oldest and largest Chili and BBQ contest in Canada and the Pacific Northwest. 10 Golden Tickets will be awarded across multiple categories including Bacon, BBQ, Burger, Chef, Soup, Steak, and Recipe. VIEW SITE -
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Uganda Food Championship 2021
in Kampala City, Uganda - Postponed to 2022
WFC is pleased to announce its newest international qualifier. Starting in March 2021, My Food Network will traverse 5 regions of Uganda searching for 10 regional champions to battle it out at the finale in August. The Uganda Food Championship will be held in Naguru, Kampala City, Uganda to determine finalists who will compete in WFC2022. VIEW SITE -
Dominican Food Championships- Mayo Burger Tour
in Santo Domingo, DR - August 2021
The Mayo Burger Tour is the most important burger competition for restaurants in the Dominican Republic. For 5 years, MBT has selected the best restaurant burger in the whole D.R. This year, 20 or more restaurants will battle to gain a Golden Ticket to compete in the Burger category at WFC 2021. VIEW SITE -
Dominican Food Championships
in Santo Domingo, DR - TBA 2021
This year, the Dominican Food Championships will be awarding a second and third Golden Ticket to compete in the Burger and Chef categories at WFC 2021! More details on these awards will be announced soon… VIEW SITE -
Made Here Market
in Cookeville, TN - May 2021
The Biz Foundry was proud to host Cookeville's first Made Here Market (MHM) in 2019. The Market showcased artists, makers, and creators from around the Cookeville and wider Upper Cumberland Region. Made Here Market received more than 4,000 visitors in 2019, and we plan to see even more in 2021! VIEW SITE -
Let’s Cook, Ghana!
online - July 2020
Let's Cook, Ghana! is a new International Culinary Qualifying event in Ghana to help bring the best culinary talents to the World Food Championships! A Golden Ticket will be awarded to compete in the 2021 World Soup Championship. VIEW SITE -
Boo Shay's
in Pineville, LA - TBD 2021
Join us in 2021 to honor Boo Shay! Shrimp and Grits was a favorite at Boo Shay’s Food Truck, therefore all contestants will have to prepare their version of Shrimp and Grits. Contestants should prepare enough for samples to be judged by the public. VIEW SITE -
Canadian BBQ Society
online - August 2021
As the official Canadian organization to promote and represent barbecue in our home country, we are proud to partner with the World Food Championships. The CBBQS will award two Golden Tickets to participate in both the EAT and IBCA rounds of the 2021 World Barbecue Championship. These invitations will be extended to a top team from Western Canada and a top team from Eastern Canada. VIEW SITE -
Lodge Cast Iron Cook Off
in Chattanooga, TN on August 25, 2019
The annual Lodge Cast Iron Cook Off features Chattanooga's most prominent and rising chefs who create culinary delights for our panel of judges, using fresh ingredients right from the Chattanooga Market. Each chef is provided a basic pantry (salt, sugar, flour, etc.), maybe a mystery ingredient or two, and a modest budget to shop the Market for any remaining ingredients they need. The winner of the Lodge Cast Iron will receive a Golden Ticket to the World Chef Challenge at the 2021 World Food Championships. VIEW SITE -
The Mushroom Festival - Amateur Mushroom Cook-off
in Kennett Sq., PA on September 7, 2019
Fungi lovers from near and far return to Kennett Square, PA, the Mushroom Capital of the World, each year to celebrate its #1 cash crop – mushrooms! The mission of The Mushroom Festival is to promote the mushroom, educate consumers about the health benefits of mushrooms, and to promote tourism in Southern Chester County. The Amateur Mushroom Cook-off is one of the Festival's highlights along with cooking demonstrations and the Growers' Exhibit. Last year's cook-off theme was Pasta and Mushrooms, sponsored by Scaramuzzo Pasta. The First Place winner received $1,500 plus a Golden Ticket to compete in the World Recipe Championship at WFC2021. VIEW SITE -
BaconFest VA
in Roanoke, VA on September 21, 2019
Local chefs competing for the title of BaconFest Champion serve up bacon-inspired dishes to thousands of hungry bacon fans! Beer provided by Twin Creeks Brewery. And the winning team gets a Golden Ticket (with waived entry) to compete in the Bacon World Championship at WFC2021 for a prize purse of $350,000! VIEW SITE -
Georgia Seafood Fest- 1st place Judge's Choice & People's Choice
in Atlanta, GA on November 9, 2019
The festival will bring together the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Georgia Coastal Seafood scene. Atlanta’s top amateur and professional chefs will compete for a coveted slot in the 2021 World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Sertoma Chili Cookoff
in Springfield, MO on February 22, 2020
The Sertoma Chili Cook-Off is a Preferred Qualifier for the 2021 World Soup Championship. Over 10K will be in attendance and 80 teams will be serving up 20K cups of chili! All proceeds go to local children’s charities. You’re invited to compete in Springfield for the waived entry Golden Ticket and a chance to win $100K at WFC2021. VIEW SITE -
Baconfest MKE
in Milwaukee, WI on February 23, 2020
The 9th annual Baconfest MKE happens at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino where hundreds of hungry HOG Heads devour unique bacon creations. SE Wisconsin’s best restaurants will face off to earn a Golden Ticket w/waived entry to the Bacon category at WFC2021. Five local DJ’s from 102.9 “THE HOG” will be judging the competition! VIEW SITE -
#MeatlessMonday Challenge
online on April 6-20, 2020
WFC Instagram online contest: WFC will award ONE 2021 GOLDEN TICKET with a WAIVED ENTRY FEE to the winner of this online recipe contest! Upload photo(s) to Instagram, place recipe in the caption section, tag the products you use + @WorldFoodChampionships and be sure to use the hashtag: #WFCGoesMeatless VIEW SITE -
"What's For Dinner"
online on April 10-12, 2020
Win your way into WFC 2021 through the "What's For Dinner" Online Recipe Contest. WFC is offering an at-home-cooking opportunity to Food Champs worldwide! Beginning April 10th, you can enter a “What's For Dinner” recipe for a chance to qualify into the 2021 World Food Championships. Go to this link for contest rules: https://worldfoodchampionships.com/files/whats_for_dinner_online_contest_rules_1.pdf VIEW SITE -
"5-Ingredient" Challenge
online on April 21-23, 2020
Win your way into WFC 2021 through the "5-Ingredient" Online Recipe Contest. WFC is offering an at-home-cooking opportunity to Food Champs worldwide! Beginning April 21st, you can enter a “5-Ingredient” recipe for a chance to qualify into the 2021 World Food Championships. Click the following link for contest rules: https://worldfoodchampionships.com/files/5-ingredient_online_contest_rules_0.pdf VIEW SITE -
Get Wild with Wild Rice
online on April 24-June 7, 2020
Submit your original wild rice recipes for the Get Wild with Wild Rice Recipe Contest. You may enter up to one recipe per person in each of these categories: Appetizer, Salad, Soup, Entrée, Side. And the winner receives a Golden Ticket with waived entry to 2021 WFC’s World Soup Championship. Prize packs for finalists, determined by judges. Cash grand prize, determined by judges. Cash People’s Choice Award. World Food Championships completion cash prize from council. Finalist recipes will be published and may be included in cooking demonstrations. VIEW SITE -
La Lechonera Online Recipe Contest- 1st place
online on May 15-25, 2020
WFC is offering an at-home-cooking opportunity to Food Champs worldwide! AND our friends at La Lechonera are sending their product, Mojo Criollo, for FREE for contest participants! To enter in the online recipe contest, create an original recipe(s) using La Lechonera’s Mojo Criollo (Regular). Multiple recipe entries are permitted. Submit the full recipe and photo f the dish through the contest link. VIEW SITE -
Team Texas- Dallas Observer Iron Fork
in Dallas, TX on August 12, 2020
Iron Fork — a Dallas Observer food event bringing together dozens of Dallas' best restaurants for a night of food-sampling, beer, cocktails and wine. Along with a night of eating and drinking from more than 40 local restaurants, Iron Fork offers guests the opportunity to watch two chefs face off in a live cooking competition. The winner will receive a Golden Ticket to compete this year at the 2021 World Food Champions! VIEW SITE -
La Lechonera Online Contest- Round 2- First Place
online on September 4-14, 2020
The first event was so successful, WFC is offering a second at-home cooking opportunity to Food Champs worldwide! AND our friends at La Lechonera are sending their product, Natural Mojo Criollo, for FREE for contest participants! To enter in the #WFCGrillsWithMojo online recipe contest, create an original recipe(s) using La Lechonera’s Mojo Criollo. Only requirement: it must be a grilling recipe! Multiple recipe entries are permitted. Submit the full recipe and photo of the dish through the contest link: https://bit.ly/3jJlIqe VIEW SITE -
CRO 1st Annual Salsa Smackdown
in Henderson, KY on October 3, 2020
The Chloe Randolph Organization proudly presents the 1st Annual Salsa Smackdown with a Judge’s Choice for Best All-Around Salsa and People’s Choice Awards too! Enter the Salsa Smackdown and become the first ever Salsa Smackdown Champion. The winner receives a Golden Ticket with waived entry to compete in the World Recipe Championship at WFC 2021! VIEW SITE -
Taste of AppleJack "All Things Apple" Contest
in Nebraska City, NE on October 4, 2020
Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce and Arbor Day Farm present the Taste of AppleJack "All Things Apple" World Food Championships Qualifying Event! This is an open category event. Prepare sample sizes of your best apple-infused recipe (anything from BBQ to baked goods!) and compete for one of two Golden Tickets and the chance to represent Nebraska at the 2021 World Food Championships in Dallas, Texas. Chefs and home cooks welcome. VIEW SITE -
Food Truck Street Fair- Nebraska
in Nebraska City, NE on October 10, 2020
Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce and Arbor Day Farm present the Food Truck Street Fair World Food Championships Qualifying Event! This is an open category event. Prepare sample sizes and compete for a Golden Tickets and the chance to represent Nebraska at the 2021 World Food Championships in Dallas, Texas. Chefs and home cooks welcome. VIEW SITE -
License to EAT- Dallas/ Jelly Queen
in Dallas, TX on October 25, 2020
Attendees will be sampling and judging the soup that is created during the throw down of 3 competitors. The winner will receive a Golden Ticket in Soup for WFC 2021! VIEW SITE -
Ford Taste of Latino/ Top Latino Chef Contest
in Ybor City, FL on November 21, 2020
Competition consists of TOP Latino Chefs from around the world that come and compete to win! 1st place winner for “TOP Latino Chef” will receive a Golden Ticket to the 2021 World Chef Championship. TOP Latino Chef Contest Categories include: Dessert Category: Flan, Tres Leche, Guava Pastries. Appetizer Category: Tapas, Ceviche, Empanadas, Arepas, Tacos and Main Dish Category: Arroz con Pollo, Paella, Other Rice Dish VIEW SITE -
Ford Cuban Sandwich Festival: Worlds Best Traditional Cuban Sandwich
in Ybor City, FL on November 22, 2020
Competition consists of World's Best Cuban Sandwich where contestants come from all over the world to compete and win! 1st place winner for “Best Traditional Cuban Sandwich” will receive a Golden Ticket to the 2021 World Sandwich Championship. Each year we build the longest Cuban Sandwich in the world and we hold the world’s record so come enjoy the fun! 2021 Sandwich Goal: 193 feet. VIEW SITE -
Lodge Cast Iron Bake Off
in Chattanooga, TN on December 12, 2020
Lodge Cast Iron Bake Off is an exciting live cooking demonstration where 4 local chefs are invited to show off their baking skills by utilizing Lodge's latest line of bakeware—perfect for the holidays! Each chef will be provided with an 8-piece set of Lodge's new bakeware to create, practice and learn about each piece ahead of the event. The chefs will be given creative license to determine the 3 different baked foods they would like to demonstrate in front of our live audience utilizing 3 different pieces of bakeware. The catch? They'll be given a surprise ingredient—on the spot—that must be incorporated into at least one of their dishes. After a period of interviewing each chef, preparation and cooking, the chefs will individually present a sampling of each of their dishes to our panel of judges. The winning chef will receive a gift from Lodge Cast Iron, a one-of-a-kind Allen Hampton trophy (utilizing a Lodge Cast Iron) and a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships in 2021. VIEW SITE -
Best Damn BBQ Sauce’s Winter Cookoff 2021
in Albany, OR on February 19, 2021
This event features 2-3 SCA competitions, a People’s Choice, and a 4-meat BBQ cookoff and will be going on during the Willamette Sportsman Show. Certified SCA judges sanction the Burgers. Registration opens Nov. 20th and includes entry into all SCA competitions, WFC’s PQ, the People’s Choice and the BBQ Competition! The Best Burger wins a waived entry Golden Ticket to compete in the Burger Category at the WFC2021 in Dallas, November 5-9. VIEW SITE -
Team Alabama- Keg Lounge Tailgate Challenge
in Orange Beach, AL on March 20, 2021
Join us at the Keg Lounge & Grill for our chef challenge that will be awarding a 2021 WFC Golden Ticket in Chef. Keg Lounge & Grill 26796 Canal Road Orange Beach, Alabama Registration $75. To register or for more info- Joe Coe at 251-923-8752. VIEW SITE -
Bama-Q SLW Rodeo Steak Championship- Bacon Ancillary
in Montgomery, AL on March 20, 2021
Join us at the Garrett Coliseum for Bama-Q SLE Rodeo Steak Championship. There will be a Bacon Ancillary that awards a Bacon Golden Ticket for the World Food Championships 2021! Registration: Steak $150/ Bacon $25 Registration (1555 Federal Drive, Montgomery, Alabama) VIEW SITE -
Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition
in Gadsden, AL on April 10, 2021
Gadsden’s Parks and Recreation Department is excited to present the 12th ANNUAL SMOKE ON THE FALLS BBQ COMPETITION at Noccalula Falls Park and Campground. This event features an Alabama Barbecue Assoc. and KCBS-sanctioned competition and includes two popular ancillaries: Our Drunk Chicken Contest and our Cheeseburger in Paradise Contest. Professional and Backyard teams will compete for cash and prizes. Our partner, Osborn Foodservice, is sponsoring the Golden Ticket to send our next winner straight to Texas. For more information about our sponsor, visit: https://www.facebook.com/Osborn-Foodservice-113199343654877 VIEW SITE -
Restaurant Association of Maryland State Partner
in Aberdeen, MD on April 14, 2021
Exciting news for Maryland's professional chefs, home cooks and pro cooks looking to win their way into the biggest Food Sport competition in the world. The Restaurant Association of Maryland, an official state partner of WFC, will be awarding 5 Golden Tickets this year. These Tickets are the exclusive way for Maryland cooks to qualify for the 2021 World Food Championships. WFC hopefuls will have a chance to win a Golden Ticket in the Bacon, Burger, Chef, Sandwich, or Seafood categories. Stay tuned for more details! VIEW SITE -
Taste of Lake Murray
in Columbia, SC on May 6, 2021
The “Taste of Lake Murray” event will be an intense culinary battle for local cooks and restaurants to claim their spot on the newest WFC Regional team. The event will be hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Columbia, SC, where more than 20 chefs are expected to create samples for the event’s 800 patrons. VIEW SITE -
Team Alabama- Steak in the Caverns- Shrimp Ancillary
in Warrior, AL on May 8, 2021
Join us at Rickwood Caverns State Park for Steak in the Caverns Seafood Ancillary. There will be a Shrimp Ancillary that awards a Seafood Golden Ticket for the World Food Championships 2021! Registration: Steak $175/ Shrimp $50 (370 Rickwood Park Rd., Warrior, Alabama) VIEW SITE -
Japan Burger Championship
in Tokyo, Japan on May 10-11, 2021
PLATE IT UP hosts the first burger championship in Japan to select the No. 1 Burger representative to compete in the 2021 World Burger Championship in Dallas. In the first year, the Japan Burger Championship will accept 16 restaurants to participate in the two-day event, which will be judged on Taste, Appearance, Execution and Creativity. We expect it to be the biggest and the best food event in Japan! Sponsors include Weber-Stephen. VIEW SITE -
High on the Hog Festival
in Winchester, TN on May 21-22, 2021
Come join High on the Hog Festival for a week of family fun! The winner will receive a Golden Ticket to compete in Steak this year at the 2021 World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Team Alabama- Hartselle Eye of the Tiger Burger Challenge
in Hartselle, AL on June 4, 2021
Join us at the Hartselle Eye of the Tiger Burger Challenge to help benefit Hartselle High School! The winner will receive a waived Golden Ticket into the Burger category at the 2021 World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Nashville Scene- Burger Week
in Nashville, TN on July 12-18, 2021
Thanks for eating your heart out during Nashville Scene's 6th annual Burger Week. At the conclusion of your #SceneBurgerWeek20 indulgences, kindly vote for your favorite #SceneBurgerWeek20 burger. The winning location will win a super cool plaque to hang on their wall, a chance to compete in the 2021 World Food Championships and perhaps most importantly: Burger Bragging Rights. So get your buns over here and send those votes in! (And don’t be a piece of...old wilted lettuce -- only vote for burgers you’ve had!) VIEW SITE -
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival- 1st place
in Memphis, TN on August 28, 2021
The 2021 World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival will include a competitive wing-eating contest and corn-hole tournament, parade, family fun activities including crafts, and some of the best “Blues, Soul, and Rock & Roll” musical entertainment Memphis has to offer. First place winner will received a waived Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships. Second and Third place winners will receive a non waived Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships. VIEW SITE -
World Championship Chili Cook-Off
in Myrrle Beach, SC on September 17-19, 2021
Compete in the World Open to qualify into WFC 2021! VIEW SITE -
Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship
in Semmes, AL on February 12-13, 2022
Loblolly Farm is hosting the first annual “Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship”, crowning the winner the King/Queen of the Gulf Coast. This event is sanctioned by the SCA (Steak Cookoff Association) and the winner will receive a Golden Ticket to the SCA World Championship in 2022 and a “waived entry” Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship – Steak Category in 2022. Participation in the Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship is open to any top 5 winner at all SCA Sanctioned Events in the Gulf Coast region scheduled for 2021. Entry to qualify for the WFC Golden Ticket is waived, however participants must be signed up to participate in the Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship. Entry $150 Sign up at steakcookoffs.com VIEW SITE -
Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship- Sandwich
in Semmes, AL on February 12-13, 2022
Loblolly Farm is hosting the first annual “Gulf Coast Invitational Steak Championship”, crowning the winner the King/Queen of the Gulf Coast. This contest is sanctioned by the SCA. Steak is the main event for this contest, however, Loblolly Farm has added a sandwich category. Contestants will be able to participate in this category with or without SCA membership. Entry fee is $100 and the total purse is $2,000. Cash prizes are awarded to 1st- 3rd place contestants. The 1st place winner will also receive a waived Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship. Sign up at www.steakcookoffs.com. VIEW SITE
Meet The
Champions
Champions
Morgan Cheek
2019 World Burger Champion
When Morgan Cheek started competing in cooking contests three years ago, he could have never imagined that he would one day be crowned a champion at the largest culinary competition in the world. This past October, Cheek, who is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, traveled to the World Food Championships (WFC) in Dallas, Texas where he beat out a field of talented cooks and chefs to win the 2019 World Burger Champ...
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Join Our
State Program
State Program
Become an Official WFC State Partner!
The World Food Championships (WFC) has appointed tourism marketing veteran, Larry D. Dickerson, to oversee the execution of the event’s state partnership initiative. The focus of the new initiative is to develop and foster culinary talent for the competition, raise awareness of culinary offerings within individual states and promote food tourism across the country.Click here to learn more about becoming an Official WFC State Partner.
