Special thanks to our partners + sponsors
.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=logo}
Topping The
News
News
Elite
Qualifiers
Qualifiers
-
Restaurant Association of Maryland
in Columbia, MD - TBD 2023
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 is the exclusive gateway for Maryland cooks to qualify for WFC. WFC hopefuls will have a chance to win one of (10) Golden Tickets to compete in this year’s tournament in one of the following categories: Seafood, Vegetarian, Bacon, Burger, Chef, Cocktails, Sandwich. VIEW SITE -
Show Me Series- Missouri State Partner
online - TBD
Chefs and home cooks battle for a Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships! This is a series of events awarding 10 Golden Tickets for 2023. Details TBD. VIEW SITE -
Dubai Preferred Qualifiers- Cucina del Sul
in Dubai, - February- June 2023
Announcing four competitions to qualify the best teams from Dubai to WFC2023 this fall! Battle of the Burgers will award a Golden Ticket to WFC’s World Burger Championship. UAE BBQ Championship will award a Golden Ticket to the the World Barbecue Championship. Delicious Desserts will award a Golden Ticket to World Dessert Championship. And, Best of the Bowls will award a Golden Ticket into the World Rice/Noodle Championship! VIEW SITE -
TURN Festival's Perfect Bite
in Indianapolis, IN on September 24, 2022
The TURN Festival, Transforming Urban Neighborhoods, is a two-day educational and community-building event presented by Paramount Schools of Excellence, in partnership with Keystone Construction, focused on urban farming, food, the environment, and health. Held on the grounds of a Paramount Schools of Excellence farm, the festival is a natural outgrowth of the work being done at the school in urban farming, ecology, green initiatives, food sports, and community outreach. Planned activities include workshops, demonstrations, information booths, food competitions, a children’s area, and food vendors. The agenda also includes sessions on urban farming, food preservation, healthy cooking, and lifestyle. Proceeds from the festival not only benefit Paramount's urban farm, environmental education, and summer S.T.E.A.M (Success Through Education Agriculture and Mentoring) programs, but they also support annual partners in the Perfect Bite Competition. The top 3 winners from Perfect Bite will win a waived Golden Ticket to compete this year at the World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Taste of America
online on February 17, 2023
Details for WFCs Taste of America Series will be released soon. VIEW SITE -
Taste of Lake Murray
in Columbia, SC on March 2, 2023
Lake Murray Country's most popular "Party with a Purpose" returns March 2, 2023 at the DoubleTree by Hilton! This exciting evening of regional cuisine, fabulous drinks, amazing music and fun with Lake Murray friends is the sole fundraiser for the Annual 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray! The funds raised at A Taste of Lake Murray help light up the sky with fireworks the Saturday PRIOR to the 4th of July, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 1, 2023. So, grab your friends and get your tickets today! The top two winners will received a waived Golden Ticket to compete this year at the World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Gulf Coast Beer and Bacon Festival
in Gulfport, MS on March 4, 2023
The Gulf Coast Beer and Bacon Festival is heading into year 4 and has been sold out each year. We have over 30 breweries, over 90 brews, home brews and over 15 restaurants, food trucks on site sharing tastings for People's Choice Awards. Our event is one of the Gulf Coast's favorites and we are working on growing into a multi-day event. We have our event at the home of "Terror on the Coast", one of the largest haunted houses with props from the big screen movie sets. It is an awesome event, and one that gains in exposure each year and is a Southeastern draw. We use a grant from Visit Mississippi to help promote & bring in partners from California and New Orleans. Through our People’s Choice vote, we’re awarding a waived Golden Ticket opportunity to the BACON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP at WFC2023. All proceeds go to Mississippi Heroes - an organization that celebrates everyday family & professional caregivers like heroes! VIEW SITE -
Restaurant Week- Corbin, KY
in Corbin, KY on March 20-25, 2023
This six-day long dining event is a great opportunity to experience why Corbin is one of the top food destinations in the state. During Restaurant Week, participating restaurants will offer their own signature item (entrée, dessert, drink, appetizer, etc.) at different price points. Signature items are designed to showcase restaurants’ unique offerings and encourage visitors and locals alike to explore the delectable side of the Corbin. Items will be available for this week only and are not part of the regular menu. Fine dining, American, contemporary, and beyond – Corbin has a place at the table for you. As a Qualifying Event Partner, the Corbin Tourism & Convention Commission is awarding Golden Tickets to the top three winners of the People’s Choice vote into WFC’s Chef, Burger and Live Fire categories. VIEW SITE -
Indiana State Partner (Culinary Crossroads)
in Indianapolis, IN on April 19-May 10, 2023
Our second-annual Spring Dinner Series, presented by Ivy Tech Community College, takes place April 19 – May 10 at Highland Golf & Country Club and features an incredibly talented culinary lineup. Each week, two chefs will work together on a multi-course menu with dessert created by one of Indy’s top pastry chefs! A portion of the proceeds from the dinners will go to create a culinary scholarship at Ivy Tech – the perfect combination of “great food, great talent, great causes.” VIEW SITE -
Hogs 4 Heroes
in Jamestown, RI on May 5-7, 2023
The Hogs 4 Heroes competition will happen at Fort Getty Park and benefits the VFW of Jamestown. On Saturday, the competition features an Ancillary competition as well as a Kid’s Q Pizza. On Sunday, approximately 50 teams will be cooking Chicken, Ribs, Pork, and Brisket. The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society. Fort Getty is primarily a recreational-vehicle campground that also contains a tent camping area. The Park itself has old fortifications, a rocky beach, a public boat ramp, and a dock. Hogs 4 Heroes will be awarding a waived-entry Golden Ticket into the 2023 World Barbecue Championship. Come out and enjoy the fun for a good cause! VIEW SITE -
Get Wild with Wild Rice Recipe Contest
online on May 12-June 12, 2023
If you’ve got the “chops” to match your cooking skills against others in a competition of culinary creativity, then you’ll be in for a “wild” (rice) time! Get Wild with Wild Rice Recipe contest is open May 12 – June 12. Up to 16 finalists, two cash prizes, and a WFC Golden Ticket will be awarded. VIEW SITE -
Japan Burger Championship
in Tokyo, Japan on June 9-11, 2023
12 competitors will be chosen by document screening from all over Japan to compete at Red Brick Warehouse in Yokohama in June. A live kitchen will be set on the stage and actual competitions will be watched by audience as well as YouTube Live. Rules and judging criteria are basically following WFC’s EAT Methodology, so competitors will be required to make 6 burgers within 90 minutes to be judged on Appearance, Execution, and Taste. The team that wins the competition will receive a Golden Ticket to compete in the BURGER category at WFC2023. VIEW SITE -
Huntsville Restaurant Week
in Huntsville, AL on August 11-20, 2023
To celebrate 11 years of Huntsville Restaurant Week, the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau is dedicating the month of August to all things culinary! Huntsville Restaurant Week is a 10-day celebration (August 11-20) of Huntsville’s diverse local cuisine. Participating eateries and specialty shops offer unique items and/or specials designed to showcase the best of their menus and encourage visitors and locals alike to explore the tastier side of the Rocket City. This year, Huntsville Restaurant Week is partnering again with WFC to add a new element to their culinary celebration! #DineHsv VIEW SITE -
World Championship Chili Cook-off
in Myrtle Beach, SC on September 29-October 1, 2023
The International Chili Society (ICS) is the largest sanctioning body of chili cook-offs in the country. Every year hundreds of chili cooks compete nationwide to qualify for ICS’s season finale – the World Championship Chili Cook-off (WCCC)! In its 56th year in existence and 3rd year in Myrtle Beach, this is not just any old cook-off. This cook-off determines who can claim the title of World Champion and their portion of a $75,000 prize purse! The best part? You get to be a part of the action! The WCCC features champion chili tastings, beer gardens, food trucks, live music, craft and retail vendors, a kid zone, and MORE! The 1st place winner and People's Choice winner will both win a Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships in Soup in 2024! VIEW SITE
Meet The
Champions
Champions
Carol Koty
2021 World Seafood Champion
Professional Chef Carol Koty entered the World Food Championships’ (WFC) 9th Annual Main Event at its newest location of Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, as a seasoned competitor looking to land a respectable Top Ten finish in the seafood category. Turns out she reeled in the most coveted prize of all — $7,500 in winnings and the title of 2021 World Seafood Champion, which gives her a seat at WFC’s $100,0...
READ MORE
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.
