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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 May 2021
Stay tuned for new date and details! VIEW SITE -
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Maryland Foodie Fest
in Aberdeen, MD - Postponed for 2021
The Restaurant Association of Maryland, an official state partner of WFC, will be postponing the Maryland Foodie Fest, their family-friendly food festival competition. The Restaurant Association of Maryland will still be awarding 5 Golden Tickets to WFC hopefuls in the Bacon, Burger, Chef, Sandwich and Seafood categories. Stay tuned for more details on the new date for the 2021 Maryland Foodie Fest and plan to join us next year! VIEW SITE -
Restaurant Association of Maryland State Partner
in Aberdeen, MD - TBD
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 2020 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 -
Team Alabama- Dauphin Island Gumbo Cook-off
in Dauphin Island, AL - TBD
Proceeds from the 11th Annual Dauphin Island Gumbo Cook-off will benefit the new Dauphin Island Community Center. Enjoy live music, Good Food and Kids' Activities. Admission is $15 at the gate; Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Welcome Center or ACP Real Estate/Remax. Children under 10 get in free. To compete - There is no team registration fee but each team is responsible to sell 20 tickets. Gumbo Cook-off categories are: Seafood (may contain sausage), Wildcard (chicken, vegetarian, alligator, etc), and What'evs (whatever the heck you want to cook - any edible food item that you want to present). Teams must cook a minimum of 5 gallons. Non soup entries should prepare 300 servings. All prep and cooking must be done on site. The winner will receive an Golden Ticket to complete in the 2020 World Food Championship! VIEW SITE -
Dominican Food Championships- Mayo Burger Tour
in Santo Domingo, DR - TBA 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 WFC2020. VIEW SITE -
Dominican Food Championships- Ruta de Tapas
in Santo Domingo, DR - TBA 2021
Over 2 weeks in June, more than 20 restaurants in Santo Domingo will be competing for a Golden Ticket to WFC’s 2020 World Chef Championship. Chefs will create their best dish in the "Tapa Style" and a winner will be elected by a selected group of judges and the public. VIEW SITE -
Dominican Food Championships
in Santo Domingo, DR - TBA 2021
This year, the Dominican Food Championships will be awarding a second Golden Ticket to compete in the Burger category at WFC 2020! More details on the event will be announced soon… VIEW SITE -
Canadian BBQ Society
online - August 2020
As the official Canadian organization to promote and represent competition barbecue in our home country, we are proud to partner with the World Food Championships. The CBBQS will award two waived entry Golden Tickets to participate in both the EAT and IBCA rounds of the 2020 World Barbecue Championship. These invitations will be extended to a top team from Western Canada and a top team from Eastern Canada. VIEW SITE -
Team Alabama- Wheelhouse Opp- Steak Bite Showdown
in Opp, AL - TBD
Competitors will have 1 hour to prep, cook and prepare one signature Steak recipe with a secret ingredient chosen by Wheelhouse. The secret ingredient will have to be incorporated into the chefs recipe. Competition rules will be in accordance with all WFC sanctioned events. Judging will be a double blind tasting format and judged by EAT certified judges. VIEW SITE -
Team Alabama- Wheelhouse Opp- Steak Bite Showdown (Burger)
in Opp, AL - TBD
Competitors will have 1 hour to prep, cook and prepare one signature Burger recipe with a secret ingredient chosen by Wheelhouse. The secret ingredient will have to be incorporated into the chefs recipe. Competition rules will be in accordance with all WFC sanctioned events. Judging will be a double blind tasting format and judged by EAT certified judges. VIEW SITE -
High on the Hog Festival
in Winchester, TN - Postponed for 2021
Come join High on the Hog Festival for a week of family fun! The winner will receive a Golden Ticket to compete in BBQ this year at the World Food Championships! VIEW SITE -
Nashville Lifestyles - Food Fest
in Nashville, TN - TBD
Watch as top Nashville Chefs battle it out in a LIVE COMPETITION featuring their best dishes and cocktail pairings. Tickets are $35 and include the choice of a cocktail and samples of all dishes and cocktails. Cast your vote for your favorite – the Fan Favorite receives a Golden Ticket to compete in the World Chef Championship at WFC 2020. Rain or Shine, join us for music, cocktails and delicious dishes! A portion of the proceeds benefits Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee. VIEW SITE -
Nashville Lifestyles - Battle of the Burger
in Nashville, TN - TBD
Watch as top Nashville Chefs battle it out in a LIVE COMPETITION featuring their best burger. Tickets are $35 and include the choice of a cocktail and samples of all burgers. Cast your vote for your favorite burger – the Judge’s Choice winner receives a Golden Ticket to compete in the World Burger Championship at WFC 2020. Rain or Shine, join us for music, cocktails and delicious burgers! A portion of the proceeds benefits Songs for Sound. 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 2020 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 -
Nashville Scene- Burger Week
in Nashville, TN on July 13-19, 2020
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 2020 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 -
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 2020 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 WFC2020. 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 WFC2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 WFC2020. VIEW SITE -
Baconfest MKE
in Milwaukee, WI on February 23, 2020
The 9 th 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 WFC2020. 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 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 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 -
Nashville Scene- Iron Fork
in Nashville, TN on June 10, 2020
The Nashville Scene is proud to host our 13th Iron Fork, presented by US Foods! The 2020 Iron Fork event will showcase four top local chefs battling it out in a head-to-head competition to win the prestigious “Iron Fork” trophy, a chance to compete in the 2020 World Food Championships and bragging rights for the next year! During the competition, attendees will enjoy unlimited samples of cuisine from 20 local restaurants and sip cocktails, beer and wine, as they watch the heated competition go down! 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 2020 World Food Champions! VIEW SITE -
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival- 1st place
in Memphis, TN on August 29, 2020
The 2020 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 -
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 -
Team Alabama- Fairhope Emblem Club Chef Competition
in Fairhope, AL on September 5, 2020
Teams will compete by creating a one-of-a-kind signature dish for the crowd to enjoy. There will be experienced, passionate judges weighing the flavors and presentations carefully to crown the BEST CHEF IN LOWER ALABAMA!! Limited to 10 Chefs. Each team is required to make 250 samples for the public in addition to One Show Plate and Five sample dishes for judging. First place - $500 plus 2020 WFC Golden Ticket. Second Place - $300. Third Place - $200. Special Hall's Sausage Sponsor Award and Crowd Favorite. VIEW SITE -
Made Here Market
in Cookeville, TN on September 19, 2020
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 2020! VIEW SITE -
CRO 1st Annual Salsa Smackdown
in Henderson, KY on October 3, 2020
The Chloe Randolph Organization proudly presents the 1 st 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 WFC2020! 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. 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 2020 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! 2020 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
Meet The
Champions
Champions
Rocky Julianelle
2019 World Open Chili Champion
You may not find home cook Rocky Julianelle training to the famous Stallone theme song and running the steps of the Philadelphia Museum. But his performance at this year’s World Food Championships (WFC) proved to be an equally compelling moment in Food Sport. Julianelle left the Ultimate Food Fight in Dallas, Texas this October with more than the title of World Open Chili Champion. The East Haven, Connect...
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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.
