COMPETITION OVERVIEW
NOVEMBER 7-11, 2018
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
Up to 40 world-class chefs will be accepted into the World Chef Challenge, either by special invitation from WFC or by winning a qualifying event (see below for list of qualifying events). Chefs will compete in Kitchen Arena, where they will be required to create a Structure as well as a Signature dish for judges.
The following competitions are State Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition – 10/13/18-10/14/18 - Hollywood, California
Georgia State Qualifier / Cyber Chef Challenge – September 2018 - ONLINE
Tennessee State Qualifier / FiveStar Food Fight – 7/15/18 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tennessee State Qualifier / Lodge Cast Iron Cookoff – 8/26/18 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Texas State Qualifier / City of Port Aransas – 2018 – Various Locations in Texas
The following competitions are State Partner Authorized Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
Alabama State Qualifier / Food Fight at the Fort – 2018 - Mobile, Alabama
Alabama State Qualifier / ACF & AL 200 Sweet Home Alabama Desserts Contest – 8/11/18 - Alabama
The following competitions are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
Chef JJ's Eggest - 5/19/18 - Indianapolis, IN
Jubilee Festival of the Arts (Chef competition) - 9/29/18-9/30/18 - Old Towne Daphne, Alabama
The Taste - 4/18/18 - Inverness, Florida
The following competitions are State Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition – 10/13/18-10/14/18 - Hollywood, California
Georgia State Qualifier / Cyber Chef Challenge – September 2018 - ONLINE
Tennessee State Qualifier / FiveStar Food Fight – 7/15/18 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tennessee State Qualifier / Lodge Cast Iron Cookoff – 8/26/18 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Texas State Qualifier / City of Port Aransas – 2018 – Various Locations in Texas
The following competitions are State Partner Authorized Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
Alabama State Qualifier / Food Fight at the Fort – 2018 - Mobile, Alabama
Alabama State Qualifier / ACF & AL 200 Sweet Home Alabama Desserts Contest – 8/11/18 - Alabama
The following competitions are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
Chef JJ's Eggest - 5/19/18 - Indianapolis, IN
Jubilee Festival of the Arts (Chef competition) - 9/29/18-9/30/18 - Old Towne Daphne, Alabama
The Taste - 4/18/18 - Inverness, Florida
The following competitions are Elite Qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Challenge:
Kitchen Ambush - Okterberfest - 9/22/18 - Virginia Beach, Virginia
Kitchen Ambush - Drag Yourself to the WFC - 10/14/18 - Norfolk, Virginia
Wampler's Golden Ticket - 2018 - Various Locations
Wild Card Elite Division - 2/1/18-10/1/18 - ONLINE
The following competitions are Elite Qualifiers for the 2019 World Chef Challenge:
Flavor Expedition Recipe Contest (sponsored by Minor's) - 7/1/18-8/31/18 - ONLINE
World Gourmet Society (WGS) Best Video Challenge for WFC2019 - 2/1/18-7/31/18 - ONLINE
The following competitions are automatic qualifiers for the 2018 World Chef Championship:
United States Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Culinary Fight Club - 2018 | Various Locations, US | Jan 1, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Chef Brandon Perry | US | |
| Special Invitation - Chef Daniel Person | US | |
| Special Invitation - David Duarte | US | |
| Special Invitation - Brett Vibber | US | |
| CULINARY FIGHT CLUB - FIGHT FEST - 2017 | Various Locations, US | Aug 1, 2017 |
| 2018 WFC Wait List - Chef | US | |
| Flavor Expedition Recipe Contest (sponsored by Minor's for WFC2019) | US | Jul 1, 2018 |
| Wampler's Golden Ticket Winner | Various Locations, US | |
| Hog Eye BBQ | US | Sep 13, 2018 |
| International Chefs Not In Attendance | US | |
| WFC: 2017 WFC Top Ten Chef | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2017 World Chef Champion - Craig Baker | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2016 World Chef Challenge - Nick Thiers | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS | Old Towne Daphne, AL, US | Sep 29, 2018 |
| Wings & Wine (Comedienne Joy's Special Event) | Birmingham, AL, US | Mar 15, 2018 |
| Chris Sherrill's Chef Mystery Basket Challenge | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| Special Invitation - Edwin Vega | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Baumhower’s Senior Bowl Tailgate Challenge | Mobile, AL, US | Jan 27, 2018 |
| WFC: 2017 World Food Champion - Lisa Gwatney | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Alabama State Qualifier / ACF and Alabama 200 Sweet Home Alabama Desserts Contest | Birmingham, AL, US | Aug 11, 2018 |
| Alabama State Qualifier / EAT Montgomery Throwdown | Montgomery, AL, US | Aug 3, 2018 |
| Scottsdale Burger Battle | Scottsdale, AZ, US | Mar 23, 2018 |
| Devoured Culinary Classic - 1st Place | Phoenix, AZ, US | Mar 3, 2018 |
| Devoured Culinary Classic - 2nd & 3rd Place | Phoenix, AZ, US | Mar 3, 2018 |
| Nirvana Food and Wine Festival | Paradise Valley, AZ, US | Apr 19, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Richard Hinojosa | Phoenix, AZ, US | |
| Special Invitation - Roberto Rose | Byron, CA, US | |
| Special Invitation - Jana Hernandez | Lancaster, CA, US | |
| Special Invitation - Ryan Rondeno | Woodland Hills, CA, US | |
| California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition - Roberto Rose | Hollywood, CA, US | |
| California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition | Hollywood, CA, US | |
| THE TASTE | Inverness, FL, US | Apr 14, 2018 |
| Jacksonville Magazine - Best Restaurants Bash | Jacksonville, FL, US | Jan 25, 2018 |
| 2017 Flora Bama Yacht Club Wild Chef Throwdown (showdown winner) - Rudy Rudolph | Perdido Key, FL, US | |
| Special Invitation - Mike Newhall | Pensacola, FL, US | |
| Special Invitation - Robyn Almodovar | Fort Lauderdale, FL, US | |
| Springer Mountain Farms - Chef Brandon | Savannah, GA, US | |
| Georgia State Qualifier / Atlanta Food Wars | Various Locations, GA, US | |
| Return of the Mac! Mac & Cheese Festival | Indianapolis, IN, US | Feb 4, 2018 |
| CHEF JJ'S EGGFEST | Indianapolis, IN, US | May 19, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Durrell Washington | Suitland, MD, US | |
| Biloxi Seafood Festival - People's Choice | Biloxi, MS, US | Sep 8, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - BJ Creswell | Diberville, MS, US | |
| Special Invitation - Justin Kittle | Long Beach, MS, US | |
| Biloxi Seafood Festival | Biloxi, MS, US | Sep 8, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Renee Loranger | Hollywood, MS, US | |
| Special Invitation - John Barnes | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| Special Invitation - Adam Kaswiner | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| New York Restaurant Show - Rapid Fire Challenge | New York, NY, US | Jan 22, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - World Chef Challenge - Tenzing Tsering | Sunnyside, NY, US | |
| Akron-Canton Area Cooks and Chefs | Elyria, OH, US | Jan 20, 2018 |
| Black Elk Brisket Burnout - Secret Ingredient Competition Winner - 2017 | Quapaw, OK, US | |
| WFC: WILD CARD ELITE DIVISION | ONLINE, US | Feb 1, 2018 |
| 2017 Discover Duck Recipe Contest - Student Chef Laurie Hartfelder | ONLINE, US | Sep 30, 2017 |
| Georgia State Qualifier / Cyber Chef Challenge | ONLINE, US | |
| Alabama Seafood Showdown - GSOBT Online Recipe Contest - 1st Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| South Carolina Culinary Chefs Challenge - at the HMRSS | Myrtle Beach, SC, US | Jan 30, 2018 |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / Lodge Cast Iron Cook-off | Chattanooga, TN, US | Aug 26, 2018 |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / FiveStar Food Fight | Chattanooga, TN, US | Jul 15, 2018 |
| Nashville Scene - Best of Nashville 2017 - Chef | Nashville, TN, US | |
| Nashville Scene - Best of Nashville 2017 - Best Restaurant / Best New Restaurant | Nashville, TN, US | |
| Sponsored Team Chattanooga Butter Co - Chef Raenel Stelly | Chattanooga, TN, US | |
| Springer Mountain Farms - Chef Nick | Chattanooga, TN, US | |
| FoodNetwork: Chopped - Chef Chris Coleman | TV, US | |
| Texas State Qualifier / City of Port Aransas | TX, US | Mar 1, 2018 |
| Tall Sails Top Chef Competition | Galveston, TX, US | Apr 8, 2018 |
| Texas City Taste of the Town | Texas City, TX, US | May 10, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Andrew Nicholson | Madison, VA, US | |
| Kitchen Ambush - Drag Yourself to the WFC | Norfolk, VA, US | Oct 14, 2018 |
| Kitchen Ambush - Oktoberfest | Virginia Beach, VA, US | Sep 22, 2018 |
| Kitchen Ambush - Chef Category Golden Ticket | VA, US | |
| Washington State Chefs Association | Bellingham, WA, US | May 19, 2018 |
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| World Gourmet Society (WGS) Best Video Challenge - Bledar Kola | ONLINE, AL | Oct 1, 2017 |
| AUSTRALIAN FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS | TBA, AU | |
| Special Invitation - Chef Muthuchamy Chinnaraja | IN | |
| Special Invitation - Chef Gnana Christopher | IN | |
| Special Invitation - Chef Murugesan Najappan | Bangalore, IN | |
| Special Invitation - A Meganbabu | Tamilndu, IN | |
| Special Invitation - Siva Raman | Tamilndu, IN | |
| Special Invitation - Aravindan Mahalingam | IN | |
| Special Invitation - Monu Kumar Gupta | Bangalore, IN | |
| World Gourmet Society (WGS) Best Video Challenge - Gabriele Vannucci | ONLINE, IT | Oct 1, 2017 |
| World Gourmet Society (WGS) Best Video Challenge - Simone Cipriani | ONLINE, IT | Oct 1, 2017 |
| WORLD GOURMET SOCIETY BEST VIDEO CHALLENGE FOR WFC2019 | ONLINE, MC | Feb 1, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Chef Fred Uisso | TZ | |
| International Indian Chef of the Year Competition | London, GB | |
| Special Invitation - Le Nhu | VN |