Final Table: Bentonville - - Meet Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez, World Vegetarian Champion

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Posted Mar 10, 2025

Final Table: Bentonville - - Meet Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez, World Vegetarian Champion

Name: Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez
2024 World Vegetarian Champion

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Currently Resides: Dallas, Texas

Social Media:
Instagram: @rikarudomx

Designation: Professional Chef

Q: Tell us about your culinary journey. Who or what inspired you to cook?
A: Growing up, the food at home wasn't always the best, which made dining out at restaurants (or even grabbing some tacos) a delightful experience due to the variety and quality. A significant influence on my culinary journey was my grandmother. She made the most amazing and delicious Mexican red rice, which sparked my desire to cook. I wanted to recreate her dishes because she is an exceptional cook.

However, it's important to note that the food at home wasn't lacking because my mom didn't try. She was a working mom, prioritizing raising my sister and me while also teaching English classes to my elementary school classmates. She did her best, and I'm grateful for her efforts.

Q: How long have you been cooking?
A: 20+ years (Professionally 15+ years)

Q: How many times have you competed at WFC?
A: Two times

Q: What categories have you competed in at WFC?
A: Vegetarian

Q: What motivated you to get into Food Sport?
A: The executive sous chef of the Sheraton Dallas, Vincent Cheung, participated in the previous editions of the WFC. He actually finished second in the seafood category just behind John McFadden, the year he went on to become the WFC champion.

Q: How would you describe your experience in Indianapolis at WFC 2024 and being named a Champion?
A: Amazing! A total surprise but very welcomed. We just gave our best effort not thinking about the money or the final place we could get, only thinking about giving the best dish we could make.

Q: What is your favorite WFC memory/experience as a competitor?
A: The announcement for first place in the semifinals...."and in first place with 99.125, from Dallas TX, Ricardo Viesca"; because a lot of people had been named before us and we were scared that we didn't make the cut. In each place (they announced), the scores were getting higher, like really high, around 96-97.

Q: What would a Final Table victory mean to you? Any ideas on how you would spend/invest your winnings?
A: A Final Table victory would mean a tremendous amount to both my girlfriend and me. She was my sous chef in Indy, and now we are a team again for the Final Table. Sharing this experience with her is incredibly special. Both of us, being immigrants, have had to put in double the effort to excel. This victory would allow us to proudly say that we are the best and that we have the right to belong here.

We haven't thought much about the prize money, but we might use it to pay off part of our mortgage. One thing we are certain of is that we would go to Japan for a month! If we were to spend the money on ourselves, it would be on traveling and eating, two things we absolutely love. There is still so much of the world to see and so much food to try—and learn how to cook!

Q: Any advice for folks considering entering the WFC Kitchen Arena in the future?
A: Practice, practice, practice.
Cooking is a craft and there is only one way to become the best, and is that is cooking.

Q: Tell us an interesting fact that few people know about you:
A: In my early years, I was indecisive about what career to pursue. Should I become an architect? Maybe a doctor? (There are some doctors in my family.) In the end, I decided to become a cook because I enjoyed it and I also thought I would be able to spend more time with my family than I would as a doctor. HA! I was waaayy wrong.

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Final Table: Bentonville - - Meet Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez, World Vegetarian Champion

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