First-Time Head Cook Defeats Two-Time World Chili Champion
![First-Time Head Cook Defeats Two-Time World Chili Champion](/images/news/jackie1.jpg)
Chef Jacqueline Seavey spiced things up at the World Food Championships (WFC) in Orange Beach, Alabama, by winning over the judges’ taste buds with a non-traditional chili cuisine. Her combination of advanced culinary skills and unique ingredients earned this Long Beach, Mississippi Chef the 2018 World Open Chili Champion title.
This was Jacqueline’s first time competing as a head cook at WFC. In previous years, she served as a sous chef in other categories such as Steak and Seafood.
The 2018 World Open Chili Champion has been working professionally in the culinary field for 25 years and currently manages kitchens in the casino industry.
This chef’s cultural upbringing heavily influenced her food and cooking passion.
“I grew up spending a lot of time helping my Thai mother in the kitchen, as well as watching my grandmother cook while visiting my grandparents’ Virginia farm-house in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains,” Jacqueline explained.“It was my grandmother who taught my mother, who eventually taught me, how to cook American cuisine when she came to the United States in 1963.”
Jacqueline’s biggest feat was going up against nine other talented cooks in the final round of competition, including two-time World Chili Champ, Liz Kraatz. When the smoke cleared in Kitchen Arena, this first-time head cook would be crowned the new World Open Chili Champion. Jacqueline’s overall score of 93.15834 landed the reigning champ in second place.
“During the Top Ten awards announcements, when it came down to the two of us, Liz Kraatz and myself, I really didn’t know what to think,” Jacqueline said. “When they called her name for second place, it took a few seconds for it to click in my brain, that I won. I was stunned and truly in shock!”
Jacqueline not only won a $10,000 check but earned a spot to compete for the $100,000 grand prize and overall title at WFC’s Final Table. As she prepares to take on the other nine WFC category champs in the ultimate test of skills, performance and creativity–– she reflects on what she loves most about competing in Food Sport.
“Participating in culinary competitions can be nerve-racking but it has always been very rewarding,” Jacqueline said. “Over the years, sometimes I’ve won, and sometimes I did not, but I’ve always walked away learning something.”
For the first time in WFC’s history, the Final Table will be a destination challenge that requires the champions to travel to a great American city and replicate dishes from the host city’s heritage to be judged by local celebrity chefs. Details on the Final Table process and location will be revealed at a later date.To review all the 2018 World Food Championships results, visit www.worldfoodchampionships.com/scores. For Food Sport updates, visit www.worldfoodchampionships.com and follow the World Food Championships on Twitter (@WorldFoodChamp), Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships).
« Back to News
Subscribe for
Email Notifications SUBMIT
Archive
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- November 2022
- October 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013