We're excited to see the field of competitors who have already won their golden ticket and registered to compete at the 2024 World Food Championships. And we are always proud to announce our special guests and celebrity judges participating in our judging events across the nation - we're sure the championship food certainly helps! Best of luck to our 2024 competitors!
COMPETITOR
NeoChiLe
HEAD COOK: Vanguelis Pablopulos
COMPETITION: World Seafood Championship
Chef Vanguelis Pablopulos, CCC I am a certified Chef De Cuisine. I was born in Chile and moved to Florida when I was 13. I first started as a dishwasher at a Steakhouse in Florida when I was 14 years old. In the six years I was there I moved up to become the assistant kitchen Manager. This is where I learned my techniques and all the basic cooking procedures. From there I went to Applebee’s and learned my speed and American fast food. The Columbia is where I met my first Chef who inspires me to become a chef. The Saint Petersburg Yacht club is where I learned all my main sauces and how to interact with the members. Locale Market by Chef Michael Mina and Don Pintabona, which had 13 open kitchens and a fresh market place, is where I really learned to work with fish and other fresh seafood. After that I was recruited to San Antonio to work at a private dining club called the Argyle. Until I decided I wanted to share my skills and love for food with a more public clientele. I am now the Executive Sous Chef at The Petroleum Club in San Antonio. I love being in this industry because it challenges me to always do better and create something new. What’s great about this industry is there will always be someone combining flavors you never thought would go together. I love to be able to have a creative mind and have fun doing what I love but also be able to teach and mentor younger chefs any way I can. Satisfaction to me is when I send the dish out and seeing people’s reaction. Seeing their faces and seeing them take the first bite and closing their eyes and taking them back to a childhood memory that brings joy and amusement to them. Awards and certifications: ACF Certified Chef de Cuisine 2018 TCA San Antonio chapter Chef of the Year 2018 TCA convention 1st place Top Chef competition 2018 TCA Hot Dog Challenge 1st place 2018 TCA San Antonio chapter Bubba Gump shrimp challenge 1st place 2019 Biscuit and Jampionships 1st place popular vote 2019 World Food Championships Chef 5th place