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
The Gulf Orange Beach
HEAD COOK: Robert Kraatz Jr
COMPETITION: Bacon World Championship
Chef Rob joined The Gulf in 2019, bringing with him a deep passion for creative artistry rooted in his hometown of Niceville, Florida. He began his cooking journey as a teenager, working in local seafood restaurants before joining the US Army in 2004. Upon returning home, Chef Rob found a renewed appreciation for the discipline and structure of the kitchen, igniting a new kind of passion. Over the next decade, he worked alongside some of the best chefs in the Gulf Coast, including Molly Petersen (Graffiti’s, Destin FL), Billy Ballou (Fish House, Pensacola FL), Matthew Brown (FloraBama Ole River Grill, Perdido Key), Chris Sherrill (FloraBama Yacht Club, Perdido Key), and James Briscionne (Angelena’s, Pensacola FL). In 2019, he joined forces with longtime Sous Chef Michael Love at The Gulf in Orange Beach. A two-time World Food Championships competitor, Chef Rob’s creativity extends beyond the kitchen. When he’s not crafting dishes, he enjoys woodworking and spending quality time with his wife Jerica, son Tre, and their dog, Chef.
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