New Orleans, La, May 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The culmination of the world’s largest Food Sport event is about to occur in the Big Easy. However, the challenges facing the ten champions who emerged from that event will not be so easy.
In November, the World Food Championships (WFC) hosted nearly 500 official teams from 42 American states and 12 countries in a chance for culinary fortune and fame. More than $200,000 was awarded and ten champions crowned. And now, those champions have a chance to win $100,000 as they navigate three cajun challenges at the event’s Final Table.
The champions will face-off in a private event May 18-19 at the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute, known locally as NOCHI. The entire process will be filmed for a one-hour television program that will air this August on CNBC.
“We are excited to watch these talented cooks and chefs battle it out in such a world-class facility,” said McCloud. “This year’s Final Table is going to be our most unique challenge yet as we incorporate local cuisine and celebrity judges to truly test the abilities of our ten champions.”
The champions who emerged from the 2018 Main Event were victorious after completing three rounds of competition in the following categories: Barbecue, Bacon, Burger, Chef, Chicken, Chili, Dessert, Sandwich, Seafood and Steak. The finalists come from all types of culinary backgrounds - home cooks to trained chefs to professional cook teams - as well as 9 American states and one additional country, Germany.
- Bacon World Champion - Peter Radjou (Roanoke, Virginia)
- World Barbecue Champion - Oliver Sievers with BBQ Wiesels (Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
- World Burger Champion - Neil Daniell (Atlanta, Georgia)
- World Chef Champion - Nick Rickman (Marianna, Florida)
- World Chicken Champion - Lidia Haddadian (Pasadena, California)
- World Open Chili Champion - Jacqueline Seavey (Long Beach, Mississippi)
- World Dessert Champion - Greg Buerger (Peoria, Arizona)
- World Sandwich Champion - David Molina (Saint Louis, Missouri)
- World Seafood Champion - Beau Smith (La Marque, Texas)
- World Steak Champion - Robert Mansfield (Ringwood, New Jersey)
WFC’s Final Table event will feature three rounds of competition, narrowing down the field from ten competitors until only one cook remains and is crowned the 7th Annual World Food Champion. The first round of competition will be a Cajun Eggs Benedict challenge featuring NestFresh Eggs. Cooks will whip up their best NOLA-inspired version of this classic dish.
Only five competitors will advance to round two, which will require them to recreate a menu favorite from the popular New Orleans’ restaurant, Tableau. The top three cooks who emerge from the first two rounds will then create an appetizer for the great, family-owned Antoine’s restaurant during a final culinary challenge. The winner of this round will not only walk away with $100,000 grand prize, but his or her winning dish will be added to Antoine’s menu.
To help determine who will walk away with the prestigious title and grand prize, WFC has enlisted the help of culinary experts to judge each round of the competition. The panel includes
- Renowned restaurateur Dickie Brennan and his executive chef, John Martin.
- Antoine's Restaurant Executive Chef Rich Lee and CEO Rick Blount
- Chef Ryan Rondeno
- MasterChef Star Katie Dixon
- Chef JD Eubanks
- Two-Time World Pasta Champion Suzanne Clark
- Sysco’s Corporate Chef Raymond Yakelis
To learn more about WFC, visit www.worldfoodchampionships.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Food Sport by following the event on Twitter (@WorldFoodChamp), Facebook or Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships).
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