NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Four days, more than 300 competitors, thousands of recipes, $300,000 in prizes, and one winner that proves America has a sweet tooth. On Sunday night, Dave Elliott of Olathe, Kansas was awarded the 2013 World Food Championships title by winning over a panel of culinary celebrity judges and beating out tough competitors in the barbecue, burger and other categories with a killer carrot cake.
Dave's Carrot Cake delivered on all each part of the EAT™ Methodology – Execution, Appearance and Taste, enabling him to triumph to the top. He takes home $50,000 for the World Food Championship title that was part of the $300,000 event purse.
"It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, this carrot cake is a champion and I'm not going to hold back," said Ben Vaughn, World Food Championships 2013 host and judge, and Food Network personality. "The presentation was flawless and the taste lured me back to my childhood. Quite simply, it's a home run."
Competitors Faced Tough Critics at the Final Table
Ben Vaughn, Food Network personality and host of the 2013 World Food Championships led the judging panel that included other renowned culinary celebrities, including Robin Leach, host of the famed Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous television show; Simon Majumdar , culinary author, food and travel writer, and broadcaster; Whitney Miller, food writer, cookbook author and winner of FOX's MasterChef Season One; Emily Ellyn – Food Network Star and Cupcake Wars competitor; "Famous Dave" Anderson, founder of Famous Dave's BBQ; and Claire Sinclair – Las Vegas headliner and Playboy 2011 Playmate of the Year.
The culmination of a year-long, worldwide search for the best cook in competition food sport, the World Food Championships is a tournament-style event that brings together everyday cooks and professional chefs to compete in seven iconic food categories.
"We created the World Food Championships to celebrate the love of food and the thrill of competition and Dave's carrot cake proves that anyone can be a champion," said Mike McCloud, president and CEO of Trybe Targeting, the company producing the World Food Championships. "Believe it or not, but Dave had never made the carrot cake before yesterday's competition, but he credits his mom's recipe as the secret to his success."
Heated Competition At Every Step
To make it to the "Final Table", Dave beat out six other category food champions, including:
- Runner Up: World BBQ Champion - Pitmaker BBQ Addiction (Victor Howard), Humble, Texas
- Second Runner-Up: World Burger Champion - Second City Smoke (Wade Fortin), Chicago
- World Open Chili Champion - Ray Bogart, Boulder City, Nev.
- World Recipe Champion - Beth Peterson, Naperville, Ill.
- Bacon World Champion - Ricardo Heredia, San Diego
- World Sandwich Champion - Jennifer Daskevich, Los Angeles
The World Food Championships was shot by CORE Media (American Idol) and Sharp Entertainment (Man v Food Nation) for broadcast as a six-hour television series that will be aired in 2014.
Major brand partners of the World Food Championships include: Wright ® Brand Bacon, US Foods™, Bull Outdoor ® Products, Kenmore ® , Sam's Club ® , Dole®, A.1. ® Steak Sauce, the Bison Council, Southern Pride Cookers, Creekstone Farms ® , Reser's® Fine Foods, TNT™ beef patties, Lay's ® Kettle Cooked Chips, Maple Leaf Farms ® , Challenge Butter, Just a Pinch Recipe Club, Downtown Project, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts®, International Academy of Design & Technology and many more.
About the World Food Championships
The World Food Championships is a yearlong, world-wide search for the best team, cook or chefs in competition food sport. The event culminates in a four-day, high-stakes food fight to name the ultimate World Food Champion. Major bragging rights and $300,000 are on the line as competitors, from Pros to average Joes, earn their right to compete in tournament process in Downtown Las Vegas. The seven-category World Food Championships will take place at the Fremont Street Experience on Nov. 7-10. To learn more, visit www.worldfoodchampionships.com
Jeff Morris 615-297-6886
