San Diego Chefs To Compete At World Food Championships In Florida This November

San Diego's own Ricardo Heredia was the 2014 World Food Champion!
October 30, 2015

 The World Food Championships are taking place this November 5-10 in Kissimmee, Florida, and three San Diego chefs are competing, including the 2014 reigning World Food Champion Chef Ricardo Heredia! In addition to Heredia, two other competitors from America's Finest City are vying for thousands of dollars in prizes - Keoni Simmons from Ocean Beach's BBQ House and Kurt Metzger of Kitchen 4140 in BayHo.

Chef Ricardo Heredia was named the 2014 World Food Champion, winning over $100,000 in prizes. Heredia, who competed in and took the category title in the Bacon World Championship - one of nine categories represented at the 2014 World Food Championships - bested a packed playing field of more than 400 competitors over the weeklong, tournament-style event, which took place in Downtown Las Vegas. Heredia also won the Bacon World Championship in 2013 and has recently taken home the award for 2015 Avocado Madness Champion.

Keoni Simmons and Kurt Metzger
This year, Heredia will receive competition from other hometown chefs, as Keoni Simmons of Ocean Beach's BBQ House and Kurt Metzger of Kitchen 4140, will also be competing. In order to compete at the World Food Championships, a chef or cook must first win a qualifying competition, publication award or receive a special invitation. Then, to make it to the final table for a chance to fight to become World Food Champion, the chefs must win one of 14 categories, including Bacon, BBQ, Blogger, Burger, Chef, Chili, Dessert, High Steaks, KC Steak, Pasta, Recipe, Sandwich, Seafood, and Wild Florida. There are up to 50 World Food Championship competitors in each category, coming from 39 states and 18 countries. Keoni Simmons and Kurt Metzger will both be competing in the World Sandwich Championship category, while Ricardo Heredia will see if he can 'three-peat' in the World Bacon Championship category.

The World Food Championships is the largest competition in food sport, where champions of previous events convene for a chance at winning the ultimate food crown and a share of $300,000. In three short years, WFC has awarded more than $1 million in prizes and money, spawned a TV series, garnered more than 5 billion media impressions and launched numerous professional careers for successful contestants.

We will be sure to let you know if any of our San Diego competitors come out victorious at this year's World Food Championships. For more information, visit worldfoodchampionships.com.