MISSOURI SENT 11 COMPETITORS TO THE WORLD FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
SIX MADE TOP TEN .
TWO BECAME WORLD CHAMPS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
WORLD BACON CHAMP CHEF JACK MAC!
WORLD BURGER CHAMP MIKE JOHNSON!
It started with The WFC Show Me Series on a hot August night…
… and ended with the Show Me State showing up big time at the World Food Championships.
This past August, businesses, foodies, and media came together at The Boathouse in Forest Park on a brutal 97-degree day to determine which gastro warriors would represent Missouri and Saint Louis at the World Food Championships. Missouri’s culinary prowess was on full display; collectively, a talent pool that punches way above their weight.
The night was part Taste Of, part trade show, part media junket, and of course, a Golden Ticket competition. This, in a town that sets the bar for hospitality, with a restaurant business community that drives our city and state forward.
By the end of August, with all qualifying events tallied, Missouri would be sending 11 people—two from Kansas City and nine #STLMADE—to represent our great state.
When the dust settled at the WORLD FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Dallas, the Show Me State showed up big time!
It was #FoodSport at its pinnacle, and the STL team results were nothing short of astonishing.
11 Competitors from Missouri
Kansas City
Team McCall featuring Kansas City’s WFC veterans Dan McCall and Chef John Magno.
They would finish 15th in World Seafood
St. Louis
Heidi Hamamura - IG: @chefheidiskye
Jack MacMurray - IG: @jerseyjackmac
Juwan Rice - IG: @chef_.jr
Mike Johnson - IG: @sugarfiresmokehouse
David Molina - IG: @sugarfiresmokehouse
Adam Pritchett - IG: @chefsaltyballs
Chris Shafer - IG: @heavysmokeBBQ
Elaine Barbee - IG: @simplyelicious
At WFC, hundreds of chefs compete in their chosen category. Any chef making the cut to the Category Top Ten will earn a cash prize. Any chef that wins the Top Ten round will earn the title Category Champ and yet another cash prize. Those ten Category Champs go on to square off this Spring at The Final Table in Lake Murray, South Carolina (@visitlakemurray) where they will battle for $100,000.
Of the NINE competitors from Saint Louis, SIX made it to the Top 10 round.
Three did not. They placed 11th. Yes, all three took 11th place, each having missed Top Ten by less than a point.
Dave Molina in Sandwich.
Elaine Barbee in Dessert.
Juwan Rice in Burger.
All three took 11th place, each having missed Top Ten by less than a point.
TOP TEN QUALIFIERS
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Adam Pritchett
9th Place World Burger
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Heidi Hamamura
6th Place World Seafood
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Chris Shafer
8th Place World BBQ
OUR WORLD CHAMPIONS
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Chef Jack Mac
2021 WORLD BACON CHAMPION
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Mike Johnson
2021 WORLD BURGER CHAMPION
Amazing Sous Chef Teammates
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Pepe Khem
PENO STL
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Cynthia Hule
NOMA
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Deva Williamson
BIG LAUGH KITCHEN
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Jorge Vazquez
BAIT
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Jason Laffey
OLD HICKORY GOLF CLUB
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Britt James
DOWNING ST. POUR HOUSE
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Kelli White
HOME CHEF
Throughout the events of WFC Dallas 2021, the folks from South Carolina tourism did a tremendous job of highlighting what is waiting at Final Table Lake Murray. See y’all there!
Congratulations @visit_dallas for a great event and thank you for being such gracious hosts!
Congratulations to WFC CEO Mike McCloud, the #Cheferees, the volunteers, and the entire World Food Championships team for a spectacular contest!
A TASTE OF WFC DALLAS 2021
