World Food Championships
The Restaurant Association of Maryland is a state partner for World Food Championships.
World Food Championships is the largest competition in food sport, where grand champions of previous events convene for a chance at winning the ultimate food crown and a share of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money. This event is also the springboard for many up-and-coming culinary stars and home cooks as they seek TV fame through many well-known food shows and acting opportunities.
RAM hosts several qualifying competitions each year. In order to be invited to compete in the World Food Championships you must earn a "Golden Ticket" by winning a qualifying event. Competitions are open to anyone, including "home cooks" who may not be professionals in the food service industry. If you can cook, you can compete!
Upcoming Social Media Challenge
Submission Date: September 2, 2024
Online @restaurantsinmd on Instagram
For the final WFC qualifier of 2024, RAM is going viral! The winner of this social media challenge will be awarded a Golden Ticket to the WFC finale in the vegetarian category. Competing chefs must submit a recipe and photos of an original, veggie-centric dish that features local produce as the star. Final dishes will be uploaded and voted on through the official RAM Instagram page. The dish with the most votes will win a Golden Ticket! Registration is free! This event is sponsored by Maryland's Best and McCormick For Chefs.
Previous Competition: Farm Fresh Olney
Date: August 4, 2024
Winner: Dario Arana-Rojas
2801 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD 20832
Previous: The Olney Farmers and Artists Market is a weekly opportunity for local vendors and artists to sell goods to the public. On Sunday, August 4, RAM will host a culinary competition where the winner will receive a cash prize and a chef's category Golden Ticket to the WFC Finale in Indianapolis, IN. Competitor buy-in for this competition is $100. Produce and seafood are provided by Maryland's Best; seasoning bundles are provided by McCormick For Chefs.
Previous Competition: Surf & Earth at OCHMRA Expo
Date: March 3-4, 2024
Winners: Jonathan Hicks, Black Flag Social House, JT Tupper, Ocean 13
Previous: The OCHMRA Trade Expo in Ocean City is the largest annual hospitality convention in Maryland. This year will mark the expo's 50th anniversary, and to celebrate, RAM is hosting two culinary competitions with two opportunities for chefs to win a Golden Ticket to compete at the WFC finale in Indianapolis, IN. One competition will feature local seafood provided by Maryland's Best Seafood, while the second category will highlight local produce supplied by Maryland's Best Agriculture. Seasoning bundles for both competitions will be provided by McCormick For Chefs.
Previous Competition: U.S. Oyster Festival
Date: October 21, 2023
Previous: The 57th annual U.S. Oyster Festival will be held at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds on October 21. This event features the 44th annual oyster cook-off on October 21, where the winner receives a seafood Golden Ticket to the WFC finale in Dallas, TX. View more information on their website.
Previous Competition: Apples, Apples, Apples!
Date: Sept. 29, 2023
Winner: Casey Dowling, Victoria Gastro Pub
RAM and Maryland's Best asked chefs to submit their best apple-based recipes via social media. Chef Casey Dowling of Victoria Gastro Pub took home a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships finale for her Autumnal Apple Salad recipe, which featured julienned honeycrisp and granny Smith apples, wet walnut vinaigrette, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, and maple fig butter.
Sponsors: Maryland's Best
Previous Competition: Farm Fresh
Date: August 6, 2023
Winner: Dave Rolls, Chef4Health
RAM and the Department of Agriculture took over Baltimore's favorite farmers market for a summer vegetable showdown! This competition was held at the intersection of Holliday Street and Saratoga Street, and featured local produce provided by our farmers. Chefs utilized local, fresh products offered at the market to create their best vegetarian summer dish.
Sponsors: Maryland's Best
Previous Competition: Cooking With Fire
Date: June 20, 2023
Winner: Ryan Wittington, Ocean City FD
The event was held at the Maryland State Firemen's Association Convention to allow local firefighters to compete and qualify for the World Food Championships finale in Dallas, TX. Walter Townsend of Salisbury FD and Michael Hill of Ocean City FD Station 2 were great competitors, and we enjoyed their company and culinary skills.
Sponsors: JJ McDonnell and Maryland's Best
Previous Competition: Battle of the Bridge
Date: March 5-6, 2023
Winner: Christian Costantino, Common Ground Hospitality
The OCHMRA Trade Expo in Ocean City is the largest annual hospitality convention in Maryland. Here, RAM hosted a two-round culinary showdown with four chefs from each side of the bay bridge.
Sponsors: MD Dept. of Agriculture, Baywater Trading Co., The Bay Mushrooms
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