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Negaunee woman preps for 2019 World Food Championships

Among the field of competitors for the eighth annual World Food Championships will be Brenda Washnock of Negaunee, who will be representing Michigan at the Ultimate Food Fight. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Washnock)

MARQUETE — More than 1,500 chefs will meet Oct. 16-20 at the Reunion Tower Lawn in Dallas, Texas for a chance to win more than $350,000 in cash and prizes, the biggest payout in Food Sport history.

Among the field of competitors for the eighth annual World Food Championships will be Brenda Washnock of Negaunee, who will be representing Michigan at the Ultimate Food Fight.

“Teams from more than 40 states and 15 countries will enter one of our 10 competition categories to earn their way to a title and a huge TV opportunity,” Mike McCloud, CEO and official commissioner of the event, said in a press release. “The competition will be more intense than ever this year, and 10 incredible chefs or home cooks are going to walk away with $10,000 cash!”

Competitors will cook on-site during timed events to create a dish for the ultimate taste test by certified food sport judges. The 10 categories include bacon, barbecue, burger, chef, chili, dessert, recipe, sandwich, seafood and steak.

Washnock will be competing in the sandwich category. She earned a coveted spot in this year’s WFC by placing top 10 in the chicken category at the 2018 championships.

This year’s competition marks the sixth time Washnock has competed at WFC. Her best finishes were in 2013 when she took 6th place in the pasta category and in 2018 when she took 7th in the chicken category.

“It’s truly a privilege to compete against these talented professional chefs and home cooks. They are my competitors, my community and my friends,” Washnock said in a press release.

This festival also offers exciting attractions for food fans to enjoy, like watching celebrity chefs compete or attending demonstrations and learning about the newest food trends.

Cooking is not the only opportunity for participation at the World Food Championships. Those interested in volunteering or learning how to become a certified judge can learn more at www.worldfoodchampionships.com.

The WFC is the highest stakes food competition in the world, the release states. This multiday, live-event culinary competition showcases some of the world’s best cooking masters competing for food, fame and fortune in 10 categories. In 2018, over 1,500 contestants on nearly 500 official teams from 42 American states and 12 countries competed. More than 20 million people have attended WFC or have seen it on national television over the past seven years.

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