Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, announced today it has partnered with World Food Championships to host the Southwest Chef Showdown, a competition featuring up to 30 champion chefs, during the 2024 Scottsdale Fall Auction, presented by Gila River Resorts & Casinos. The event will be held Oct. 10-13 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Contestants in the Barrett-Jackson Southwest Chef Showdown will range from home to professional chefs and will compete in a series of kitchen arena challenges during the four-day auction. The champion from each competition will earn a golden ticket to compete in the 12th Annual World Food Championships, Nov. 8-12, in Indianapolis for a chance to win part of the $450,000 prize pool.
“We’re constantly looking for opportunities to embrace new ideas that enhance the Barrett-Jackson experience for our guests,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “That’s why we’re excited to team up with World Food Championships and host the Southwest Chef Showdown at Barrett-Jackson during our Scottsdale Fall Auction in October. From celebrity chefs to reality cooking shows, culinary arts have not only become a fine art, but an integral part of today’s pop culture. Hosting the Southwest Chef Showdown will be an incredible extension of the lifestyle activities that make Barrett-Jackson an event the whole family will enjoy.”
An arena featuring two kitchen models will be set up in the Exhibitor Marketplace adjacent to the main auction pavilion at WestWorld of Scottsdale during the Barrett-Jackson auction. Competitions will be held throughout the day and feature two contestants going head-to-head in a timed challenge. A panel of food judges will award one winner from each segment, with a total of 15 winners earning their golden ticket to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis. The Southwest Chef Showdown is included with admission for all Barrett-Jackson attendees.
“We’re thrilled to work with Barrett-Jackson and bring the World Food Championships and Food Sport to Scottsdale,” said Mike McCloud, Founder of World Food Championships. “The culinary creativity and innovation from our world-class collection of chefs will bring a new kind of passion to the Barrett-Jackson experience this fall. Our Southwest Chef Showdown will give contestants the chance to punch their golden tickets to advance to our World Championships this November.”
Over the course of the event’s history, WFC has awarded more than $3 million in cash and prizes, garnered a media reach of more than 9 billion and connected 200+ food brands with food fans, food bloggers and food contestants. In short, the WFC platform has given birth to “Food Sport” by providing a level playing field, a fair judging system, innovative culinary programming, ambassador opportunities, TV visibility and a process that allows talented culinary teams to compete in ways never seen.
Application forms for the Southwest Chef Showdown at Barrett-Jackson are currently available via World Food Championships here.
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