We’ve been counting down for months, and in less than a week, the World Food Championships will kick off the largest competition in food sport right here in Indianapolis Nov. 8-12!
The competition brings more than 1,200 chefs, home cooks and barbecue teams from across the country and around the world to the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The new facility will become Kitchen Arena, with rows of cooking stations set up for competitors, plus weekend demos, samples and a Saturday and Sunday Taste of the WFC culinary experience (available from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and a VIP area (available 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday). Outdoors, weekend attendees can get their game on in the Family Fun Zone, watch Sunday’s Fire Woman challenge and explore the Tyson Tailgate Zone with demos and samples from barbecue legends.
Tickets are still available here for daily and weekend general admission, as well as for the Taste of the WFC experience and the VIP area. On Monday, Nov. 11, admission is free for veterans and active military (with valid military ID). Admission is free for all attendees on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect at Indy’s first World Food Championships.
Friday, Nov. 8
Day 1 kicks off with the Biscuits & Jampionship at 9 a.m. The WFC Jr. competition, featuring young chefs age 12-17 from Indy and around the country, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then at 2 p.m., the Last Chance Qualifier takes place with chefs still competing for their place in the weekend competition. Competitors in all categories will be checking in all day, and judges will take a refresher course in the WFC’s E.A.T. judging methodology that focuses on execution, appearance and taste. All competitors enjoy a welcome reception that evening in downtown Indy.
Saturday, Nov. 9
The action begins at 9 a.m. with the Bacon and Barbecue categories, followed by the Rice competition at 10:30 a.m. The Seafood competition starts at noon, and the Live Fire opening round takes place at 1 p.m. The Chef category opener is at 1:30 p.m. and the final category of the day, Desserts, begins at 3 p.m. Top finishers in each category will be announced later in the day.
Sunday, Nov. 10
Another busy day in Kitchen Arena, as the Sandwich category begins at 9 a.m. along with day two of Barbecue. The Burger opening round starts at 10:30 a.m., with the Vegetarian competition as well as the Fire Woman challenge kicking off at noon. The Soup category begins at 1:30 p.m., and the Noodle competition starts at 3 p.m. Top finishers will be announced that evening.
Monday, Nov. 11
It’s now time for the finals, with the Bacon round beginning the action at 9 a.m., Rice at 10 a.m. and Seafood at 11 a.m. The Chef category final is at noon and Dessert at 1 p.m. The day wraps up with the Live Fire final at 2 pm.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
The finals continue with the Sandwich category starting the day at 9 a.m. The Burger final begins at 10 a.m., Vegetarian at 11 a.m. and the Soup final at noon. The Noodle category final is at 1 p.m., and the Barbecue final is at 2 p.m. The final round award show, announcing the winners in each category, runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., wrapping up the weekend’s competition.
