Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival|April 7-11, 2026|Tampa Bay, FL

Chef Showdown

Friday, April 10, 2026
6:30 PM

An evening of competitive culinary cook-offs

Get ready to celebrate Tampa Bay’s top chefs and gear up for an evening of competitive culinary cook-offs where attendees will serve as the judges as they indulge in endless dishes and refreshing cocktails and dance the night away. 16 chefs will battle head-to-head in eight unique showdowns. Each will host their own “battle pavilion” , where guests will visit each battle, sample, and vote on their favorite of the two. Throughout the night, chefs from each battle will take the Publix Culinary Showdown Kitchen stage to put on a show in their live demos as representatives from the culinary industry, including media, will serve as final judges to award the best in each showdown. Tampa Bay’s CHEF SHOWDOWN, presented by GOYA Foods and driven by BMW, will be hosted on the festival grounds, which will be at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Choose your champ, Friday, April 10 at 6:30PM at Tampa Bay’s CHEF SHOWDOWN!

Ticket Options

$160
Admission Ticket
Includes entry and access to an all-inclusive experience watching 16 chefs go head to head in 8 different culinary battles. Sample their plates and cast your vote while watching the chefs take the main stage to battle it out LIVE! The winning chef is chosen based on your votes along with judges from the culinary industry. Event is 21+. Open bar is included for 21+.

Beverage Partners

Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Breakthru Beverage

Presenting Sponsors

Publix
Goya
Hillsborough County

Hosting Sponsors

Stella Artois
Meats by Linz
Hines Securities
Demesmin & Dover

Associate Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

2026 Chef Showdown Lineup

Battle Fried Chicken

2025 Champion
Chef Joe Dodd
Chef Joe Dodd
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Surf n Turf

2025 Champion
Chef Jason Ruhe
Chef Jason Ruhe
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Seafood

2025 Champion
Chef David Reyes
Chef David Reyes
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Truffle

2025 Champion
Chef Matthew Zappoli
Chef Matthew Zappoli
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Burger

2025 Champion
Chef Jay Narvaez
Chef Jay Narvaez
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Taco

2025 Champion
Chef Christopher Yadid Garcia
Chef Christopher Yadid Garcia
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Smokhouse

2025 Champion
Chef Cameron Capri
Chef Cameron Capri
Representing
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Pasta

2025 Champion
Chef Anthony Santos
Chef Anthony Santos
Versus
2026 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival 2026