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. MORE BATTLES THAN EVER! 20 chefs will battle head-to-head in TEN unique showdowns plus an all new cocktail showdown bringing our your favorite mixologists to celebrate their Tampa Bay hotspot. 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. PLUS – Get ready for the all new Milagro Tequila Bartender Showdown, the newest addition to highlight Tampa Bay’s favorite bartenders! Tampa Bay’s CHEF SHOWDOWN, presented by GOYA Foods and crafted by Milagro Tequila, 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

$170
Admission Ticket
2026 includes entry and access to an all-inclusive experience watching 20 chefs go head to head in now 10 different culinary battles, PLUS an all new cocktail showdown bringing our your favorite mixologists to celebrate their Tampa Bay hotspot. Sample their plates and cocktails and cast your vote as you head around the village while watching the chefs take the Publix main stage to battle it out LIVE! The winning chef is chosen based on your tastebuds along with judges from the culinary industry, so get ready to #CHOOSEYOURCHAMP.
$280
FRI 4/10 & SAT 4/11 WKND 2-DAY PASS
Ticket Benefits Include: • ONE ticket to Friday, April 10, 2026: Chef Showdown ($170 value) •ONE Ticket for Saturday, April 11, 2026: Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival- Grand Tasting ($160 value)
$1450
Fri 4/10 & Sat 4/11: WKND 2-DAY PASS FOR TWO W/ 2-NIGHT STAY
Ticket Benefits Include: • TWO Re-entry tickets to Friday, April 10, 2026: Chef Showdown ($170 value) •TWO Re-entry Tickets for Saturday, April 11, 2026: Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival- Grand Tasting ($160 value) •2 NIGHT STAY (Fri 4/10 -Sun, 4/11) for TWO at Official Host Hotel, Epicurean. Package includes room and tax covered. Room can be a king or double beds.
$180
Day of Gate Ticket
Day of gate price increases but includes entry and access to an all-inclusive experience watching 20 chefs go head to head in now 10 different culinary battles, PLUS an all new cocktail showdown bringing our your favorite mixologists to celebrate their Tampa Bay hotspot. Sample their plates and cocktails and cast your vote as you head around the village while watching the chefs take the Publix main stage to battle it out LIVE! The winning chef is chosen based on your tastebuds along with judges from the culinary industry, so get ready to #CHOOSEYOURCHAMP.

Beverage Partners

Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Breakthru Beverage

Presenting Sponsors

Publix
Goya
Hillsborough County

Hosting Sponsors

Hines Securities
Demesmin & Dover
Halperns

Associate Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

2026 Chef Showdown Lineup

Battle Pasta

2026 Champion
Chef David Lazer Benstock
Chef David Lazer Benstock
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Battle Smokhouse REMATCH

2026 Champion
Chef Bryan Jacobs
Chef Bryan Jacobs
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

ALL-NEW Battle Mediterranean

2026 Champion
Chef Ahmad Alaraj
Chef Ahmad Alaraj
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Battle Surf n Turf

2026 Champion
Chef Nelly Buleje
Chef Nelly Buleje
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Battle Seafood

2026 Champion
Chef David Reyes
Chef David Reyes
Representing
Uno Mas & Hail Mary's
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

ALL-NEW Battle Steakhouse

2026 Champion
Chef Tyson Grant
Chef Tyson Grant
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Battle Truffle

2026 Champion
Chef Diego Gonzalez
Chef Diego Gonzalez
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Battle Burger

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

Battle Taco

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

Battle Mystery Box

2026 Champion
Chef Dion Jumapao
Chef Dion Jumapao
Representing
Versus
TBD
TBD
TBD

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival 2026