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 eight 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. 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 18 chefs go head to head in now 9 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.

Beverage Partners

Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Breakthru Beverage

Presenting Sponsors

Publix
Goya
Hillsborough County

Hosting Sponsors

Stella Artois
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