COMPETITION OVERVIEW
NOVEMBER 8-12, 2017
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
The origins of desserts can be traced back to the dawn of civilized man. From its humble beginnings as fruits and honeycomb to ice cream, tiramisu and chocolate cupcakes, dessert is a food gift that has never stopped giving. People’s love for their desserts is marked throughout time and is as constant as warm apple pie.
The World Dessert Championship will pit 50 of the world’s best dessert designers against each other for the title of World Dessert Champion. Home cooks, restaurateurs and chefs will all compete to see whose cuisine reigns supreme. The champion will then take their best shot to the Final Table for a chance to win the World Food Championship.
WORLD DESSERT CHAMPIONSHIP
$10,000 GRAND PRIZE
Schedule and Rules
COMPETITION STRUCTURE
The World Food Championships will feature three rounds of competition.
Signature Dish: competitors will create their best recipe for judging within each category.
Structured Build: this round separates the contenders from the pretenders by forcing everyone to create their own spin on the same basic dish.
Infused Ingredient: the top competitors in each category will face off for culinary supremacy using the same ingredient in their final category dish.
2016 Competitor Packets
COMPETITION SCHEDULE & RULES
The World Dessert Championship will be limited to the first 50 entrants who are fully qualified, registered and confirmed. Any qualified entrant who wants to compete after the field is full must seek a special exemption from the WFC competition committee.
The following events are International Qualifiers for the 2017 World Dessert Championship:
Canadian Food Championships - Edmonton, AB Canada - 7/21/17-7/23/17
Caribbean Food Championships - Coco Beach, Puerto Rico - 6/10/17
The following events are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2017 World Dessert Championship:
Michigan Apple Recipe Contest - Lansing, MI - 1/25/17
Taste of America - 1st Place - Online - 6/1/17-7/5/17
Taste of America Challenge, sponsored by Michigan Apple Committee - Online - 6/1/17-7/5/17
The following events are Elite Qualifiers for the 2017 World Dessert Championship:
Food Champ Online Recipe Contests - Online - Monthly
Wild Card Elite Division - Online - 4/5/17-10/1/17
The following competitions are automatic qualifiers for the 2017 World Dessert Championship:
United States Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 World Dessert Champion - Nancy Judd | US | Nov 4, 2013 |
| National Peanut Festival 2016 Recipe Contest | Dothan, AL, US | Nov 4, 2016 |
| Alabama Festival of Flavor (Dessert competition) | Foley, AL, US | Oct 7, 2017 |
| 2016 World Dessert Champion - Evette Rahman | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 2nd Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 3rd Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 4th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 5th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 6th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 7th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 8th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - 9th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Dessert Championship - Top Ten - Tenth Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Just A Pinch - WFC Top Ten Dessert - Tenth Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Just A Pinch - WFC Top Ten Dessert - 4th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Waitlisted World Dessert Championship | Foley, AL, US | Oct 7, 2017 |
| Sweet Charity Dessert and Cocktail Challenge | Tucson, AZ, US | Nov 18, 2017 |
| Phoenix New Times - Best Desserts | Phoenix, AZ, US | |
| Phoenix New Times - Best Doughnut | Phoenix, AZ, US | |
| Devoured Culinary Classic - 2nd Place - Jada Shiya | Phoenix, AZ, US | |
| Mountain Mandarin Festival Recipe Contest | Auburn, CA, US | Nov 18, 2016 |
| California Strawberry Festival Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest | Oxnard, CA, US | May 20, 2017 |
| Watsonville Strawberry Festival | Watsonville, CA, US | Aug 6, 2017 |
| Del Mar BBQ Championship (Dessert competition) | Del Mar, CA, US | Sep 1, 2017 |
| L.A. Ice Cream Takedown - People's Choice | Los Angeles, CA, US | Sep 11, 2016 |
| Sun BBQFest - (Dessert competition) | Uncasville, CT, US | Jun 3, 2017 |
| Taste Of Oviedo Citrus And Celery Cook Off - (Dessert competition) | Oviedo, FL, US | Mar 11, 2017 |
| APC National Pie Championship (Amateur Division) | Orlando, FL, US | May 5, 2017 |
| APC National Pie Championship (Professional Division) | Orlando, FL, US | May 5, 2017 |
| 2015 World Dessert Champion - Lynn Smith | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| APC National Pie Championship (Amateur Division - Blue Ribbon Comstock Apple) | Orlando, FL, US | May 5, 2017 |
| Georgia Apple Festival Apple Pie Recipe Contest | Ellijay, GA, US | Oct 8, 2016 |
| Mangoes at the Moana - Chef Mango Throwdown | Honolulu, HI, US | Jul 15, 2017 |
| Dubuque Area Baconfest - Best Dessert | Dubuque, IA, US | Oct 6, 2016 |
| America's Home Baking Recipe Competition | Chicago, IL, US | Nov 12, 2016 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - USA Qualifying Rounds | Chicago, IL, US | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Chicago Mag - Best of Chicago - Best Cake | Chicago, IL, US | |
| Mr BBQ - (Dessert competition) | Taylor Ridge, IL, US | Jul 22, 2017 |
| National Festival of Breads - Grand Prize Winner | Manhattan, KS, US | Jun 17, 2017 |
| Smoke in the Spring (Dessert competition) | Osage City, KS, US | Apr 7, 2017 |
| Best Chocolate Dessert @ The State Fair of Louisiana | Shreveport, LA, US | Nov 6, 2016 |
| Best Pecan Dessert @ The State Fair of Louisiana | Shreveport, LA, US | Nov 12, 2016 |
| Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs & Pastry Provincial Competition - National Pastry Competition | Gaithersburg, MD, US | May 4, 2017 |
| Bethal HarvestFest Apple Pie Contest (Professional) | Bethel, ME, US | Sep 17, 2017 |
| Michigan Apple Recipe Contest | Lansing, MI, US | Jan 25, 2017 |
| Burger Bash (Dessert competition) | Royal Oak, MI, US | Jun 9, 2017 |
| Big Island BBQ (Dessert competition) | Albert Lea, MN, US | Aug 25, 2017 |
| Sugar Rush | Kansas City, MO, US | Feb 23, 2017 |
| Sweetest Chefs of the South | Ridgeland, MS, US | Sep 11, 2017 |
| Tupelo BBQ Duel (Dessert competition) - Cheryl Hill | Tupelo, MS, US | Mar 17, 2017 |
| Montana BBQ Cook-off (Dessert competition) | Absarokee, MT, US | Jun 25, 2017 |
| Gold Medal Flour "Best Pie" Contest | Raleigh, NC, US | Oct 16, 2016 |
| North Carolina Apple Growers Association Apple Recipe Contest | Raleigh, NC, US | Oct 17, 2016 |
| North Carolina Pecan Association Pecan Recipe Contest | Raleigh, NC, US | Oct 20, 2016 |
| King Flour Baking Contest | Raleigh, NC, US | Oct 23, 2016 |
| Terhune Orchard's Blueberry Bash Bake-off Contest | Princeton, NJ, US | Jul 9, 2017 |
| Southwest Chocolate Fest | Albuquerque, NM, US | Mar 25, 2017 |
| 14th Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship (Dessert competition) | Santa Ana, NM, US | Jul 1, 2017 |
| Smokin' On The Pecos New Mexico State BBQ Championship - (Dessert Competition) | Artesia, NM, US | Jun 23, 2017 |
| 2012 World Side-Dish Champion - Linda Bonwill | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| 2014 World Dessert Champion - Laurie Figone | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| Brooklyn Cookie Takedown | Brooklyn, NY, US | Dec 18, 2016 |
| US Pastry Competition - Best in Show | New York, NY, US | Mar 5, 2017 |
| US Pastry Competition - Best New Product for the Food Trends Experience | New York, NY, US | Mar 5, 2017 |
| Salt City BBQ Festival (Dessert competition) | Syracuse, NY, US | May 20, 2017 |
| New York Magazine's - Cookies | New York, NY, US | |
| Brooklyn Chocolate Takedown | Brooklyn, NY, US | Feb 12, 2017 |
| Go Bold with Butter Holiday Cookie Contest | ONLINE, US | Nov 1, 2016 |
| Florida Strawberry Online Contest - Dessert | ONLINE, US | |
| Lucky Leaf - Simple Treat Contest | ONLINE, US | |
| Door County Coffee 2017 Recipe Contest | ONLINE, US | Mar 7, 2017 |
| April Fools AQ - 1st Place - Dessert | ONLINE, US | Mar 17, 2017 |
| The Great New England Fruit Pie Baking Competition | ONLINE, US | |
| TOA2016 | ONLINE, US | |
| April Fools AQ - 3rd Place - Dessert | ONLINE, US | Mar 17, 2017 |
| Golden Ticket Chicken Champ Contest - 2nd Place | ONLINE, US | Mar 1, 2017 |
| Valrhona C³ Pastry Competition (Professional Chocolate Chef Competition) | ONLINE, US | Jun 30, 2017 |
| TOA2017 | ONLINE, US | |
| Philly Mag - Best Doughnuts | Philadelphia, PA, US | |
| Philly Mag - Best New Pastry Chef | Philadelphia, PA, US | |
| National Banana Pudding Cook Off (Amateur Division) | Hickman, TN, US | Oct 1, 2016 |
| National Banana Pudding Cook Off (Restaurant Division) | Hickman, TN, US | Oct 1, 2016 |
| Food Network: Clash of the Grandmas - Episode (GS0102H) "Home Sweet Grandma" | TV, US | Nov 20, 2016 |
| Bakers vs. Fakers TV show - "Pilot" | TV, US | |
| Farmers Market Flip - Flavor of the Market Challenge | TV, US | Apr 27, 2017 |
| Food Network's Spring Baking Championship | TV, US | |
| Bakers vs. Fakers TV show - "Lemon Bar Brawl" Season 1 Episode 6 | TV, US | |
| Gold Buckle Foodie Awards | Houston, TX, US | Mar 2, 2017 |
| Gold Buckle Foodie Awards - Triple Threat | Houston, TX, US | Mar 2, 2017 |
| NCACS Cupcake Challenge | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Layer / Pound Cake Division | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Fruit / Nut Diivision | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Chocolate Division | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Cheesecake Division | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Combination Division | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) - Cupcake Challenge - Overall Winner | Fairfax, VA, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| Chillin' & Grillin' in the Glades (Pie contest) | Wise, VA, US | Jul 15, 2017 |
| Pacific Northwest Inlander - Best Cupcakes | Spokane, WA, US |
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Food Championships - Dessert - 1st and 2nd Place | Edmonton, AB, CA | Jul 21, 2017 |
| Taste of the World - France | FR | Jun 1, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - Germany Qualifying Rounds | DE | Mar 22, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - Germany Qualifying Rounds | DE | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Taste of the World - Haiti | HT | Jun 1, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - China/Hong Kong Qualifying Rounds | HK | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - China/Hong Kong Qualifying Rounds | HK | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - Poland Qualifying Rounds | PL | Feb 26, 2017 |
| Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters - Poland Qualifying Rounds | PL | Apr 28, 2017 |
| National Cupcake Championships - United Kingdom | Corby, GB | Sep 14, 2016 |