World Food Championships! Winner Announced!

World Food Championships!

Congratulations

Linda BONWILL
@lindabonwill
Englewood, FL (pop. 47,251)
Member Since Apr 2012

World Food Championships 2012 Review!



'Joes' vs. 'Pros' at the World Food Championships!



Hi all!

I’m Annakate, and I’m a member of the Just A Pinch Kitchen Crew. The adrenaline is still high after our time in Las Vegas for the World Food Championships! We had the distinct pleasure of hosting 17 Just A Pinch members who had won a slot to compete! This was QUITE an honor, as our group was the only set of non-professional competitors at the event! Our folks went head to head against hundreds of restaurateurs, chefs and professional competitors. The weekend was a blur of chopping, sautéing, baking and zooming around…and we had a blast!

We kicked off the weekend with a team meet-up so everyone could get to know one another. Just A Pinch is a wonderful place for folks to connect online, and it turns out it’s just as wonderful meeting each other in person. Our group boasted members from across the country, and there was frequent joking about suitcase contents: pots, pans, spatulas, blenders, spices, sauces and more. A genuine spirit of camaraderie was present within the group right from that first meeting.

The following day marked the beginning of competition. Our crew did a group grocery shop that felt just like Supermarket Sweep, everyone hurrying off to get the items they needed! Then it was back to “Kitchen Alley” on the grounds of Bally’s Resort for some serious cooking.

I was so impressed by how all of the Just A Pinch competitors rose to the occasion! Cooking in a 10x10 booth with nothing but an oven and propane burners can be challenging, to say the least, but our home cooks were all champions! Each cook was given three hours to prepare their winning dish (below), one presentation sample and five tasting samples for the panelof judges. Talk about excitement! It was down to the wire for everyone and the Kitchen Crew was thrilled to be in the thick of it to lend a hand.

Hosting the event was Adam Richman, star of Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” and “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America.” He took special time to meet up with the ‘Pinchers and shared encouraging words before the finalists were announced. Turns out, he has a very soft spot in his heart for home cooks, having learned a ton from his own mother whose recipes and cooking methods he felt could stand up against any professional chef. It was so touching and so sincere. Color us charmed.

As the first round of competition came to a close, we all gathered in front of a large stage right on the Las Vegas strip, to hear the names of the lucky Finalists. Before I knew what was happening, we were dancing in the streets, cheering and crying, laughing and hugging… Just A Pinch had THREE Finalists: Linda Bonwill, Jackie Mento and Lori McClain, each winning $1,000! It was joyous chaos.

These talented gals each then prepared and presented a second dish featuring one of the sponsor ingredients. The food was so fantastic… and, in fact, it was announced that Linda Bonwill WON the Side Dish Category!!! The excitement was overwhelming. Linda won $10K and the honor of having the Best Side Dish in the WORLD!

If that wasn’t exciting enough, the next day Linda qualified to compete at the Final Table, the ultimate honor. Not only was she the only home cook, but also the only woman to qualify! Beating out TWO of the pros to take 5th place!! (Note: She actually got 4th place but celebrity judge Robin Leach changed his vote at the last second which sent the crowd into a frenzy, and chants of “Just A Pinch” erupted!)

All in all, it was a wonderful and exciting time at the first-ever World Food Championships in Las Vegas! It was touching to see the camaraderie and supportive spirit that pervaded each of the events. On behalf of the entire Kitchen Crew, we feel so thankful to be part of such a wonderful group of people. Three cheers for our home cooks!!

-Annakate
Kitchen Crew

View Photo Gallery

And the winners are...

These home cooks have won a chance to cook with the pros at the 2012 World Food Championships in Las Vegas, NV. It's the "Joes v. Pros," and these talented guys and gals may walk away from Vegas with some serious bragging rights... and prize money!

We're proud to be teaming up with the WFC folks to offer these lucky Just A Pinch members the EXCLUSIVE opportunity to compete in this invite-only event... hosted by Adam Richman, star of Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" and "Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America."

Leave a comment below to wish the competitors well and subscribe to all the latest updates from the Finals in Vegas!


Barbecue Category:

Sherri Logan Williams* - Crestview, FL
Smokin' Baby Got Back Ribs

Greg Appel - Sunderland, MD
Spicy Chi Chi Ribs

Penelope Malcolm* - Americus, GA
Southern Peach, Vidalia Onion & Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Susan Simons* - Roy, WA
Wowribs

Jason Summers - Greenfield, MO
Smoked Brisket

Burgers Category:

Donna Bardocz* - Howell, MI
Pimento Cheese Sliders

Jamie Brown-Miller - Napa, CA
Bacon Brie Burgers with Caesar on Brioche

Veronica Callaghan* - Glastonbury, CT
Tinga Hamburguesas with Cotija-lime Slaw

Lindsey Cook* - Dallas, TX
Biscuits and Gravy Burger

Leah Stacey* - Montgomery, AL
Thai Smile Burger

Chili Category:

"Big" Bill Wentz* - Virginia Beach, VA
Win or Lose Chili

Melissa Baldan* - San Diego, CA
(H)Eat it up Chili

Geoffry LeCher - Wheeling, WV
Pork and Green Chili Posole

Debbie Reid* - Clearwater, FL
Spicy Southwestern Black Bean Chili

Sena Wilson* - Jackson, TX
My Texas Chili

Sandwiches Category:

Lori McLain* - Denton, TX
Sticky Chicken Naan Sandwich

Carmell Childs - Provo, UT
Spicy Salmon Sandwich with Ginger-Peperoncini Aioli

Linda Dalton* - Stoughton, MA
Panko Coated Falafel and Greek Salad Pitas

Jane McMillan* - Massena, NY
Brie, Pear and Apricot Sammie with Thai Dipping Sauce

Kelly Williams - Forked River, NJ
Buffalo Wing Garlic-Toasted Hoagies

Side Dishes Category:

Linda Bonwill* - Englewood, FL
Cobb Potato Salad

Marsha Gardner - Florala, AL
Spanish Beans

Merry Graham* - Newhall, CA
Cherry Sesame Noodles with Lemon-Hoison Sauce

Jackie Mento* - The Villages, FL
Cornbread Puddle Cakes w/ Savory Gingersnap Gravy

Debbie Wright* - Sulphur, LA
Grits and Greens Casserole

*Competing in Vegas


Grand Prize Winners each receive:

  • Invitation to prepare and and compete with their winning recipe November 1-4 at the 2012 World Food Championships (WFC) in Las Vegas, NV... where prize money of up to $50,000 is up for grabs!
  • Waiver of all WFC entrance fees
  • $1,000 Voucher towards travel expenses
  • Honorary Kitchen Crew status (Boo yah!)


★ Runners-Up each receive:

  • Invitation to prepare and and compete with their winning recipe at the 2012 World Food Championships (WFC) in Las Vegas, NV... where prize money of up to $50,000 is up for grabs!
  • Honorary Kitchen Crew status
  • (Runners-Up responsible for own travel & competition expenses.)


Congratulations to all you fab cooks out there!  We were inundated with bushels of delicious entries in the Just A Pinch World Food Championship contest, and it's clear that ALL of you have got some serious cooking chops!  

We're thrilled to announce these 25 lucky entrants whose recipes won them their very own exclusive invitation from Just A Pinch to compete at the 2012 World Food Championships in Las Vegas!  These kitchen "Joe's" have earned the opportunity to battle the country's best cooking pros in what is sure to be a heckuva foodie face-off!

Feeling like a winner yourself? ENTER TO WIN some tasty prizes of your own!

Rules and Regulations

81 Comments
StillWild
Donna Graffagnino - over a year ago
I just pinched your recipe and can't wait to try it. Congratulations on the World Champion Side Dish Win!!! Way to Go, Girl!
3dg
Brenda DeGree - over a year ago
Wow..Wow..Wow!!! Blessings were in your corners!! I'm sure all the hard work was well worth it..and very well deserved!! Congratulations!!
hauns1
Carolyn Dyson - over a year ago
I wish you all well. When I see how this works maybe I can enter contests also.
knish
Helaine Norman - over a year ago
Congratulations to all of you wonderful winning cooks!
barbstew
Barb Stewart - over a year ago
Good luck to all and bring it all home. Enjoy yourselves.
Barb
ILUVSPICES
Betty Graves - over a year ago
Congratulations
travlindiva
cyndi Williams - over a year ago
I'm so proud of yo guys....CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!
SharonasCookin
Sharon Curtis - over a year ago
CONGRATS to all the winners! We are all proud of you!! XO.
potrose
Rose Selvar - over a year ago
Congratulations to all the cooks from JAP who went to LV! What an awesome experience that must have been...and what fun! 11/17/12
HIJITA
DANIELA CIRILLO - over a year ago
CONGRATULATIONS !!! MY SWEET LADY!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU !! =)
oraliabrown1
Alma Brown - over a year ago
Congratulations to all the winners! You all must have had a great time.
butchreese
missy gbaby Reese johnson - over a year ago
Congratulation To all of you guys !! I know all you guy work very hard!!! So CONGRATS !!! Missy
Stripey
Linda Dalton - over a year ago
Ditto Jane! xxoo to all
mellymel74
Melissa Baldan - over a year ago
I couldn't agree more, Jane!!!
DeeDee2011
Diane Atherton - over a year ago
Congrats to all of our JAP members that won. JAP rocks everywhere!!!