Two Indiana Chefs Win World Titles at 2025 Food Championships

Indiana Takes Center Stage at the World Food Championships

Indiana sure knows how to bring the flavor! Two Hoosier chefs have officially taken their culinary talents to the world stage - and came home champions. The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center hosted the 2025 World Food Championships (WFC), and not one, but two Indiana chefs were crowned world champions.

The WTF is a Global Culinary Showdown

More than 400 teams from 35 states and 14 countries battled it out across 10 categories, including burgers, barbecue, seafood, desserts, and more. And Indiana was on a mission this year, with over 110 local chefs and home cooks stepping into the culinary spotlight. When the dust settled, two Hoosier chefs stood victorious!

Meet Indiana’s World Food Championships Winners

Cindy Hawkins Sweetens the Win

Cindy Hawkins, of Circle City Sweets in Indianapolis, took home the World Dessert Championship title with a creation that left judges speechless (and probably craving seconds). Cindy is already well-known around Indy for her incredible pastries and community spirit - and now she’s a world champion, too!

Daniel McDonald Brings Home the Bacon

As a member of Team Indiana, Daniel McDonald fried, sizzled, and seasoned his way to victory in the World Bacon Championship. The Franklin native beat out competitors from across the globe to claim the golden title - proving once again that Hoosiers know how to make bacon better than anyone.

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Want to see all the winners or learn more about next year’s event? Visit WorldFoodChampionships.com to see the rest of the winners and to learn about next year’s event. Maybe now would be a good time to start practicing your recipes, because next year’s golden ticket could be yours!