Two Indiana Cooks Just Won World Food Championship Titles

Two Hoosiers Just Won Big at the World Food Championships

When it comes to food, Indiana is usually known for a couple of things – breaded tenderloins and corn – but that perception is changing. Two of the world's best cooks just went home from Indianapolis with championship titles.

Craig Baker of Indianapolis took the World Chef Championship, and Jordan Davis of Carmel won the World Barbecue Championship at the 2026 World Food Championships, held October 15-18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. More than 400 teams from over 35 states and 14 countries showed up to compete, so these two had some serious company to beat.

A Repeat Win for the Executive Chef

For Baker, the Executive Chef at the InterContinental Hotel in Indianapolis, this win is extra sweet. It's his second World Chef Championship, and he got it right in his own backyard!

The Smoking Pastor Takes the Barbecue Crown

Davis, who goes by the “Smoking Pastor,” brought home the barbecue crown. He's known for using food to bring people together and lift up his community, which makes the win feel pretty fitting.

World Food Championship, Canva

The event, now in its third straight year in Indianapolis, covered 10 championship categories and a prize purse of more than $400,000. Fans got in on the fun too, with live demos, tastings, and plenty of entertainment.

What Happens Next at the Final Table

Baker and Davis are two of the 10 category champions who now move on to the Final Table in Spring 2027, where the winners will battle it out for the title of World Food Champion.

Meet All 10 Category Champions

The 2026 World Food Championships category champions are:

• World Bacon Championship: David Casey from Brockton, Massachusetts
• World Barbecue Championship: Jordan Davis from Carmel, Indiana 
• World Burger Championship: Tatewaki Takano from Tokyo, Japan
• World Chef Championship: Craig Baker from Indianapolis, Indiana 
• World Dessert Championship: Bethany Boedicker from Galveston, Texas
• World Live Fire Championship: Adi Melkman from Utrecht, Netherlands
• World Noodle Championship: Pablo Aquije from Hyattsville, Maryland
• World Sandwich Championship: Phil Johnson from Phoenix, Arizona
• World Seafood Championship: Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez from Sarasota, Florida
• World Vegetarian Championship: Jacquelyn Gausemel from Washington, DC

Full championship results are available at worldfoodchampionships.com/results.