Staff reports 8:36 a.m.
Monday, March 15, 2021 8:36 am

Organizers at the World Food Championships are hosting a qualifier that invites cooks of all types to put their kitchen skills and recipes to a virtual taste test for a chance to compete for more than $350,000 in cash and prizes.

The qualifier is called the Taste of America Challenge, and it can be done in the comfort of your own home or restaurant. The contest requires entrants to submit an image of their "signature dish" along with its recipe through the official contest link, here. The top thirty performing recipes will be qualified and invited to compete at WFC -- known as the "Ultimate Food Fight" -- scheduled for November 5-9 in Dallas, Texas.

"With Covid canceling many events throughout the past year, we're truly excited to be marching toward our big competition in Dallas," said Mike McCloud, CEO and President of WFC. "Hosting TOA as a nationwide recipe contest gives both experienced and new cooks the opportunity to showcase their cooking skills while allowing them a chance to win a 2021 Golden Ticket."

TOA challenges cooks and chefs from coast to coast and any culinary background to create innovative, eye-popping recipes that utilize WFC's 2021 primary sponsors. Those featured sponsors include: Beeler's Pure Pork, Crystal Hot Sauce, Hassell Castle Company, Hershey's, Impossible Foods, Johnsonville, Minor's, Red Gold Potatoes, Pyure Oragnic and Wampler's Farm Sausage.