Stories of Success| Meet the 2024 World Food Champions (Part-1)

The 2024 World Food Championships enable the champions to celebrate more than just their purposive efforts and culminated dreams- this specific championship is also their trophy celebration. The story each champion earns in his/her name is a wonderful representation of hard work, imagination, and the influence of gastronomy. Cultivation of a winning passion begins from family kitchens, until the sweating and heart-throbbing competitive arenas capture every ounce of effort, emotions, and sentiment these humans offer to their craft. Their journeys inspire every human to fervently chase their passion with resolute strength and commitment. Let’s understand positively the unmatched and unconventional endeavors of 2024 World Food Champion’s journey paragons where each ingredient personifies commitment and victory.

Tina Crutchfield

• 2024 World Soup Champion
• Hometown: Lakeside, Colorado
• Currently Resides: Aransas Pass, Texas
• Social Media: Instagram: txcheftina
• Designation: Home Cook

Tina Crutchfield, the newly minted winner of the title of 2024 World Soup Champion, is more than just a home cook. Her life story thumbs up to the strength of self-belief, grit, and the magical ability of food. While Southwest region of the United States is renowned for its food culture, which harbors wonderful stories of delightful culinary towns and Tina began her journey during the exuberant chilli cookegin competitions. These competitions helped her gain multiple state awards in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. As of today, she resides in the calm waterfront beauty of Aransas Pass, Texas and shares her charming persona along with irresistible dishes on her Instagram account, @txcheftina.

As someone who has over three decades of experience under her belt, Tina’s story is one of great deep self-transformation. Her participation in World Food Championships (WFC), for the 11th time in a row, across categories like Soup and “Other”, is an example of her commitment towards Food Sport which goes beyond “normal” competition. Tina loves to share smiles through her food and also explains how magical the bond she formed while competing, “I love to make people happy, and my food makes them happy! I love everything about this journey,” she adds while sharing some insights against the backdrop of the Food Sport family.

Nonetheless, she had to face a few challenges head on that truly started her culinary journey.

The stark wake-up call came in the form of my husband’s near-fatal heart attack at 43, my father’s heart disease, and diabetes. The determination arose from watching and witnessing my loved ones and friends struggling with diet restrictions that were not only hard to follow, but nearly impossible to comprehend. “I thought there had to be a better alternative to that and a healthy lifestyle,” reflects Tina.

The catalyst behind her creativity came from the urge to develop the well-balanced healthy dishes devoid of any processed ingredients that were loaded with so many calories. Wherein the lifestyle did not only focus on physical health, but also encouraged the individual to eat. The end result? A family and friends community thriving off her philosophy and experiencing tangible improvement in their health. “That has been the most rewarding part of my culinary journey,” affirms her.

Winning the 2024 WFC in Indianapolis felt like a dream. “It’s surreal! I cannot believe that I battled some incredible talent the other day! It still has not sunk into me, and it is baffling,” Overcome with emotion, Tina recalls the happiest moment of her life when WFC Founder Mike McCloud announced her name in conjunction with, “from Aransas Pass, Texas…”.”What overrides every other feeling, is goose bumps and magical!”

For now, Tina envisions a dream trip across Europe as an authentic journey of cuisine for her palate to relish different foods. “It is crystal clear that I would love to taste all the authentic cuisine that Europe has to offer. I dream of sitting in a sidewalk cafe in Venice, sipping on an espresso, and deciding what delicious meal to try next! I would visit as many countries as time would allow me, and I wouldn’t count a single calorie in any of them!”

Words of wisdom from Tina to those anticipating WFC: “Be courageous while cooking, and go to extremes with experimentation; many will fail, but the few who succeed will create amazing things.”

“Everything has its importance, and do not miss even one!’

To experience the soft side of this champion’s heart, she shares a guilty pleasure, ‘I love hot dogs! I know, they are like the lowest of the low, but after a nuts day where I ‘had’ to prepare countless 5-star dishes, all of which are beautiful, I long for a regular ballpark hot dog.” This admission encapsulates the roundedness of Tina, living proof that one can appreciate the extraordinary alongside the mundane.

Tina Crutchfield’s life story is a remarkable one, showing the impact that food can have on someone’s life and profoundly capturing achievement through passion and perseverance mixed with an unconditional love for sharing good wholesome food. Not only is she a World Soup Champion, but also an inspiring figure, a culinary wizard who blended diversity with flavor and wellness to create a delightful dish.

Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez

• World Vegetarian Champion for 2024
• Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
• Current Place Of Residence: Dallas, Texas
• Social Media Handle: Instagram: @rikarudomx
• Occupation: Chef

An expert of herbal dish Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez haki is a 2024 world vegetarian champion. His legacy, which is composed of Mexican culture, self-motivation, and love for taste and flavor is always heart touching for anyone who has a taste for food art. From Mexico City to Dallas, Texas, the inspiring story of Ricardo is exceptional and captivating which he shares through his Instagram, @rikarudomx.

For over three decades, Ricardo has honed his culinary craftsmanship. Seamlessly shifting from a recreational chef to a full-on professional wasn’t much of a struggle for him. Looking back, he reflects, “As a child, I felt like the food made at home was never up to the mark. Eating out, particularly at taco places, was always good.” As much as his mother fueled his passion, it was his grandmother and her tantalizing “suadero” tacos that truly ignited his desires. She is single handedly responsible for Ricardo’s love of cooking “I needed to learn how to recreate her dishes. And that started my cooking journey.” A moment, a place, or a single taste makes the world of difference; and many of us often forget this.

He acknowledged and took note of his family’s selfless contributions, especially from his mom’s side. Stemming from a deep sense of gratitude and reflation, he comments, “He gives insight on how incredibly selfless her parents were: ‘My mom was a working lady, so me and my sister were practically raised while she taught English to primary students. Making food was the second priority on her list. I cannot thank her enough for all the help she gave.” Understanding this makes him want to work harder than ever to further succeed.

As a chef for over twenty years, Ricardo has participated in several cooking competitions, but always remembers the World Food Championships (WFC) as a highlight in his culinary journey. “A fellow chef of mine helped by hosting a small internal competition within my workplace at the Sheraton Dallas, for them, I helped set the stage for competing in the sous chef competition I was the executive sous chef Vincent Cheung who came second in the seafood division a year before John McFadden became a champion.,” And so, Ricardo made WFC his ultimate goal, setting out to demonstrate his expert skills in vegetarian cuisine to the world.

His experience at the WFC in Indianapolis in 2024 was astonishing. “Exceeding expectations, unanticipated literally and extremely appreciate it because all I focused on was, did we do our best? We tried and forgot about the cash or competition worthy position we might receive as my only mindset was how I make the best dish.”

A memory I look back to is during the semifinals when they announced: “And in first place with 99125 from Dallas, TX, it’s Ricardo Viesca.” I remember thinking to myself, ‘Oh God, so many people have been named and it is scary to think I may not have made the cut.’ And to my relief, I, indeed did make the cut. In every position (they called) the scores were ridiculously high. Like 96 or 97 high. I think I will always remember how much hard work contributed to the sheer joy of this moment.

Ricardo points out that, in addition of being hard work, the journey of him moving to the final table with his girlfriend who is also his sous chef makes the whole experience special. “Winning the Final Table would mean the world for my girlfriend and I. She was my sous chef in Indy and now at the final table we are a team again which makes this so much more special. As immigrants, this win gives us the ability to say we are the best and we do have the right to be here.” This feeling perfectly shows the combination of their struggle and persistence.

Although prize money may seem appealing, what is far more important to them is the enjoyment that comes from spending time together and enjoying food. “So far, we have not done much planning for the prize money, but paying off part of the mortgage would be useful. One thing we know for sure is that we would go to Japan for a month! If we were to spend the money on ourselves, which we never do, it would be on travel, and food, which we happen to love. The world is a big place and there remains so much to see, try, and learn to cook!” Their zeal for exploration illustrates their culinary passion.

If his advice could be distilled down to one quote, this former champion of the WFC Kitchen Arena would say “Practice, practice, practice”. To him, cooking is an art form that takes the necessary effort in order to not only master, but perfect, the craft.

And to reveal some of the more personal sides of the individual behind the chef’s coat, let him take you on a journey: “For the longest time, I could never settle on what I wanted to do for a career. An architect? A doctor (there are a few in my family)? In the end, I decided to become a cook, first because it was something I wanted and second because I thought it would allow me to spend as much time with my family as a doctor would. Boy, was I wrong.” It goes without saying that this was a look into the willpower and time needed to perfect the culinary arts.

As Viesca himself said, his life experience is proof for the fact that passion, roots and even a touch of creativity in the kitchen can change the world. And indeed, he is not just a World Vegetarian Champion, but instead a true artist, crafting poems in the form of culinary masterpieces.

Shawn Williams

• 2024 World Barbecue Champion
• Hometown: Butler, Alabama
• Currently Resides: Butler, Alabama
• Designation: Competition Team

A Maestro of the flame, Shawn Williams has crowned himself the world champion of Barbecue in the year 2024. His tale is a beautiful blend of Southern heritage, passion and soulful devotion. Barbecue is considered to be an art form, and Shawn’s culinary journey is a vast mural that pays tribute to family, community and unforgettable flavors.

“It is within the family kitchen that my culinary roots were born”, recalls Shawn. He remembers the older members of his family teaching him the art of southern cooking. Amongst one of his fondest memories is watching his grandfather grill BBQ chicken. The fire that would later win him numerous competitions ignited early in life. For Shawn, the barbeque movement began moving faster when he and his high school friend decide to participate in a local barbeque competition.

After a decade of competitive barbeque practice, Shawn had his first experience with the World Food Championships (WFC) in 2024, focusing on barbeque. “It’s a different style/organization than what normally happens in the KCBS contest. The WFC’s creative part is really what gets you,” he brought attention to the WFC mix of creative and cooking entertainment.

He also had the chance to experience his dream come true in Indianapolis. “It was incredible and surreal. To be honest, it was much better than what I was thinking because we were hoping to just make the second day of competition. It was amazing winning the final day of competition,” were his words. His extreme stacking talent and humble aspirations culminated in a victory beyond his wildest dreams.

He still cherishes the moment he heard his name being called for the first time as the barbeque champion. But he adds that there were other moments that mattered equally. “It was awesome to get praise for my dish. Taking photos with Famous Dave Anderson was incredible. The biggest memory was certainly hearing my name as the BBQ Champion,” he said while fighting tears of joy.

The Final Table win has phenomenal meaning for Shawn, a backyard barbecue now in the same league as the world’s best chefs. “A backyard B.B.Q. Master winning the final table in this contest would be the greatest achievement of my life,” he accentuates. With equal depth and passion, Shawn fifth grader’s explanation of the why is equally as deep and heartfelt: “The prize money would go to a food trailer to do catering events and special events.” This vision shows how deeply he wants to make his barbeque creations known to the world.

For those doubting considering stepping in to the WFC Kitchen Arena Shawn has one message guarantee: “No matter what walk of life you come from or social standing you have everyone can cook fantastic meals that make winners at WFC.” His life story is a clear glimpse of what overwhelming passion and hard work can do for someone.

In order to catch a glimpse of the man behind the smoke, Shawn gives a very relevant detail of his life, “I used to race go-karts, run marathons, and now I run to make BBQ turn INS.” From the sound of it, one can only assume that Shawn is a multi-talented individual with a dedication to craft that is unmatched.

The story of Shawn Williams is yet another delightful manifestation of passion, hard work, and the beauty of barbecue. He is not only a world barbecue champion, for he serves as a role model to show that with a little smoke, a lot of heart, and a whole lot of flavor, anyone can achieve anything.

Hassan Naja

• Social Media: Instagram: @hassannaja and @flavorfulearth.
• Designation: Home Cook.

Lebanon encountered an astonishing advancement within the culinary scene as Hassan Naja triumphed at the 2024 World Burger Championship held in the United States of America, a culmination of experience. Naja, now based in Dubai, is an Instagram star specializing in home-cooked meals, and with ovens of magic in his hands, he leaves the audience breathless with his outstanding creations, which can be explored at his accounts. Hassan’s story is an extraordinary blend of family account, history, and competition, along with a distinct flavorful love for these cuisines, which makes him feel the deep beauty of cooking and bestows Mohammed with the sensational soul of culinary artistry.

Hassan fondly recalls, “I have learned from them the ways, but more importantly the passion to cook for all my loved ones!” Explaining his childhood and humble roots, Hassan cradles a family kettle that uniquely “routs” sesame brioche buns within an elaphant bourbon infused pecan butter syrup, Revolutionizing comfort food nearly enabled Naja to be crushed at the World Burger Championship as horse shaped “meat bombs” burgeoned industries of frozen foods on every continent.

At the turn of the new decade, Hassan participated in the World Food Championships for the first time. Having spent twenty years perfecting his craft, he had decided to compete in the Burger category. “To be completely honest? I thrive off of the excitement,” he states as he reminisces about the experience, recalling it with clear enthusiasm. “The high stakes of the process, with reckless creativity, I cannot find any other way to further describe it except for an extreme sport, and food is the well-deserved reward.” It’s much more than participating for the sake of claiming a prize; it’s an opportunity to expand culinary limits, test his capabilities, and enjoy the grandeur of a judge’s love for the food. “The best way I can explain it is through food – which has always been central to my life. Competing simply elevates it further. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t love the opportunity to call their burger the best burger in the world?”

Indianapolis left an impression of organized chaos etched in his memory. “Experience alone cannot do justice to WFC 2024 in Indianapolis. Everything that surrounded was nothing less than a blur, and still puts a smile across my face. The energy alone had a different level of madness, I was brimming with uncontainable excitement. And being crowned the champion? Unbelievable,” Hassan commented while reflecting back. The moment that his name was called was filled with an array of sentiments: joy, disbelief, adrenaline, and pure ecstasy.

“Everything culminated to that moment after months of working hard, testing, tweaking and obsessing over every detail.” There was a sense of triumph, but there too was the spirit of togetherness within the Food Sport community, bringing to light collective appreciation and respect for food and fellow chefs. “WFC is not about a title, it brings back memories of why I do this. The passion, the creativity, the challenge of making the best, something unforgettable. That’s me!”

Final Table’s potential victory offers him a sense of fulfillment alongside his accolade. “Winning The Final Table would be the biggest ‘pinch-me’ moment It’s not only a matter of the title, it would serve as a testament that all the hard work, passion and love for food can lead towards something phenomenal.” This achievement would also be a tribute to the supporters, the inspirations, and the remarkable journey he has been through. “And let’s be honest, it would just be so cool to say I’m the best chef in the world!” Equally as astonishing is his vision for the winnings, which includes his dream of expanding the restaurant and showcasing his culinary marvels to the rest of the world. “Some of it would go to expanding our flagship restaurant, some would go towards new menu concepts or even a pop up series that introduces our burgers and flavor to more people across the globe. And of course, I would pamper my amazing team who has been with me through this craziness, we would definitely have a celebration to remember.”

Alongside genuine encouragement, Hassan provides practical guidance to aspiring WFC competitors.

Even if the Kitchen Arena seems daunting, pursuing a passion in the culinary industry is worthwhile. But be warned— the intensity, speed, and level of wildness is unparalleled. “It’s a crazy ride, but trust me, you’ll love every second of it,” Hassan says. He emphasizes that intently focusing on one dish, effectively managing time, remaining calm under pressure, tasting every element, and most importantly, having fun is key to surviving wholeheartedly.

For Hassan’s magnificent cuisine, he personally opened up and shared an unusual piece of his life, “I’m crazy about a perfect burger, but before that, for two decades, I was in the FMCG market trying to understand the why underlined consumer behavior. In other words, I transitioned from selling to driving people into hunger.” He also highlighted his sports background, which marks the competitiveness and discipline that contributed to his approach towards culinary excellence. “I no longer pursue goals on the field, now I’m striving for the absolute perfection of taste in the kitchen. Isn’t it funny how life works?”

Hassan Naja’s tale is not only that of an exceptional chef, but is also an emblem of one’s enthusiasm, uniting passion and a tribute to astounding culinary craftsmanship. A story masterfully intertwined with myriad flavors and potentially heartwarming; Hassan is not just the World Burger Champion, but a celebrated culinary artist, forming unfading memories in each bite and dish of food served.