We're excited to see the field of competitors who have already won their golden ticket and registered to compete at the 2024 World Food Championships. And we are always proud to announce our special guests and celebrity judges participating in our judging events across the nation - we're sure the championship food certainly helps! Best of luck to our 2024 competitors!
COMPETITOR
Blazin' Blues BBQ
HEAD COOK: Dan Richard
COMPETITION: Bacon World Championship
QUALIFYING EVENT: Southern Illinois Showdown
As head cook of Blazin' Blues BBQ, Dan Richard usually spends his weekend's either competing in competition BBQ and/or dreaming about food! While a professional software salesman during the week, his family heritage is to cook. His mother is his culinary inspiration and owned operated several restaurants (her speciality was pie!), and his Dad was a self-taught butcher. After placing 24th in last year's WFC initial BBQ, which included a top 10 Rib, Dan and his wife, Janice, became the world's biggest fans at the WFC cheering on their favorite BBQ teams and experiencing a whole new world of culinary competition which included Bacon. So when the WFC Super Regional came to Murphysboro and included bacon, we had to pull out his Mother's cookbook and accept the challenge.