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
Brody Olive
HEAD COOK: Brody Olive
COMPETITION: World Seafood Championship
The Perdido Beach Resort is proud to welcome Chef Brody Olive as the new Executive Chef to lead our culinary team encompassing all food and beverage operations throughout the hotel’s four restaurants and multiple banquet facilities. Chef Olive brings to the resort an impressive background of training and accomplishments. He attended Johnson and Wales University, where he learned the culinary fundamentals. He began his career at Ocean Restaurant in Birmingham as the Sous Chef, studying under the owner and well known Chef George Reis. Ocean achieved many honors during Brody\'s tenure, including the AAA Four Diamond Award and Five Stars by Birmingham News. Brody then assisted with the opening of Ocean\'s sister restaurant, 26, known for its funky South Beach atmosphere and eclectic menu.\r\nPrior to joining Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort, Chef Olive had built a great reputation for his development of creative offerings at some of the premier restaurant venues in the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area. He initially moved to the Gulf Coast to open Villaggio Grille, where he was Executive Chef and General Manager. At Villaggio Grille, he conceptualized a menu offering \"new and old world cookery\" with Italian, Mediterranean and low country fusion. In 2011, Brody opened Elli Bistro Zen Restaurant in Orange Beach as Executive Chef and General Manager, bringing a menu of Pacific Rim flavors to Gulf Seafood before moving to The Beach Club where he served as Executive Chef.\r\n\r\nBrody won the Southern Breeze Gulf Coast Cook Off in 2008 and Zatarain\'s Annual National Shrimp Festival chef challenge in 2009 and 2013. He also won the Wine Spectator Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2014, Brody took home three prestigious awards at Wharf Uncorked, including Grand Tasting Winner, People’s Choice Award, and the award for Best Use of Ingredients. Currently Brody is competing in the second round of the Barilla Pasta “Rep Your Region” competition and has also been selected as a Finalist to compete in the Alabama Gulf Seafood Cookoff.\r\nChef Olive is focused on only serving the highest quality Gulf seafood that is locally sourced. He is passionate about using fresh ingredients, prepared simply and beautifully so that the flavors of the food are allowed to shine. Karl Groux, Assistant General Manager for Perdido Beach Resort, stated “Chef Olive is bringing the highest quality of innovation to all dining venues within the Resort. Whether he is arranging an intimate dinner for two in Voyagers or overseeing a Banquet meal function for five hundred, it is a pleasure to have someone with the talent and experience of Chef Olive leading our Culinary Team.”\r\n