OVERVIEW & CHEF INFO Perfect Bite Competition September 20, 2026 Service: 6 PM Location: Paramount Brookside (Backyard): 3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201 NUMBER OF GUESTS: 175 CONTACT INFO FOR QUESTIONS: Tommy Reddicks: [email protected] CHEF PAY: All chefs will receive $250 for participating (paid the night of the competition). This amount is designed to help cover food costs and/or leave a little extra for participation. But chefs can choose to elevate their perfect bite and spend more (keeping less). It’s a chef’s choice. In this competition, there is no limit on spending.
RULES: There “is” a size limit for The Perfect Bite. The size limit of the "edible portion" of the bite cannot exceed 2.25" x 2.25" X 2" (WxLxH). Items used to assist in the delivery of the bite (plate, fork, spoon, skewer, etc.) may exceed the 2" requirements. Additionally, the following rules apply:
Sauces, dips, rubs, or spices may exceed the 2.25" boundaries as long as the actual bite (after dipping, seasoning, or saucing) stays within the 2.25" rule.
The perfect bite cannot be multiple bites, but “can” contain multiple deconstructed components that are intended to be reconstructed for a single composed bite that fits within the 2.25" rules.
Event judges have the final say on all size limit concerns.
Chefs who do not abide by the rules will lose their eligibility for the finals.
Participating Chefs must submit the following information prior to September 14 to be eligible for the competition.
THE COMPETITION: The competition will center on three Golden Ticket categories (Vegetarian, Noodle, and Dessert). All 20 participating chefs will be competing in one of the three categories. In this way, winners will move on to the World Food Championships in the same category in which they competed at the Perfect Bite Championships. Beginning at 6 PM and lasting for 1 hour, guests will receive a single ticket to vote for their favorite bite. With 150-175 in attendance, Chefs should be prepared to serve at least 175 bites. At the end of the first hour, all tickets will be counted. The chef with the most tickets in each category will automatically advance to the finals and have a chance to earn a World Food Championship Golden Ticket. A team of culinary experts (who will also be judging the finals) will determine the second chef advancing to the finals in each category and must consider the popular vote in their decision. THE FINALS: The six final chefs will compete head-to-head in the three categories. The finalists can cook with a single sous chef (of their choosing) in a 45-minute head-to-head “perfect plate” challenge. Finalists will have a pot of boiling water, a cutting board, an induction burner with an induction pan, and a stocked pantry. A team of culinary experts will judge the finals using the E.A.T. methodology from the World Food Championships. The winning chefs in each category receive $750.
Ties are settled using the World Food Championships tie-breaking policy. THE PANTRY: During the finals, chefs will have access to a pantry stocked with free ingredients.
ARRIVAL: Chefs can arrive any time after 2 PM to prep. Event staff will meet arriving chefs and show them to their space. PARKING: Chefs can park behind the tents (via the alley) on the Paramount grounds (3020 Nowland Avenue, 46201), so loading and unloading are easy. EQUIPMENT: Every chef will have an 8’ table with power (standard 120) for one hot plate/induction burner (no open flames allowed). Chefs must bring their own induction burners/pots/pans/knives, ladles, etc. If we need to source heat for you, we’ll try our best, but we cannot guarantee we’ll find what you need. PLATES AND SILVERWARE: Recyclable plates and silverware will be available for chefs to serve all guests. PREP AND GREENROOM: All chefs will have access to the school kitchen to prep. There is also a staging tent with 54’ of table space and plenty of room for coolers. The staging tent is not designed for making products or heating products, but it makes an ideal staging point. This tent also serves as the break room/green room for chefs and their staff, and will have plenty of snacks and beverages. It is a 15-second walk from the main tent. It is also the home for 30 private VIP guests. EVENT LAYOUT: This is an outdoor event held in tents at 3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
