McDonald (2nd from left)-Courtesy-World Food Championships
FRANKLIN, Ind. – Two Hoosier chefs were honored with coveted world titles at the 2025 World Food Championships (WFC).
The event, the global leader in Food Sport, featured competitors from more than 35 states and 14 countries battling to take home titles across 10 different categories. The championships were hosted at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center last weekend.
This year’s event marked one of the strongest showings ever from Indiana-based chefs, with more than 110 local chefs and home cooks stepping into the FoodSport spotlight throughout the competition.
Among the champions were two homegrown Hoosiers:
- Daniel McDonald, of Franklin (Bacon) – Gold medal finish in one of the hotly contested categories
- Cindy Hawkins, of Indianapolis (Dessert) – Secures her first WFC title
More than 400 teams competed, but only 10 could win World Championship titles. The other eight WFC categories were Barbeque, Burger, Chef, Live Fire, Noodle, Sandwich, Seafood, and Vegetarian.
“Each year, the World Food Championships raises the bar for culinary excellence. The 2025 chefs showcased what Food Sport is all about, said Mike McCloud, CEO/Founder of WFC.
