RALEIGH, N.C. (August 17, 2026) – After seven months, 11 rounds of competition and a record-breaking field of 102 competitors from across North Carolina, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) has announced the finalists who will advance to compete in the 10th annual NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale.
Only 26 competitors remain in the statewide culinary competition, which began with a call to apply in February in search of North Carolina’s best chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists and distillers. The finalists will be celebrated at the only open-to-the-public event of the NCRLA Chef Showdown season on September 2 at Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC.
The Grand Finale brings together 15 savory chefs, five pastry chefs and six mixology-distillery teams, who will serve guests tasting-sized portions of their competition dishes, desserts, cocktails and spirit-free cocktails.
“This year’s competition has demonstrated once again the incredible depth of culinary and beverage talent we have across North Carolina,” said Allen Thomas, President & CEO of NCRLA. “We’re excited to celebrate their accomplishments in Durham and recognize the 2026 Chef Showdown champions, while giving friends, family and hospitality fans from across the state an opportunity to cheer them on.”
At the September 2 Grand Finale, four competitors, one chef, one pastry chef, one mixologist and one distiller, each with the highest score in their category this season, will be welcomed into the Hall of Champions, powered by our Pinnacle Sponsor, Cheney Brothers.
The four titles:
- NCRLA Chef of the Year
- NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year
- NCRLA Mixologist of the Year
- NCRLA Distillery of the Year
“What started as a small one-night event 10 years ago, has become a celebration of everything that makes North Carolina hospitality special: the people, the places, and the products grown, raised and made right here in North Carolina,” said NCRLA Chef Showdown Executive Producer Heidi Billotto. “Ten years in, the talent and heart of the people in this industry still never cease to amaze me. I can’t wait to bring everyone together to celebrate this milestone season.”
2026 NCRLA Chef of the Year Finalists
- Chef Roberto Barth, Vidrio, Raleigh
- Chef Michael Bowens, Haven at Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock
- Chef Lewis Donald, Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Charlotte
- Chef Matt Hannon, Ashten’s, Southern Pines
- Chef Bobby McFarland, Wye Hill, Raleigh
- Chef Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester
- Chef Matt Moore, Customshop, Charlotte
- Chef James “JP” Patterson, Porter’s Neck Country Club, Wilmington
- Chef Ben Real, Cypress Hall, New Bern
- Chef Spyros Skellas, Taverna Agora, Raleigh
- Chef Brandon Staton, Supperland, Charlotte
- Chef John Tharp, Spotted Cow Steakhouse, Winston-Salem
- Chef Ericka Torres, STOKE at the Marriott Charlotte City Center, Charlotte
- Chef Jason Trivette, Chef Trivette’s Conceptions, Hickory
- Chef Chase Young, Hopfly Brewing, Asheville
2026 NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year Finalists
- Pastry Chef Makala Beaver, King Neptune, Wrightsville Beach
- Pastry Chef Charmaine Lizette Eclain Devine, Sugo Italian Steakhouse, Wilmington
- Pastry Chef Josh Dobson, Deepwell, Mooresville
- Pastry Chef Becky Keil, Porter’s Neck Country Club, Wilmington
- Pastry Chef Lei Van Note, STOKE at the Marriott Charlotte City Center, Charlotte
2026 NCRLA Mixology & Distillery Finalists
- Zach Benson – Supperland in Charlotte | Outerbanks Distilling in Manteo
- Margaret Boerner –Sovereign Remedies in Asheville | Chemist Spirits in Asheville
- Jeremy Powers – The Hackney in Washington | 1000 Piers Gin at the Hackney Distillery in Washington
- Ashley Sarkis – Yunta Nikkei in Charlotte | Muddy River Distillery in Mount Holly
- Hanna Troedsson – Weldon Mills in Durham | Weldon Mills Distillery in Durham
- Everette Young – Daingerfields at the Westglow Spa in Blowing Rock | Broadslab Distillery in Benson
Celebrating Local Ingredients
Throughout the 2026 preliminary and semifinal rounds, chefs and mixologists were judged by former NCRLA Chef Showdown champions and some of the most respected names in the state’s culinary scene. Judging focused on presentation, taste and the use of local North Carolina ingredients. From the beginning of this year’s competition on into the Grand Finale competitors have proudly showcased nearly 1,000 North Carolina farmers and producers from across the state
This year’s winners and first runner’s up will join the 2026-27 Got to Be NC team of Culinary and Beverage Ambassadors, furthering their role in promoting and supporting the North Carolina Agricultural Department’s efforts to advocate for and promote North Carolina food and beverage products across the state
Dairy Does More Awards
The Dairy Alliance, a non-profit supporting dairy farming families across the Southeastern United States, adds another dimension to the annual NCRLA Chef Showdown. The Dairy Does More Awards recognizes four Grand Finale competitors who used North Carolina dairy in particularly creative and delicious ways in their competition dishes, desserts and drinks. This year, The Dairy Alliance CEO, Farrah Newberry will be on hand to join in the celebration.
People’s Choice Awards
And then, there will be one more set of awards waiting to be decided.
Live, the evening of Sept 2, Grand Finale attendees can cast their votes for their favorites in the People’s Choice Awards, powered by Sysco. Voting will take place across four separate categories: Best Savory Dish, Best Dessert, Best Cocktail featuring NC Spirits and Best Spirit-Free Cocktail.
Tickets to the annual event are an all-access pass to a celebration of North Carolina food and drink. The evening is a walk-around tasting, where guests will sample bite-sized versions of every finalist’s savory dish, dessert and crafted competition cocktails. These are the same dishes our chefs and pastry chefs presented to the judges.
NC Wine Bar
And did we mention the NC Wine Bar? Guests may sip and swirl though a dozen plus award-winning pours. Throughout the evening, they will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with friends, meet the finalists, enjoy the locally sourced food and drink and celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of NCRLA’s signature events.
Whether you’re coming to support a hometown favorite, celebrate with a colleague or simply experience some of the best food and beverages North Carolina has to offer, the NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale is the place to be on September 2, 2026.
Grand Finale Details
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
📍 Location: Bay 7 at American Tobacco Campus
📫 Address: 324 Blackwell Street, #700, Durham, NC
🕕 Time: 6–8:30 PM
🔞 Attendees must be 21 or older to attend.
🎟️ Buy Tickets Here: www.NCChefShowdown.com
📷 Editor’s Note: Photos Available Upon Request
