Pork was put center of the plate during the 2024 World Food Championships with Indiana Pork sponsoring the Junior Chef portion of the competition. The World Food Championships is the largest , multi-day culinary event attracting thousands of competitors from around the world. This year’s event took place Nov. 7-12 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Through its sponsorship, Indiana Pork promoted proper cooking temperatures of pork, educated youth competitors about pork, and engaged with some of the best-known Indiana chefs in the restaurant and catering industry, according to a release.
Matt Paschen, Cass County pig farmer and chair of the Indiana Pork promotions committee, shared the organization’s excitement about participating in the event.
“We’re thrilled to support an event like the World Food Championships, which aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate the profile of pork in the culinary world,” he says. “By connecting directly with chefs, influencers, junior chefs, and consumers, we were able to highlight how pork provides flavor, nutrition, and creativity in cooking.”
Teams in the Junior Chef competition were provided a pork tenderloin by Indiana Pork and had 90 minutes to prepare a dish using pork tenderloin that captured the essence of “healthy fresh.” Contestants were allowed to use other ingredients that they chose but had to supply those ingredients themselves.
Contestants spanned the ages of 9-17 and traveled from all across the country to compete. Indiana teams were well represented during the awards ceremony. Carmel High School senior Julia Hohne and sous chef junior Maddie Arroyo finished first, receiving $1,500 for their pork gorditas. Brownsburg junior Claire Siglar and sous chef Mooresville junior Elizabeth Starr took third place and received $400.
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