LOS ANGELES — Maneet Chauhan gracefully added saffron to her gushtaba goat meatballs as the live audience began the countdown for the Season 5 finale of the Food Network series “Tournament of Champions.” Chauhan and her competitor, Antonia Lofaso, rushed to complete their dishes before time ran out. With the timer’s buzz, Chauhan tossed the mixing bowl onto the already chaotic counter, raising her hands in defeat to the relentless clock. Despite the pressure, both chefs embraced without showing any signs of stress.
Chauhan, a renowned Indian American chef admired for her skill with spices, was aiming to make history by becoming the first contestant to win the tournament twice. Over its five seasons, “ToC” has already set remarkable records, being the only cooking competition on television where women athletes have outpaced their male counterparts, with no man reaching the top two finals.
As the show gears up to release qualifying episodes for its sixth season, it remains to be seen if women will continue to outshine their male colleagues in “ToC.” Viewers and participants alike have recognized this emerging trend, attributing the results to the show’s unique format, which aligns with what female chefs have long been advocating for.
Conceptualized by Guy Fieri, “ToC” debuted in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fieri, a familiar face on the Food Network, had been developing the idea for years. “This is the UFC of culinary. That’s what I was aiming to create,” he remarked from his California home. “There are other culinary contests out there, but they often lean towards drama. I simply want to showcase the very best talent in the industry.”
Fieri noted that “ToC” aims for a professional cooking competition format reminiscent of “Iron Chef America,” which held sway from 2005 until 2018. Although specialized competitions such as “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Alex vs. America” have existed, Fieri saw a gap that “ToC” could uniquely fill, providing unpredictable twists along the way.
The structure of “Tournament of Champions” divides contestants into geographic sectors, engaging chefs from every corner of the U.S. to compete head-to-head until only two finalists remain. Each match depends on a game-changing element Fieri refers to as “the Randomizer,” a spinning board that presents five categories reminiscent of the “Wheel of Fortune.” Contestants must incorporate specific proteins, produce, cooking styles, equipment, and time limits dictated by the Randomizer during each round.
After the chefs complete their dishes, a blind judging process occurs in the kitchen after they exit, ensuring unbiased assessments of their creations.
Fieri and his team pursue award-winning chefs from various industry sectors to compete. Surprisingly, many selected participants remain unfamiliar to the public, leading to thrilling showdowns against names widely recognized in culinary circles. Take Brooke Williamson, the first season’s champion, who found herself up against prestigious food personalities.
Williamson, who specializes in Southern California-inspired dishes, reflects on her approach before matches, saying, “I generally try to have a game plan, but once the clock starts ticking or the mystery ingredients are revealed, that all goes out the window.” Having built her career from modest beginnings, starting at 18 in the kitchen of the Argyle Hotel, Williamson was eager to seize the opportunity the show presented.
Despite feeling like an underdog, Williamson confounded expectations by defeating established Food Network stars like Jet Tila and Lofaso, and ultimately claiming victory over Amanda Freitag with just a single point. Fieri’s astonishment at her win illustrated how “ToC” had redefined the competitive cooking landscape.
Each season brings surprising outcomes as lesser-known talents outshine prominent figures, with one glaring trend: only women have consistently reached the finals.
Integral to the show’s success in leveling the playing field is its unique blind judging format. According to Fieri, judges have no knowledge of who is crafting which dish throughout the competition. They are sequestered until it’s time to taste, with contestants prohibited from disclosing their location on social media to maintain anonymity. Culinary experts shadow contestants and report back on their dishes without revealing the cooks’ identities. The judging panel always includes distinguished culinary professionals, regardless of gender.
Tiffani Faison, a James Beard Award-winning chef who triumphed in Season 3, believes that blind judging plays a crucial role in the fairness of the competition. “It completely eliminates implicit bias,” she stated. “Judges focus solely on the food, devoid of any preconceived notions based on a contestant’s appearance or background.”
Despite the culinary profession remaining largely male-dominated—where only about 23.3% of chefs and head cooks are women, according to 2023 statistics—“ToC” demonstrates a different narrative. Past competitions often featured a male majority among contestants and winners, yet “ToC” appears to disrupt that trend. Fieri has pointed out the phenomenon, suggesting its significance could be more enduring than just a passing occurrence.
Chauhan reflected on the long-standing struggle women chefs have faced in being judged based solely on their culinary abilities. Growing up in a male-centric environment, Chauhan aspired to break the mold, excelling in a field where women weren’t encouraged to pursue careers, despite her upbringing promoting tenacity in all endeavors.
As Chauhan became the first two-time champion, she celebrated not only her victory but its larger implications. “Young girls who see me and say, ‘You can do it! I’ll push myself too,’ is what makes a remarkable difference,” she said.
Here are the champions of Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions”:
Season 1: Brooke Williamson
Season 2: Maneet Chauhan
Season 3: Tiffani Faison
Season 4: Mei Lin
Season 5: Maneet Chauhan
