Adam Richman’s World Food Championships’ pot grows to $300,000

The Travel Channel

Adam Richman, host of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food.

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 | 3:32 p.m.

Bravo

Orlando Santos, Carlos Enriquez and Chris Hanmer on Bravo's Just Desserts.

The lineup of chefs and food aficionados continues to grow for the World Food Championships from Nov. 1-4 on the Strip hosted by Food Network star Adam Richman, who says it will be the world’s biggest food contest. The prize money has grown to $300,000, which should spark a real food fight.

Among the food notables: Nadia G., host of the Cooking Channel’s top show “Nadia G.’s Bitchin’ Kitchen”; Marc Murphy, star of the Food Network’s “Chopped”; Barbara Fairchild, former editor in chief of Bon Appetit; and Colman Andrews, founder of Saveur and editor in chief of the Daily Meal.

Also set to appear are our pal Jeff Henderson, former executive chef at the Bellagio and now on the Game Show Network’s “Beat the Chefs”; Antonia Lofaso from Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef All-Stars”; Kerry Heffernan, featured chef on the current “Top Chef Masters” filmed in Las Vegas; and Eric Greenspan from Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef” and “Monster Kitchen.”

Also, Myron Mixon, star of “BBQ Pitmasters” and author of the bestseller “Smokin’ With Myron Mixon”; Ben Vaughn, host of the Food Network’s “Health Inspectors”; Elizabeth Falkner, runner-up on Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef”; and Chris Hanmer, winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts” who owns the School of Pastry Design in Las Vegas.

The Final Table has a $75,000 purse, with $50,000 for the grand champion. The World Barbecue Championship has a $50,000 purse; in all, $300,000 will be awarded to winning chefs and the runners-up in each category.

The competing chefs will clash for the title of World Food Champion at Bally’s and the Paris after going through world barbecue, chili, sandwich, side dish and burger recipe championships. It comes down to the Final Table and the World Chef Challenge. Food insiders saying the contest will run like the World Series of Poker until one winner emerges.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.