2026 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale

Cheers to 10 years! Step inside North Carolina's premier culinary competition! The sold-out 2026 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale, presented by Got To Be NC, brought together 26 chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distillers on Sept. 2, 2026, at Bay 7 in Durham, NC. This highlight reel captures the artistry, passion, and bold flavors that define North Carolina's vibrant food and beverage scene. Finalists wowed guests and judges alike with unforgettable tastings, creative cocktails, and locally inspired cuisine. 🏆 Congratulations to this year's champions, including: Chef of the Year – Chef Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm (Leicester, NC) Pastry Chef of the Year – Pastry Chef Charmaine Devine, Sugo Italian Steakhouse (Wilmington, NC) Mixologist of the Year – Ashley Sarkis, Yunta Nikkei (Charlotte, NC) Distillery of the Year – Muddy River Distillery (Mount Holly, NC) 📣 Powered by the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA), the NCRLA Chef Showdown celebrates the talent shaping the future of our state's hospitality industry. 👉 Learn more at NCChefShowdown.com