It’s the Final Round of Northern California’s Battle of the Blades

We started with 72 competing chefs 6 months ago, and now we’re down to the final 3. Join us for an awe-inspiring cooking contest to select Sysco NorCal’s CULINARY ARTIST OF THE YEAR!

NAPA, Calif., March 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, is inviting media to attend a live cooking contest to select Sysco’s best chef in Northern California.

WHAT: Battle of the Blades Grand Finale
TIME AND DATE: 3 p.m. PT on March 16, 2026
WHERE: Ecolab Theatre, Culinary Institute of America at Copia
500 1^st St.
Napa, CA 94559

Sysco invites media to watch, film, and enjoy the interactive, reality-TV-style format Battle of the Blades grand finale! Three of Northern California’s greatest chefs – Dean Hiatt representing Sacramento, Jon-Luc Maggi of San Francisco, and Robert Root from Central California – are sharpening their knives and preparing to show their chops. The three, each accompanied by a sous chef, will compete to create the best dish in a timed, 45-minute challenge using three products from our Sysco Pantry as well as three mystery ingredients. The selections will feature some local farms and artisan producers, and a five-judge panel will determine the winner using five criteria: visual appeal, creativity, execution, ingredient use, and taste and flavor balance. The winner will be named Culinary Artisan of the Year and receive an array of prizes, including dinner at a MICHELIN restaurant.

MEET THE FINALISTS

Chef Dean Hiatt, executive chef at Poor Red's Bar-B-Q in El Dorado, Calif., for over 10 years, is the reigning champion of Sample the Sierra's and top chef of Northern California and Nevada. Chef Hiatt has dozens of awards under his belt and participates in community fundraisers. Poor Red’s is a 99-year-old establishment that opened in 1927 as Kelly’s Bar until Poor Red won it in a game of dice in 1945. Finally, 10 years ago, brothers Mike and Jeff Genovese and restaurateur Mike Hountalas came together to renovate and reopen Poor Red’s. While still serving their signature drink, the Gold Cadillac, the food has taken on new meaning under Chef Dean’s tutelage.