Northern California's Battle of the Blades Reaches Final Round

Sysco hosts live cooking contest to select the region's top chef

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:36pm

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Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, is hosting the grand finale of its "Battle of the Blades" cooking contest in Napa, California. Three of Northern California's top chefs - Dean Hiatt, Jon-Luc Maggi, and Robert Root - will compete in a timed, 45-minute challenge to create the best dish using a mix of Sysco products and mystery ingredients. A panel of five judges will determine the winner, who will be named Culinary Artist of the Year and receive prizes including dinner at a MICHELIN restaurant.

Why it matters

The Battle of the Blades contest highlights Sysco's commitment to supporting and showcasing culinary talent in the Northern California region. As a major foodservice distributor, Sysco plays a key role in the local food ecosystem by partnering with chefs, restaurants, and other food businesses.

The details

The three finalists will each be accompanied by a sous chef as they compete in the live, reality-TV-style cooking challenge. They will have 45 minutes to prepare a dish using three products from Sysco's pantry as well as three mystery ingredients featuring local farms and artisan producers. A panel of five judges, including Sysco executives and local culinary experts, will evaluate the dishes based on visual appeal, creativity, execution, ingredient use, and taste/flavor balance.

  • The Battle of the Blades grand finale will take place at 3 p.m. PT on March 16, 2026.
  • The contest has been running for several months, with the three finalists emerging from earlier regional competitions.

The players

Dean Hiatt

Executive chef at Poor Red's Bar-B-Q in El Dorado, California, and the reigning champion of Sample the Sierra's and top chef of Northern California and Nevada. Hiatt has dozens of awards and participates in community fundraisers.

Jon-Luc Maggi

Executive chef at Tiki Tom's in Walnut Creek, California, who took a circuitous path through the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper before graduating from Le Cordon Bleu San Francisco and blending bold, diverse influences in Bay Area kitchens.

Robert Root

Executive chef at The Century in downtown Modesto, California, who has spent over three decades crafting a culinary story from Napa's vineyards to Yosemite's granite peaks, blending passion, place, purpose, art, and authenticity into every dish.

Sysco Corporation

The leading global foodservice distribution company hosting the Battle of the Blades contest.

Culinary Institute of America at Copia

The venue hosting the Battle of the Blades grand finale in Napa, California.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Battle of the Blades contest will be announced at the conclusion of the live cooking challenge on March 16, 2026.

The takeaway

The Battle of the Blades contest showcases Sysco's commitment to supporting and elevating culinary talent in the Northern California region, highlighting the diverse backgrounds and creative approaches of the finalists as they compete to become the Culinary Artist of the Year.