Sysco Crowns Northern California's Culinary Artist of the Year

Three top chefs compete in live cooking contest at Culinary Institute of America

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:12pm

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Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, is hosting a live cooking contest to select the best chef in Northern California. The "Battle of the Blades" grand finale will feature three finalists - Dean Hiatt, Jon-Luc Maggi, and Robert Root - who will compete to create the best dish using a mix of Sysco products and mystery ingredients. A panel of five judges will determine the winner based on criteria like visual appeal, creativity, execution, ingredient use, and taste. The victor will be named Sysco's Culinary Artist of the Year and receive prizes including dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Why it matters

This cooking competition highlights Sysco's commitment to supporting and showcasing culinary talent in Northern California. As a major food distributor, Sysco plays a key role in the regional food ecosystem by partnering with local chefs, farms, and artisan producers. The Battle of the Blades event celebrates the vibrant food culture of Northern California while also providing a platform for up-and-coming chefs to showcase their skills.

The details

The three finalists - Dean Hiatt, Jon-Luc Maggi, and Robert Root - will each be accompanied by a sous chef as they compete in a 45-minute challenge to create the best dish. They will use a mix of three products from Sysco's pantry as well as three mystery ingredients that feature 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 and flavor balance.

  • The Battle of the Blades grand finale will take place at 3 p.m. PT on March 16, 2026.
  • The competition has been running for 6 months, starting with 72 chefs and now down to the final 3 finalists.

The players

Dean Hiatt

Executive chef at Poor Red's Bar-B-Q in El Dorado, Calif. for over 10 years, 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, Calif. Maggi took a circuitous path through the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper before graduating from Le Cordon Bleu San Francisco and spending the past 10 years blending bold and diverse influences in Bay Area kitchens.

Robert Root

Executive chef at The Century in downtown Modesto, Calif. Root has spent more than 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, operating 340 distribution centers in over 10 countries with 76,000 colleagues serving approximately 730,000 customer locations.

Culinary Institute of America at Copia

The venue hosting the Battle of the Blades grand finale, located 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 competition will be announced at the end of the live cooking contest on March 16, 2026.

The takeaway

This cooking competition showcases Sysco's commitment to supporting and celebrating culinary talent in Northern California. By partnering with local chefs, farms, and artisan producers, Sysco is helping to elevate the vibrant food culture of the region and providing a platform for up-and-coming culinary artists to showcase their skills.