Sysco Crowns Northern California's Culinary Artist of the Year

Three top chefs compete in live cooking contest to determine the region's best

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:00pm

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Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, is hosting a live cooking contest to select its best chef in Northern California. Three of the region's top chefs - Dean Hiatt from Sacramento, Jon-Luc Maggi of San Francisco, and Robert Root from Central California - will compete in a timed, 45-minute challenge 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 and flavor balance. 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

As a major foodservice distributor, Sysco plays a significant role in supporting and showcasing the culinary talent of Northern California. This cooking competition highlights the region's thriving food scene and the skilled chefs who are pushing the boundaries of local, sustainable, and innovative cuisine.

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 the 45-minute challenge. They will need to utilize three products from Sysco's pantry as well as three mystery ingredients to create their best dish. A panel of five judges, including Sysco executives, industry experts, and a reality TV chef, will evaluate the dishes on visual appeal, creativity, execution, ingredient use, and taste and flavor balance.

  • The Battle of the Blades grand finale will take place on March 14, 2026.
  • The competition will be held at the Ecolab Theatre of the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, California.

The players

Sysco Corporation

The leading global foodservice distribution company hosting the cooking competition.

Dean Hiatt

The 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.

Jon-Luc Maggi

The executive chef at Tiki Tom's in Walnut Creek, California, who took a circuitous path through the 82nd Airborne Division before graduating from Le Cordon Bleu San Francisco.

Robert Root

The executive chef at The Century in downtown Modesto, California, who has spent more than three decades blending passion, place, purpose, art, and authenticity into his dishes.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“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 grand finale will be named Sysco's Culinary Artist of the Year and receive an array of prizes, including dinner at a MICHELIN restaurant.

The takeaway

This cooking competition highlights the thriving food scene in Northern California and the skilled chefs who are pushing the boundaries of local, sustainable, and innovative cuisine. As a major foodservice distributor, Sysco's support of this event showcases its commitment to showcasing and supporting the region's culinary talent.