Chef Jon-Luc Maggi of Tiki Tom's wins Battle of the Blades in Napa

Maggi named Sysco Northern California Culinary Artisan of the Year

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:05am

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Chef Jon-Luc Maggi, executive chef at Tiki Tom's in Walnut Creek, Calif., has been named Culinary Artisan of the Year after winning Northern California's Battle of the Blades, a high-stakes cooking competition hosted by Sysco Corporation, the global leader in food distribution.

Why it matters

The Battle of the Blades competition allows Sysco to showcase its wide range of food products and connect with top chefs in Northern California, highlighting the region's culinary talent and the quality of Sysco's offerings.

The details

Chef Jon-Luc Maggi prevailed in a final round over semi-finalists Chef Robert Root and Chef Dean Hiatt. The chefs prepared dishes using items from the Sysco Pantry and three locally produced mystery ingredients. Maggi's winning dish was tarragon marinated lamb chops, a shaved arugula salad, a parmesan beet puree, and a toasted almond and beet tuile.

  • The competition finals were held on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Jon-Luc Maggi

The executive chef at Tiki Tom's in Walnut Creek, Calif. and the winner of the Battle of the Blades cooking competition.

Robert Root

The executive chef of The Century, a semi-finalist in the Battle of the Blades competition.

Dean Hiatt

The executive chef at Poor Red's Bar-B-Q, a semi-finalist in the Battle of the Blades competition.

Sysco Corporation

The global leader in food distribution that hosted the Battle of the Blades cooking competition.

Steve Buer

The Northern California Region President of Sysco Corporation.

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What they’re saying

“It's an honor. It's amazing to be named the first champion but again I couldn't do it alone.”

— Jon-Luc Maggi, Executive Chef, Tiki Tom's

“Food is what we do at Sysco and so having the opportunity to both mingle with some of the best chefs in Northern California and allow to showcase their talents in a fun contest while also highlighting the amazing assortment of products we offer is truly the highlight of the year.”

— Steve Buer, Northern California Region President, Sysco Corporation

What’s next

The Battle of the Blades competition is an annual event, so the next iteration will likely take place in 2027.

The takeaway

Sysco's Battle of the Blades competition showcases the culinary talent and high-quality local ingredients found in Northern California, reinforcing the company's role as a trusted partner for chefs and restaurants in the region.