Chefs David Viana, Britt Rescigno to Compete on 'Tournament of Champions'

Anjelica's Restaurant in New Jersey named one of USA TODAY's best restaurants of 2026.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Chefs David Viana and Britt Rescigno, both from the acclaimed Anjelica's Restaurant in Sea Bright, New Jersey, have been selected to compete on the upcoming season of Food Network's popular cooking competition show "Tournament of Champions." Anjelica's Restaurant was also recently named one of the best restaurants in the country by USA TODAY for 2026.

Why it matters

The selection of Viana and Rescigno to compete on "Tournament of Champions" highlights the growing national reputation of Anjelica's Restaurant and the culinary talent in the New Jersey dining scene. The USA TODAY recognition further cements Anjelica's status as an elite dining destination.

The details

Viana and Rescigno, who are the executive chef and sous chef at Anjelica's Restaurant respectively, will face off against top chefs from across the country in the upcoming season of "Tournament of Champions." The high-stakes cooking competition features a bracket-style tournament format where chefs must quickly prepare dishes under intense time pressure.

  • Anjelica's Restaurant was named one of USA TODAY's best restaurants of 2026.
  • The new season of "Tournament of Champions" is set to premiere in early 2026.

The players

David Viana

The executive chef at Anjelica's Restaurant in Sea Bright, New Jersey.

Britt Rescigno

The sous chef at Anjelica's Restaurant in Sea Bright, New Jersey.

Anjelica's Restaurant

A highly acclaimed restaurant in Sea Bright, New Jersey that was named one of the best restaurants in the country by USA TODAY for 2026.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to represent Anjelica's on the national stage and show off the incredible culinary talent we have here in New Jersey.”

— David Viana, Executive Chef, Anjelica's Restaurant (Instagram)

“Competing on 'Tournament of Champions' is a dream come true. We can't wait to put our skills to the test against the best chefs in the country.”

— Britt Rescigno, Sous Chef, Anjelica's Restaurant (Twitter)

What’s next

The new season of "Tournament of Champions" is set to premiere in early 2026, with Viana and Rescigno competing for the top prize.

The takeaway

Anjelica's Restaurant in New Jersey has firmly established itself as a culinary destination, with its talented chefs now set to showcase their skills on the national stage of "Tournament of Champions."