Some say Tampa isn’t a foodie city, but I’d respectfully disagree. Tampa is a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines, making it a foodie paradise. Some Tampa chefs have even made one (or multiple) appearances on The Food Network and its most popular shows like Chopped, Guys Grocery Games, and more.
Shows on The Food Network have become some of my favorite programs to watch. And it’s even more exciting to watch when I have a local Tampa chef to root for. The Food Network has brought many shows to the Tampa Bay area like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Man vs. Food Nation, FoodNation with Bobby Flay, and more. Currently I’m binging all the new episodes of Wildcard Kitchen and 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.
Related: 20 Florida Spots That Have Been Featured On Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Not only have professional chefs competed against some of the best in the country. But even a Tampa Bay teen competed on Chopped Jr. just a few years ago. Virann Welbourn competed in 2019 on the popular Food Network show. She took home the grand prize of $10,000. Virann was only 13 at the time of her win. I hope she’s still killing it in the kitchen and looking into starting her own restaurant one day.
Tampa has been making some splashes in the culinary world recently. 6 Tampa restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in 2024. Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, Streetlight Taco, The Pearl, Ebbe, and Kōsen were all added to the guide. In 2022, Tampa’s first-ever Michelin stars were awarded to Rocca, Koya and Lilac.
Are you a Food Network fanatic? Know any Tampa chefs that competed on any shows we missed? Feel free to shout them out on social media!
Here are 7 Tampa Chefs Who Have Competed On The Food Network
