Fusion Culinary Arts Contest 2026

Create a fusion dish for a chance to win $1,000 award!

Presented by Orange County, United Arts, Rosen College.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We’re seeking innovative local professional chefs to create a unique fusion dish that combines ingredients, techniques, flavors, or spices from at least two different cultures or continents for a chance to win cash awards of up to $1,000.

Contestants must prepare 65 tasting samples of their fusion dish for judges and VIP guests.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete the application and submit it by the deadline below. Good luck!

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, June 15, 2026 – Application Deadline
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – Culinary Fusion Contest Competition Day
Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Culinary Fusion Contest Competition Day
Saturday & Sunday, November 28–29, 2026 – FusionFest 9th Annual Festival

CONTEST LOCATION

The Culinary Fusion Contest will take place at the beautiful Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located at:

9907 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819

CONTEST DETAILS

Each selected contestant will receive a $120 ingredient stipend.
Bamboo serving plates will be provided and must be used for all presentations.
If your dish requires a bowl, please indicate this on your application and one will be provided.
Each contestant will have access to an individual cooking station equipped with a stove and oven. Fryers are not available.
Contestants may bring one assistant.
Participants will be asked to briefly explain their culinary fusion concept and the cultural traditions represented in their dish when presenting to the judges and audience.
Volunteers will assist with serving samples to guests.
A maximum of six (6) chefs will compete each night.
The audience will consist of approximately 60 guests, in addition to a panel of five judges.

PRIZES

1st Place: $1,000 Cash Prize
2nd Place: $750 Cash Prize
3rd Place: $500 Cash Prize
Audience Choice Award: $300 Cash Prize

See highlights from our 2025 season below:

A CulinaryAdventure
Like No Other

Tuesday, July 8
Thursday, July 10
6:30pm – 9:00pm

Union West Building
Valencia College Downtown Campus
Walt Disney WorLd Center for
Culinary Arts and Hospitality
601 W. Livingston St., Orlando, FL 32801

EACH NIGHT…

5-7 Innovative, professional chefs create unique fusion dishes combining ingredients, techniques, or spices from at least two different continents/cultures, while competing for prize money!
You and a panel of judges sample all the creations.
The judges determine 1st and 2nd place winners each night.
YOU vote on the Audience Choice award winner each night.
Enjoy live entertainment, trivia, and making new friends!

ONLY ON JULY 10…

The overall winner from all 14 chefs is announced and awarded the $1,000 Grand Prize!

Culinary fusion Contest

Meet the Chefs

Chef Karyna Moskalchuk

Heritage: Ukraine

Bio: Chef Karyna is a Ukrainian-born sushi chef representing Sushi Garden Miami/ Seafood Symphony LLC. She specializes in a unique fusion of Japanese technique with European-Ukrainian flavor profiles, creating generous, balanced, and modern sushi that resonates with Eastern European communities while appealing to American diners.

Chef Makenric Vil

Heritage: Haiti, Italian, Jamaica, Asian

Bio: Chef Makenric is a professional chef and founder of Chef Mak LLC, known for blending Caribbean influences with modern fusion cuisine. His culinary style transforms traditional dishes into creative, memorable dining experiences that celebrate culture and community.

Chef Michael Martino

Heritage: Italian

Bio: Chef Michael is an executive chef representing Mark Foods with leadership experience in kitchens across Charleston, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, as well as resort properties at the Grand Canyon. A five-time Pennsylvania Iron Chef winner, he has also worked as a research and development chef and traveled globally to study regional cuisines.

Chef Anthony Blakey

Heritage: African American, Spanish, Caribbean

Bio: Chef TonyTone is a Culinary Institute of Virginia graduate with experience in high-end dining at Walt Disney World restaurants such as The Hollywood Brown Derby and Le Cellier Steakhouse. Now the owner of Chef Tony Tone LLC, he specializes in elevated Southern, Caribbean, and comfort cuisine, offering luxury private chef services and large-scale event catering across Central Florida.

Chef Yves Desravines

Heritage: Haitian, American

Bio: Chef Yves is the founder of Rouge Food LLC, and is New York–born culinary professional with Haitian roots and 16 years of industry experience. A Johnson & Wales University graduate with a degree in Food Service Management, he now owns a catering business where he blends cultural heritage, formal training, and hospitality to create meaningful culinary experiences.

Chef Fadila Kruger-Bryan

Heritage: South African

Bio: Chef Fadila is a South African chef and former 2025 culinary competition runner-up representing Whiskful Spice, LLC. She is known for bold, imaginative dishes that fuse global culinary traditions with authentic South African ingredients, creating vibrant and memorable dining experiences.

Chef Joemar Torres

Heritage: Puerto Rican

Bio: Chef Joemar is a Puerto Rican professional chef and owner of Anna’s Empanadas. He has cooked since childhood and has spent the last 15 years working in various Orlando restaurants. His experience also includes cooking for youth programs and mental health focused programs, where his food is well-loved.

Chef Jazmyne Richardson

Heritage: United States – Gullah/Geechee

Bio: Jazmyne is the founder of MA’AM Eats and Kudos Food Dose, known for creating “respectfully soulful” dishes inspired by Gullah Geechee heritage. With a lifelong passion for cooking, she focuses on bold, comforting flavors shaped by culture, creativity, and family traditions.

Chef Pablo Ramos-Nieves

Heritage: Puerto Rican

Bio: Chef Pablo Emilio is a multicultural chef whose creative background spans graphic design and diverse ethnic kitchens. His culinary work focuses on cultural fusion and bold flavors, and he is currently developing a signature line of handcrafted hot sauces, Siempre Pa’Lante Hot Sauce, inspired by his Puerto Rican heritage and global influences.

Chef Sajan Premajan

Heritage: Mediterranean/Italian

Bio: Sajan is a professional chef whose passion for cooking grew from a personal hobby into his full-time career, now cooking for the restaurant 5th Element. He brings experience rooted in Mediterranean and Italian cuisine and enjoys creating dishes that reflect the flavors he loves.

Meet the judges

Executive Chef and Valencia Community College Dean
Alex Erdmann

Bio: Alex Erdmann is an accomplished German-Certified Master Chef with a master’s in International Hospitality Management from Switzerland and more than 30 years of leadership experience in the hospitality and food service industry.

Beginning his career in Germany, Alex worked in numerous positions throughout the world including, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, and the United Kingdom. While stateside, he continued his culinary endeavors with corporations like Royal Caribbean Cruises and the Disney Cruise Line and has served in educational leadership positions at institutions like the Washburne Culinary Institute, Baker College, Lexington College, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

As Dean of the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality at Valencia College, he build the Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality occupying over 50,000-square-feet of educational space on floors 3,4 and 5 at Valencia College`s Downtown Campus (UnionWest) which is also shared with the University of Central Florida.

Executive Chef
Patrick Story

Bio: Chef Patrick Story is the Executive Chef for Hollerbach’s German restaurant in downtown Sanford, FL. In his over twenty years with Hollerbach’s, he has overseen the expansion of the German restaurant from 90 seats to over 600 seats, as well as open new local concepts, while maintaining to be the premier German Restaurant in Central Florida.

Chef Leo Vilelat

Heritage: Peruvian

Trudy Wild

Heritage: United States

Bio: Trudy Wild has demonstrated continued and heartfelt support of FusionFest as an arts and culture professional with over 35 years of experience strengthening Central Florida’s creative community. She is a passionate supporter of cultural expression through food and dedicated attendee of the Culinary Arts Contest year after year. In her 24 years at United Arts of Central Florida, Trudy has played a key role in advancing research and advocacy efforts that highlight the region’s cultural impact. Her unwavering support of FusionFest over many years reflects her deep commitment to cultural celebration and the diverse communities we serve.

Chef Jonathan Woodbury

Bio: Chef Jonathan Woodbury is the founder and executive chef of The Legendary Experience, an Orlando‑based private chef company specializing in personalized in‑home dining. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate and former Walt Disney World chef, he refined his craft at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa before launching his own venture. In 2025, he won 1st Place at FusionFest Orlando’s Culinary Competition, highlighting his blend of Southern flavors and global influences. He now offers private chef’s tables, curated tasting menus, and weekly meal services across Central Florida, and will debut the next edition of The Legendary Table this August: an intimate supper club featuring a multi‑course tasting menu designed to bring people together through exceptional food and hospitality.

Idrees Khan

Heritage: Trinidadian

Bio: Chef Leo is the co‑founder of Chabuca, a traditional Peruvian restaurant in Orlando, and a sommelier dedicated to elevating Peruvian wines. A graduate of the Ecole Gregoire‑Ferrandi in Paris with training in French cuisine, he blends classical technique with the bold flavors of his heritage. Winner of first place in the 2023 FusionFest Culinary Contest, Chef Leo brings a refined, globally informed perspective to Peruvian cooking. Before entering the culinary world, he worked as a mechanical engineer.Idrees Khan is an analytics professional at AdventHealth and a longtime supporter of FusionFest, where he curated the last four Culinary Contests. He is the creator of Eat N Cultures, a social media platform highlighting immigrant and minority owned restaurants across Central Florida. Proud of his Trinidadian heritage, Idrees is committed to celebrating cultural diversity through food and amplifying the stories of local entrepreneurs. His work bridges data, culture, and community, helping showcase the culinary traditions that shape the region.

Terry Olson

Heritage: United States (Alaska)

Bio: As the former Director of Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs, Terry helped found and lead numerous arts organizations, including FusionFest, shaping the region’s creative landscape while celebrating cultural expression in all forms. Terry Olson is a cultural leader in Central Florida whose culinary interests have grown alongside his decades of community work. Known for preparing specialty dishes for gatherings, including an annual assortment of cookies and bars for “Dickens By Candlelight,” he brings a personal approach to cooking.

Special thanks to our Contest Sponsors!

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