GRAND TASTING

Saturday will host the festival’s Grand Tasting with sampling booths from 50+ local restaurants, bars and sponsoring beverage brands. Guests will get to watch the Iron Fork Chef competition and Mixology Competition take place, bid in our chef’s plate charity auction, experience specialty wine pairings, sip on dozens of cocktails, try new wines and local brews while enjoying unlimited food.

Saturday April 26, 2025
Centennial Park
5:30PM to 9:30PM

what to expect

THE Battle is back!

Iron Fork Chef Competition

Presented by US Foods

Iron Fork Chef Competition — Presented by US Foods —

The Nashville Scene’s Annual Iron Fork Chef Competition, presented by US Foods, returns with top chefs from Music City's best restaurants battling it out to vie for the coveted Iron Fork Champions trophy and entry to the World Food Championships. Modeled after the popular Food Network television show, our chefs will have one hour to shop the pantry and prepare a dish to impress our panel of guest judges! The catch? The Secret Ingredient.

Guests of the Grand Tasting will get to watch the heated competition in real time as they walk around and enjoy sips and samples of local restaurants and beverage brands.

Want to get in on the action? Make sure to be by the Main Stage during our Chef’s presentation to the judges panel. We’ll be auctioning off an extra plate of each Chef’s creation — so you can try one of the unique dishes and raise funds for our charitable partners!

At the end of the night, all the remaining pantry items will be donated to the Nashville Food Project, courtesy of US Foods!

Meet the 2025 iron fork chef competitors

  • chris crary

    1 Hotel Nashville, Culinary Director

  • giovanna orsino

    Tutti da Gio, Chef & Owner

  • jess lambert

    etc. and Etch, Executive Chef

  • Edgar Victoria

    Alebrije, Chef & Owner

wine exhibitors and seminars
presented by

TASTING BOOTHS

Unlimited bites from Nashville’s Best Restaurants

MIXOLOGY COMPEtiTION

CHECK BACK SOON FOR THE FULL LINEUP OF OUR MIXOLOGY COMPETITORS!