{"id":4484,"date":"2025-10-01T19:43:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/?page_id=4484"},"modified":"2025-10-13T09:22:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T09:22:46","slug":"2025-inspired-by-kikkoman-chef-competition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/2025-inspired-by-kikkoman-chef-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"MEET THE WINNERS OF THE INSPIRED BY KIKKOMAN CHEF COMPETITION"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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CREATIVE CHEFS. VERSATILE PRODUCTS. INSPIRED RECIPES.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce has inspired generations of chefs and foodservice operators to add umami and savory depth to all kinds of menu items, Asian and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that spirit, the INSPIRED BY KIKKOMAN Chef Competition<\/em> invites chefs and culinary professionals to submit cutting-edge menu ideas featuring our line of versatile foodservice products in three categories: Soy Sauces<\/a>, Teriyaki Sauces<\/a>, and four of our popular Finishing Sauces<\/strong> (GF Hoisin Sauce<\/a>, GF Orange Sauce<\/a>, Sushi Sauce<\/a>, and GF Thai Chili Sauce<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s entries blew us away! Nearly 200 chefs signed up to compete. 60 advanced to Round 2, where they submitted full recipes and photos of their dish. From there, our panel\u2014last year\u2019s contest winners, Chefs Nathaniel Malone, Evan Gonzalez and Brian Redzikowski, joined by Chefs\u2019 Roll experts and Kikkoman Executive Chef Andrew Hunter\u2014selected our Grand Prize<\/strong> winner and two Runner-Ups<\/strong>; and from among them, a Fan Favorite<\/strong> was also chosen by public vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge? Create a globally inspired entr\u00e9e that shows your innovation, technique, and creativity using Kikkoman products. The results? Absolutely inspired.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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GRAND PRIZE: A Culinary Immersion Trip to Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Chef Mark Rivera<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n

Private Chef, Healdsburg, CA
\nSoy\u2013Squid Ink Dumplings with Clarified Mushroom Consomm\u00e9
\nSoy Sauce<\/strong> Category Winner<\/p>\n

Soy\u2013squid ink dumplings with a mushroom-soy filling, served in a delicate mushroom\u2013soy consomm\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chef Mark Rivera, a runner-up in our inaugural Inspired by Kikkoman Chef Competition<\/em> in 2023, returned this year with a showstopper that earned him the Grand Prize.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n