Tournament of Champions Crowned A Queer Champ
Tournament of Champions for a third season — and now LGBTQ+ fans have even more reason to celebrate because it crowned a queer winner, Tiffani Faison.Faison took home $100,000 which is the largest cash prize in Food Network history, and is the first out chef to win the show.Faison first faced off with Tobias Dorzon in the finale, where the two were tasked with a set of major challenges from the randomizer — a machine that’s employed in the game to determine the protein, produce, equipment, and cooking style used.
In their case, the randomizer selected “goose, bergamot, liquid nitrogen, velvety, and 45 minutes.” Faison clinched the win with her bergamot pan-fried goose breast with a goose and bergamot jus and cauliflower puree and moved on to the final round.There she faced off with season one winner Brooke Williams.
Again, the randomizer presented unique challenges which included “rabbit, natto, anti-griddle, cooking three ways, and 60 minutes.” While the race was tight, Faison edged Willimas out with her fried rabbit leg on a natto and sweet potato puree, a skewered rabbit loin and rabbit saddle krapow with crispy natto, and with a two-point lead took the coveted title.While Faison had previously competed on Top Chef — which has an extensive history of LGBTQ+ chefs — and its holiday special, this win was especially sweet for the chef. “I learned more about myself with every battle and I learned more how deeply talented the other warriors in this tournament are.
Every week is a test that requires your whole heart to show up and then takes your breath away,” she said. “Winning has been one of the most affirming and rewarding experiences of my life.
