Meet the Chefs: Iron Chef Tucson’s Preliminary Event is May 18

It’s official — the Meet the Chefs preliminaries leading up to the 17th Annual Iron Chef Tucson competition are happening Sunday, May 18.

A group of Tucson’s finest restaurants and chefs will gather at the Diamond Center at Desert Diamond Casino – Sahuarita from 3 to 5 p.m. to showcase their culinary talents, sample their dishes, and compete for a spot in the 2025 Iron Chef Tucson.

Chefs from the Tucson Metro area will present signature dishes to attendees and compete for the “Meet the Chefs Winner” title. The winner will advance to the 17th Annual Iron Chef Tucson on Saturday, July 26, where they will challenge reigning champ chef Anthony Dromgoole of Obon Sushi & Ramen Bar.

Last year, chef Dromgoole came out on top, defeating the two-time champion Chef Ken Foy of Dante’s Kitchen + Cocktails, who’s back at it again this year for another jab at the title.

“The last year has been a wild one,” said chef Domgoole. “Obon Sushi and Ramen’s Tucson location has seen record numbers since the Iron Chef win. Our slow season was about a month or so, as opposed to three to four months, which most local places feel during the year. I’m excited to go through the whole process again — to see who shows up to Meet the Chefs, who wins, and mostly, to get back out there doing what I love.”

Tickets to Meet the Chefs are $25 per person and can be purchased online.

This year’s group of culinary masters includes James Beard Award Nominee Jose Contreras of Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen and chef Brian Hill, who’s best known for his appearances on Top Chef and Private Chefs of Beverly Hills, chef Brian Hill has cooked for stars like Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Eddie Murphy.

This Year’s Participating Chefs

• Chef Ken Foy of Dante’s Kitchen + Cocktails
• Chef Brian Hill of Chef Brian’s Comfort Kitchen
• Chef Logan Tessier of The Eddy and Pin+Flour
• Chef Michael York of On the Rocks
• Chef Jose Contreras of Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen
• Chef Carlos Rios of Desert Diamond Casino – Sahuarita
• Chef Bryan Benton of Dominick’s Real Italian

Arizona Lotus Corp., alongside event sponsors Blue Moon Brewing and Whiskey Del Bac, is supporting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona through donations from both the Meet the Chefs and Iron Chef Tucson events.

Get your tickets!

Looking Ahead

The 17th Annual Iron Chef Tucson will take place on July 26 at Desert Diamond Casino – Sahuarita. Modeled after the high-energy, fast-paced TV competition, this event will feature a surprise ingredient and a live culinary showdown in front of an audience of over 700 guests.

Also, everyone in attendance gets to enjoy the Culinary Experience, showcasing local products and services for Tucson’s food community.

For more information on all things Iron Chef Tucson, please visit ironcheftucson.com.