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Collin Hilton

Apr 15, 2025

Winning $150,000 | Collin Hilton The World Food Champion

Cunningham Group’s Collin Hilton recounts how he won the $150K grand prize at the World Food Championships and what’s next for his culinary career. This one’s packed with flavor, hustle, and heat.

Podcast Summary

My guest today is Collin Hilton, the Chef de Cuisine at Cunningham Restaurant Group and recent winner of the World Food Championship.

We discuss Collin's journey from competing in preliminary food competitions in Indianapolis to winning the $150,000 grand prize in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

Collin shares his culinary inspirations, the pressure of cooking for world-renowned judges, and how this win has impacted his career.

You are going to learn about: 
-The arduous process of winning a World Food Championship
- A new restaurant concept from Cunningham Restaurant Group
- How winning WFC has impacted Collin’s life

Thank you to our partners: 
Sports Tech HQ
Hope Plumbing

Check out these great clips from the show:
01:19 Meet the World Food Champion: Collin Hilton
02:11 The Journey to Becoming Mr. Noodle
03:08 Competing in the World Food Championship
05:54 The Road to Bentonville
07:51 Challenges and Triumphs in Bentonville
29:00 Competition Recap: First Round
29:50 Dinner at Meza: Taste and Recreate Challenge
31:10 Recreating the Pasta Dish
34:02 Advancing to the Final Round
36:32 The Final Boss: Culinary Journey
44:18 Winning the World Food Championship
45:37 Reflections and Future Plans
51:43 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

Guest(s)

Collin Hilton

Date Published

April 15, 2025

This podcast is sponsored by

Sweetwater

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

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Know someone with a great Indiana story? Nominate them as a guest for the Get IN podcast and help us share real Hoosier voices.

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Share Your Indiana Podcast Guest

Know someone with a great Indiana story? Nominate them as a guest for the Get IN podcast and help us share real Hoosier voices.

A person in casual attire poses with a person in a vibrant red mascot costume wearing a baseball jersey that reads "Indians," both against a blue backdrop with text promoting "Get Indiana" with Nate Spangle.
A person in casual attire poses with a person in a vibrant red mascot costume wearing a baseball jersey that reads "Indians," both against a blue backdrop with text promoting "Get Indiana" with Nate Spangle.