Walter “Rick” Geise has won a spot in the World Open Chili Championship.

He is a machinist and tool maker by trade and originally learned to cook by helping his grandmother around the kitchen. His cooking skills were also greatly influenced by his wife Andreann and her family who were in the restaurant business.

Rick met his wife in 1984 while they were both still in high school. They shared a love of fishing, the outdoors and food. Andreann’s love of food and her father started her exciting journey in foodsport. She convinced Rick  to enter his first recipe contest, in which he took judges choice. He won a cash prize, a box of assorted cheeses and bragging rights since he beat out his wife for that win. Was it beginner’s luck? He is about to prove to her it was cooking skill and not luck that won him that prize. He competes for the first time in the World Food Championships (WFC) this year. She suggested he enter Taste of America, the contest that won him his Golden Ticket to WFC.

Chef Andreann Geise will be competing in sandwich.  This year’s competition marks the fourth time that she has competed at WFC. Her best finish came in 2016 when she placed fifth with her Bacon, Shrimp & Tomato Salad on Garlic Bacon Toast in the signature round of the Bacon category.

About the World Food Championships

The World Food Championships (WFC) is the highest stakes food competition in the world. This multi-day, live-event culinary competition showcases some of the world’s best cooking masters competing for food, fame and fortune in ten categories: Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Chef, Chili, Dessert, Recipe, Sandwich, Seafood and Steak. In 2018, over 1,500 contestants on nearly 500 official teams from 42 American states and 12 countries competed. More than 20 million people have attended WFC or have seen it on national TV over the past seven years. The 2019 Main Event will be held in Dallas, Texas at Reunion Tower Lawn, Oct. 16-20, 2019.