Top Chefs 2023

Every year, I think there is no way Top Chefs can get any better, but every year it does. That is due to the chefs who pull out all the stops to create innovative offerings that wow their guests. This year, three new restaurants joined the mix: Fire & Salt, Point B, and Tako Taco. Regardless of the number of years each chef has participated, they all brought the culinary experience to new heights. In the end, the results were so close that we had to recount the ballots several times. After we finished, we not only named winners in appetizer, entree, dessert, and experience, but a compilation of each chef’s numbers allowed us to also name a champion. Congratulations to Bistro by the Tracks’ Chef Robert McDonald III on this accomplishment.

One final note: Top Chefs serves not only as a forum for chefs to compete, but also as a fundraiser for our friends at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Thank you to everyone who came out to support.  

The 2023 Winners

CHAMPION
Robert McDonalds, Bistro by the Tracks
1st Runner Up – Chirs Cummins & Noah Goodfriend, Point B
2nd Runner Up – Deron Little & Austin Altena, Seasons

APPETIZER
1ST PLACE – Alex Gass, Fire & Salt
2ND PLACE – Darin Hoagland, Oliver Royale
3RD PLACE – Deron Little & Austin Altena, Seasons

ENTREE
1ST PLACE – Robert McDonald, Bistro by the Tracks
2ND PLACE – Chirs Cummins & Noah Goodfriend, Point B
3RD PLACE – Alex Gass, Fire & Salt

DESSERT
1ST PLACE – Jason Scott, Lonesome Dove
2ND PLACE – Chirs Cummins & Noah Goodfriend, Point B
3RD PLACE – Darin Hoagland, Oliver Royale

EXPERIENCE
1ST PLACE – Deron Little & Austin Altena, Seasons
2ND PLACE – Robert McDonald, Bistro by the Tracks
3RD PLACE – Chirs Cummins & Noah Goodfriend, Point B