Warren County chef wins cooking competition at US Foods’ “Food Fanatics 2025” in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Nearly 5,000 foodservice operators, culinary professionals, vendors, industry experts and celebrity chefs gathered at Mandalay Bay in August for US Foods’ “Food Fanatics 2025,” a two-day event designed to provide solutions to restaurant operators’ most pressing needs.
Among the highlights was a highly anticipated main stage cooking competition featuring four accomplished chefs who are also US Foods customers. The contest was divided into two rounds, beginning with appetizers. Chef Bruno Pascale, owner of Marley’s Gotham Grill in Hackettstown and Marley’s Jr. in Mansfield Township, competed against Chef Adam Hegsted of the Eat Good Group in Round 1.
Pascale, known for offering 400 chicken wing sauces at Marley’s Gotham Grill and for his television appearances in series such as Billions on Showtime, Empires of New York on NBC and the upcoming Ways & Means on CBS, was chosen for his “expansive and celebrated culinary experience, exciting stage presence and overall enthusiasm for the event.”
Each competition round featured a mystery ingredient and required contestants to prepare four plates — three for judging and one for photography and audience viewing — within 30 minutes. Dishes were evaluated on presentation, taste and creativity. The judging panel included celebrity chef Scott Conant, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef Stephanie Izard, and Pat Cobe, editor for Restaurant Business.
The mystery ingredient was short rib, and Pascale prepared a Korean short rib bao bun with fresh slaw that earned him the winning prize.
“I feel awesome about winning because I was the first to compete at this food show, it was the first culinary competition, and I became the first winner of the appetizer round in Las Vegas,” Chef Bruno Pascale told RNJ.
“It was an honor and a pleasure to welcome Chef Bruno to US Foods Food Fanatics 2025 cooking competition. Chef Bruno brought excitement and an unparalleled expertise to his dish that truly inspired the audience of local independent restaurant operators. His enthusiasm for his craft and for the industry really came through during the competition and we could not have been more excited about his win as judged by celebrity chefs, Scott Conant and Stephanie Izard and Restaurant Business editor, Pat Cobe,” John Chaplin, US Foods District Sales Manager, told RNJ.
Chef Pascale’s journey and the story behind Marley’s unique rise is now chronicled in his new memoir, The King of Wings: An Italian-American Chef’s Journey to Culinary Fame. Subtitled A Memoir of Flavor, Hustle, and 400 Wings That Changed Everything, the book takes readers from his early days in a small-town kitchen to building one of the most talked-about wing destinations in the country. The memoir features behind-the-scenes stories, personal lessons, and even best-selling wing recipes from Marley’s for fans to try at home. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever books are sold.
