TV

Where Is Food Network Tournament Of Champions Filmed?

Food Network TOC shot in Santa Rosa and San Francisco. The competitions are displayed in front of a live studio audience
Food Network TOC shot in Santa Rosa and San Francisco. The competitions are displayed in front of a live studio audience( Source : instagram )

Food Network Tournament Of Champions is filmed in Santa Rosa in San Francisco, California. The audience buys tickets to join the show.

The show introduces top 32 chefs who battle against each other to win the grand prize of $100,000. 

In the American reality-based cooking show, two chefs compete with each other in the challenges, and the one who wins the heart of judges with their food wins the battle. 

Intially, only 16 chefs participated in the competition. Later, they doubled the number in season three because of the talented people who wanted to join the show.  

The show shares four battles in each episode each week Sunday at 8pm. 

Season four introduced the 16 chefs representing the East Coast and the other 16 on West Coast. Guy Fieri hosts the food network cooking show. 

The judges are Alex Guarnaschelli, Scott Conant, Nancy Silverton, Andrew Zimmern, and Ming Tsai. 


Where Is The Food Network Tournament Of Champions Filmed?

Food Network Tournament Of Champions was filmed in San Francisco and the Santa Rosa areas in California. It is shot entirely on location.

Fans shared queries about the TOC shooting location because, in one of the first episodes, they witnessed some of the audience had blankets and coats with them when they were in the show.  

As a result, viewers wondered if it was shot outdoors. Also, they thought one of the baking shows was filmed in Alfresco, at Terranea near Los Angeles. It was a challenge not showing wind/breeze.

Some believed it was in the bay area, as their friend was in the audience. They assumed that it was just a giant warehouse. Some wondered if it was the same warehouse where GGG recorded.

They shot the episode in Santa Rosa (Sonoma County) and San Francisco, as these cities can get chilly in the morning in the winter and spring.

Leach competes in the final face-offs of the first round, where Guy fits up the remaining eight chefs
Leach competes in the final face-offs of the first round, where Guy fits up the remaining eight chefs( Source : instagram )

So some speculate the production team starts early, and it could be 30-40 degrees or possibly colder during that time.

One of the people who work on Guys Fieri shows mentioned the first two seasons was filmed in Los Angeles. But the latest season was shot in the Santa Rosa area, where they also filmed Guy's Grocery Games. 

Fans also predict it was near as Guy's mother was in the audience.

Also, On Camera Audience asked the audience to be part of the live studio if they live in the San Francisco or Santa Rosa area.

Other television shows shot in the area are House Hunters, 13 Reason Why, Guy's Grocery Games, American Pickers, and more.

When Was The Tournament Of Champions Filmed?

According to Seattle Times, The Tournament of Champions started shooting in late November 2022 for over two weeks in Santa Rosa, California.

The first season was filmed during the pandemic in 2019 but aired on March 4, 2020.

When one of the audience participated in a virtual Q&A with the Emmy Award-winning television presenter as part of the NY food & Wine festival, he said the author mentioned that the new season of TOC will film in December.

Chef Eric goes head to head in the episode Surf & Turf Battles, where four chefs move one step closer to winning the championship belt, and four chefs head home.
Chef Eric goes head to head in the episode Surf & Turf Battles, where four chefs move one step closer to winning the championship belt, and four chefs head home.( Source : instagram )

Besides this, American restaurateur, Fieri says he tried his first Turkey for thanksgiving of 2021, so the audience guessed that it was early November when they shot the season.

The executive producer Brian Lando says the cooking started when the cast was seeded. But the bracket format made it hard to discover who would face each other. 

They felt it was a scheduling nightmare. However, the contestant would make them available for two weeks. 

Although four competitions are featured in each episode of TOC, they usually shoot three battles.

Tournament Of Champions Audience Tickets and How To Get Them

One should not buy the tickets for TOC as it's free. As a result, you can watch the show without paying a cent. 

The battles take place in front of a live studio audience, and a three-judge panel selects the food with their blind judging.

The twist came this season as the viewers can participate in the competition by choosing wild card options.

The company On Camera Audience (OCA) allowed the audience to appear on the show. But during the seasons, one couldn't get the tickets. 

As a result, the company which handles its ticket offered the link so people can learn about the date of the show in advance. 

Joe Sasto compete in the Final Face-Offs of the First Round, where four culinary powerhouses will move on to the round of 16
Joe Sasto compete in the Final Face-Offs of the First Round, where four culinary powerhouses will move on to the round of 16( Source : instagram )

Lando shared that there are possibilities for the final live show, where the audience could get tickets to watch the final match-up.

The audience should get vaccinated and should be in the age group from a minimum of 18 years old to attend the show. For safety reasons, one should cover their face with a mask, and they should provide the Covid test result. 

They also maintained a distance from cast and crew members. They cannot eat or drink inside the location. 

Besides this, people should follow the vaccine card verification process.

Tournament Of Champions Has Its Top 16

The television game show hosted by Guy Fieri TOC finds its final top 16 in episode 4 after following the winner of all four competitions. Britt Rescigno and Jose Graces made it to the quarterfinal this season.

The competition host corresponded with the eight chefs for the final round in episode 4, Final Face-Offs of First Round, where four chefs proceed into round 16.

In the next episode Surf & Turf Battles, Fieri welcomed 16 remaining chefs as they make it out of the first round. In the competition, the chefs should make the dishes chosen by the randomizer.

At last, four chefs head home while four take a step closer to winning the championship.

This season 32 chefs participated in TOC, where 16 chefs representing the East Coast and the other 16 on West Coast.
This season 32 chefs participated in TOC, where 16 chefs representing the East Coast and the other 16 on West Coast. ( Source : twitter )

In episode one, The Battle Begins, Jose Graces, Lee Ann Wong, and Jet Tila win against Kelsey Barnard Clark, Graham Elliot, Brian Malarkey, and Carlos Anthony, respectively. 

While in episode 2, Randomizer Gone Wild, Darnell Ferguson, Tiffany Derry, Mei Lin, and Britt Rescigno defected Illan Hall, Viet Pham, Crista Luedtke, and Tiffani Faison, respectively. 

 Wine Country Chef Tracey Shepos and Shirley Chung battled against each other in the episode 'Win or Go Home', where Chung won the competition. After she made it to the top 16, Sobel defected her. 

Maneet Chauhan (Season 2 Winner) scored highest against Joathon Sawyer and won the battle in the same sequel. Adam Sobel and Stephanie Izard also defected Nate Appleman and Madison Cowan.

Tobias Dorzon, Joe Sasto, Karen Akunowicz, and Shota Nakajima made it to the final 16 after competing against Lean Cohen, Elizabeth Falkner, Christian Petroni, and Antonia Lofaso, respectively. 

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