Get Your Forks Ready: Nashville’s Favorite Culinary Showdown Is Back (and Moving to the East Side!)
Hey there, buttercups! Gather ’round, because we’ve got some piping hot news fresh off the local food scene stove. If you love high-stakes kitchen drama, incredible local bites, and watching talented chefs work under pressure, you’ll want to sit down for this one: Iron Fork is returning on Thursday, Nov. 12, and it’s got a brand-new home!
If you’ve been around Music City long enough, you probably remember the very first Iron Fork back in 2008. Chef Deb Paquette took home the inaugural trophy while the entire crowd collectively wondered, “Wait, what on earth is a fiddlehead fern?” Over the years, this epic battle of the bites has bounced around town—from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rocketown to outdoor bashes at First Horizon Park and Centennial Park. But this year, the party is breaking out on its own and heading straight to the cultural heart of town: East Nashville!
Iron Fork is taking over Harken Hall (514 Madison Station Blvd), turning the gorgeous venue into a glorious culinary battleground. Four incredible chefs, one mystery ingredient, one hour, and one coveted title—plus a golden ticket to the 2027 World Food Championships. Talk about heat in the kitchen!
Meet the Heavyweight Culinary Competitors
This year’s lineup is pure heat, y’all. Here is who will be sharpening their knives and going head-to-head:
- Dung “Junior” Vo (Kase x Noko, Noko, Noko Yaki): If you’ve been trying (and struggling) to snatch a hard-to-get reservation to experience Chef Junior’s legendary knife skills and warm hospitality, don’t bother booking on Nov. 12—he’ll be putting his skills on display live on the Iron Fork stage!
- Ana Aguilar & Josh Cook (Tantísimo): A true culinary power couple! Having met in the high-pressure kitchen at Husk, this dynamic duo has been making serious waves with their fun, farm-to-table spin on Latin cuisine. Will married bliss turn into friendly rivalry? We can’t wait to watch.
- Marcio Florez (Limo Peruvian Eatery): Bringing the vibrant flavors of Peru, Chef Marcio is a master of flavor and finesse. His background with delicate ceviches and crudos—not to mention his battle-tested days running a food truck—means working against the clock in a tight space with an audience staring at him will be a walk in the park.
- Alfredo Bueno (888): Chef Alfredo earned his spot the hard way—by winning over the crowd during the “Battle of the Best Bite” at the Music City Food & Wine Festival. Having witnessed him break down a 200-plus-pound tuna in under an hour, we can tell you right now: do not sleep on Chef Bueno.
Sips, Bites, and Doing Good for Music City
Even if you aren’t on the main stage competing, your taste buds are guaranteed to win. A ticket to Iron Fork comes packed with perks that will leave you fuller than a Thanksgiving turkey. You’ll enjoy unlimited samples from 20 of Nashville’s absolute favorite food spots, including heavily loved staples like Etch | Etc., Gus’s Fried Chicken, Indaco, Oku, Soho House, Sunda, Zaytinya, and many more!
To wash down all those mouthwatering bites, Corkdorks will be serving up curated wine pairings alongside craft beers, signature cocktail samples, and a full open bar for anyone feeling extra thirsty.
Best of all? The night includes a live auction benefiting two amazing local causes: Celebrate Nashville and Second Harvest Food Bank. Fun fact: auction winners get to eat the exact same dishes prepared for the official judges!
Grab Your Tickets Before They’re Gone!
Guiding us through all the delicious chaos will be our fab MCs for the evening: Emmy-nominated TV host Jerome Moore and Nashville Scene Editor-in-Chief D. Patrick Rodgers.
Tickets are strictly limited, and with a lineup this good, they’re going to disappear faster than hot biscuits on a Sunday morning. Grab yours now, clear your evening for Nov. 12, and we’ll see you at Harken Hall!