BEER CHEESE THROWDOWN Tournament of Champions IS HERE!
Congratulations, Champion — and welcome to the 2026 Beer Cheese ThrowdownTournament of Champions. This year marks five years of the Throwdown, and we’re celebrating the four chefs who helped build it into a national, high-energy culinary competition. As one of our past winners, you’ve earned your place in this exclusive TOC bracket. Now it’s time to bring the title back to the table and compete for the first-ever Tournament of Champions trophy.
Contestant Recipes
What You're Receiving
- J.T.M. Craft Beer Cheese Dip and/or
- J.T.M. Beer Cheese Base (with the option to add your own beer)
You may choose either product as your starting point. No matter which you use, beer cheese must be the star of your dish — featured prominently and unmistakably at the center of the recipe.
Your creative challenge
Along with showcasing beer cheese, we’d like your TOC entry to connect with what’s next in foodservice. Please build your dish around at least one of these on-the-rise consumer trends (you can use more than one if it fits your concept): - Swicy – sweet + spicy flavor profiles
- Newstalgic – a classic favorite reimagined with a twist
- Global Flavors – bold inspiration from international cuisines
Think big, have fun, and show us what a champion can do.
Your timeline + submission
You’ll have two weeks from the day your samples arrive to develop your TOC dish. At the end of that window, please send back:
- A completed recipe form
- One high-quality photo of your finished dish
On-site filming + judging
- You’ll prepare your recipe live on-site
- Official judges will taste and score your dish using TOC judging forms
- We’ll film the cook and conduct a short personal interview
These interviews are a key part of the Tournament of Champions narrative — highlighting your background, your operation today, and what the Beer Cheese Throwdown has meant to you over the years.
Where this goes next
Your recipe, footage, and story will be used to create a high-energy TOC marketing feature leading into the 2026 NRA Show. This content will spotlight all four champions and build momentum toward the live final in Chicago.
The stakes
The top two contestants will earn a trip to Chicago, where you’ll battle live for the TOC crown. The first-ever TOC winner will receive: - A prize pack
- Full bragging rights
THE STAKES
- The top two contestants will earn a trip to Chicago, where you’ll battle live for the TOC crown. The first-ever TOC winner will receive:
- A prize pack
- Full bragging rights
Terms & Conditions
- Contest Sponsored by JTM Provisions Company, Inc. dba J.T.M. Food Group.
- No purchase is necessary to enter and a purchase will not improve the odds of winning.
- Receipt of the prize is restricted to participation in the 2026 Nation Restaurant Show on behalf of J.T.M. Food Group.
- To be eligible, participants must (1) own and operate a verified establishment that is open and serves food or intends to serve food to customers, (2) be 21 years of age or older, and (3) all eligible entries must use Beer Cheese or Beer Cheese Base produced by J.T.M. Food Group.
- Limit of one free sample case to each verified establishment while supplies last.
- By submitting photographs and recipes to J.T.M. Food Group through social media or otherwise, you grant an irrevocable license to J.T.M. Food Group to use the photographs and recipes in all mediums.
- J.T.M. Food Group reserves the right to cancel or delay the trip for any reason including in the event that the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show is cancelled or delayed.
- J.T.M. reserves the right to change or modify these terms and conditions within its sole discretion.
- All rights reserved.
