Food Network is revisiting a tournament-style competition for Guy’s Grocery Games, and this time, the stakes and scope are larger than ever before. According to the most recent issue of Food Network Magazine, the network is set to launch Guy’s Grocery Games: Global Games, a new series that will debut on Wednesday, July 8, at 9 p.m. ET. Hosted, as always, by the enthusiastic and ever‑energetic Guy Fieri, the show will bring together a group of highly accomplished chefs from across the world to compete for a $50,000 grand prize and the distinction the network describes as “international glory.”
This latest iteration of Guy’s Grocery Games transforms the well‑loved grocery store‑based cooking competition into a globally themed tournament. After the success of last year’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Tournament — which gathered some of the most successful competitors in the history of the series — Food Network is once again using a tournament format as the engine of competition, but with a fresh worldwide twist.
Rather than simply inviting past winners for a rematch among familiar faces, this new global edition appears designed to showcase culinary diversity by aligning each chef with a specific international cuisine. Not only does that provide an exciting narrative for viewers, but it also highlights the enormous breadth of flavors and techniques that different cultural traditions bring to the kitchen. According to reporting from Parade, which received an exclusive look at Food Network’s July programming slate, Global Games is part of a broader initiative by the network to present dynamic, culturally rich food television throughout the summer.
This revamped format promises to keep fans engaged over multiple episodes, as chefs will compete under the bright lights and watchful eyes of their peers and a national audience. Each competitor brings a unique background and culinary perspective, and all are expected to fight hard for the honor of becoming the first champion of this globally themed challenge.
Representing Italian cuisine in the tournament is Gabe Bertaccini, a chef whose expertise in traditional and contemporary Italian dishes has earned him acclaim. Bertaccini’s participation promises to bring elements of pasta mastery, regional Italian techniques, and a deep understanding of Mediterranean flavors to the competition. Adding Mexican flair to the lineup is Claudette Zepeda, whose cooking reflects vibrant tastes and bold ingredients that have long defined Mexico’s rich culinary history.
Vietnamese cuisine will be represented by Viet Pham, a chef known for his skill in balancing bold aromatics, savory broths, and fresh, bright components that make Vietnamese cooking so distinctive. The Portuguese and wider Iberian culinary world will be brought into the fold by David Viana, whose appreciation for seafood, spices, and traditional Iberian recipes brings a slightly lesser‑known but deeply flavorful tradition to the tournament.
Indian cuisine will also be center stage, with Aarthi Sampath competing while showcasing the complexity of blending spices, regional influences, and centuries‑old cooking techniques. From Korea, Kevin Lee will be tasked with representing Korean culinary traditions, bringing to the competition rich fermented flavors, precision in preparation, and a modern reimagining of classic Korean dishes. Middle Eastern and Israeli flavors are set to be highlighted by Einat Admony, whose work often celebrates the interplay of fresh produce, aromatic herbs, and regional staples like chickpeas, tahini, and lamb. Rounding out the competition is Tobias Dorzon, who will be the face of West African cuisine in Global Games, offering wild cards of spice, bold heat, and ingredients rooted in centuries of West African culinary tradition.
A promotional image released alongside the announcement further emphasizes the global theme: each chef is pictured wearing a bright, distinctively colored track jacket, visually evoking the spirit of international sports competitions. Rather than a single uniform look, these stylized jackets suggest teams, competition, and global camaraderie — evoking the sense that this isn’t just another cooking challenge, but a full‑fledged contest of culinary wits and cultural pride.
While Food Network has not yet disclosed the exact competition structure, there are strong indications that Global Games may follow a format similar to last year’s GOAT Tournament. That version of the show unfolded over several weeks, presenting a bracket‑style competition in which top competitors faced a series of escalating challenges. Each episode tested their speed, creativity, and ability to adapt to unpredictable tasks, with only the strongest advancing until one chef was crowned the GOAT champion. Fans of the series have come to love the tension and drama of watching competitors navigate surprise ingredients, time constraints, and elimination rounds — and Global Games seems poised to deliver more of those thrilling moments, set against a backdrop of world flavors and international culinary identities.
Ultimately, Guy’s Grocery Games: Global Games aims to be more than just another season of a popular Food Network series. By bringing together some of the franchise’s most recognizable competitors and pairing them with global cuisines, the network is broadening the show’s appeal and celebrating the universality of food as a connector of cultures. For audiences who have followed Guy’s Grocery Games for years — as well as for new viewers drawn by the international theme — this summer’s competition promises high‑stakes drama, cultural exchange, inventive cooking, and unforgettable grocery store challenges.
