She won a Golden Ticket! Del Mar College Baking/Pastry major Alyana Willingham is heading to World Food Championships in Indianapolis next month

Five DMC teams vied for top spot in four categories to advance to next level as competition heated up at Water’s Edge Park Sept. 25-26 with winners announced on Sept. 27

Article by Melinda Eddleman

The heat not only rose weatherwise but also in the outdoor kitchens during the Texas Food Championship (TFC) at Water’s Edge Park this weekend. Five Del Mar College (DMC) student teams comprising Culinary Arts Program or Baking/Pastry Program majors competed in four categories–burger, dessert, pasta (open category) and seafood–over a two-day period, hoping to win a Golden Ticket to move on to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis next month.

Del Mar College has been the lead supporter of the event.

Stirring Lemon Mascarpone_DMC Baking and Pastry Major Alyana Willingham_Texas Food Championship 092526

Del Mar College Baking/Pastry major Alyana Willingham stirs lemon-flavored mascarpone used as a component of her winning lemon olive oil cake during the Texas Food Championship held at Water’s Edge Park Sept. 25-27. Willingham competed solo in the Dessert Category and won a “Golden Ticket” and will join Team Texas at the World Food Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, in October. (Credit: Del Mar College)

DMC Baking and Pastry Student Alyana Willingham and World Food Championships President and CEO Mike McCloud

On Sept. 25, 2026, Del Mar College second-year Baking/Pastry major Alyana Willingham (left) explains to judges the components making up her lemon olive oil cake during the Texas Food Championship as Mike McCloud, President and CEO of the World Food Championships, holds the mic. Willingham won the “Golden Ticket” in the Dessert Category and will compete at the World Food Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, in October. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

Out of the Oven_DMC Baking and Pastry Major Alyana Willingham_Texas Food Championship 092526

Del Mar College Baking/Pastry major Alyana Willingham begins the process of assembling her entry in the Dessert Category during the Texas Food Championship held Sept. 25-27 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Coached by DMC Baking/Pastry Instructor Bryan Carrizales, Willingham prepared a lemon olive oil cake that included several other components that took her entry over the top to win the top spot in the category. (Credit: Del Mar College)

She Won a Golden Ticket_DMC Baking and Pastry Alyana Willingham_Texas Food Championship_092726

During the Sept. 27 awards ceremony, TFC officials announced all the winners, including Baking/Pastry major and Dessert Category solo competitor Alyana Willingham. On Friday, she prepared a lemon olive oil cake with lemon curd, Pistachio Creme Fraiche, blueberry compote, pistachio crumble and candied zest. That cake won Willingham a Golden Ticket after competing against five other teams. She was coached by Department of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Baking/Pastry Instructor Bryan Carrizales.

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The competition was my very first, and I was very nervous leading up to start time, but then I started getting very excited. Because the category had six teams overall, Del Mar College had more than a 30 percent chance of winning since I and another DMC student competed solo.

Alyana Willingham, DMC Baking/Pastry Major and Texas Food Championship 2026 Dessert Category Winner

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The second-year DMC student graduated from Calallen High School and plans to complete the college’s Culinary Arts Program after finishing her Baking/Pastry training. She credits her grandmother and mother for inspiring her to pursue a career in the food industry as well as the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

Willingham hasn’t figured out what she wants to prepare during the World Food Championships but says she has some time. “I haven’t figured that out yet,” she said, adding, “I have a couple of weeks to decide and practice.”

During the award ceremony, DMC officials also announced that the five winners of the Texas Junior Chef Championship for high school-age competitors will receive scholarships to attend the college’s Culinary Arts, Baking/Pastry and Hospitality Management Programs.

Dedication and Mentorship_DMC Faculty Member Chef Israel Villanueva_Texas Food Championship 092626

Del Mar College Associate Professor of Culinary Arts Chef Israel “Izzy” Villanueva served as the mentoring coach for the Culinary Arts Program’s team competing in the Seafood Category during the Texas Food Championship Sept. 25-27, 2026. DMC students vied against home cooks and professional chefs from across Texas competing to earn a “Golden Ticket” to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis in October. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Ready to Serve_DMC Seafood Team Plated Entry_Texas Food Championship 092626

Shown plated and ready for judging is the Del Mar College Culinary Arts student team’s dish entered in the Seafood Category during the Texas Food Championship. Team members included Roger Wareham (team captain), Yulissa Lara, Marilyn Ramirez and Michelle Springer whose entry, “Coastal Trio,” featured seared salmon with a Bercy sauce and pressure-braised and charred octopus over a lobster risotto. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Finishing Touches_DMC Seaffod Team_Texas Food Championship 092626

Del Mar College Culinary Arts majors making up the Seafood Team put the finishing touches on their dish before the 90-minute competition limit ran out before presenting to the judges during the Texas Food Championship on Sept. 26, 2026. The team––which included team captain Roger Wareham, Yulissa Lara, Marilyn Ramirez and Michelle Springer prepared “Coastal Trio” featuring seared salmon with a Bercy sauce and pressure-braised and charred octopus over a lobster risotto. (Credit: Del Mar College)

The Texas Food Championship attracted some 150 competitors, including home cooks and professional chefs from across the state, vying for their place in Indianapolis either as individuals or on a team. TFC officials noted that Team Texas will be headed by two-time World Food Championship winner Preston Nguyen as team captain. He won those titles while attending Dallas College and is now a chef in Arlington, Texas.

During this weekend’s championship, judges evaluated each dish using the E.A.T.™ methodology – execution, appearance and taste. Those judges included Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Department Interim Chair Lisa Pollakis during the BBQ! Chicken Category on Friday and DMC Regent David Loeb during yesterday’s Texas Junior Chef Championship.

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We’re incredibly proud of all our students representing Del Mar College and the Culinary Arts and Baking/Pastry Programs during the first Texas Food Championship here in Corpus Christi. These first- and second-year students stepped outside of their comfort zones and devoted many extra hours to prepare for the competition, creating outstanding dishes to compete alongside talented culinarians from across Texas.

Lisa Pollakis, DMC Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Department Interim Chair/Professor of Hospitality Management

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Prepping an Ingredient_DMC Burger Team in the Kitchen_Texas Food Championship 092626

Del Mar College Culinary Arts majors Audrey Salinas (right) and team captain Nathanael Benavides begin to prepare their entry in the Burger Category during the Texas Food Championship held Sept. 25-27. The team prepared a Nilgai antelope and ribeye burger patty with Asadero cheese, Serrano aioli and candied bacon on a homemade waffle bun and were coached by Department of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Executive Chef Matt Axtell. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Burgers are Ready_DMC Burger Team Member Cristobal Ramos_Texas Food Championship 092626

Del Mar College Culinary Arts major Cristobal Ramos carries cooked patties made of Nilgai antelope and ribeye to the plating station for final assembly of his team’s entry during the Texas Food Championship Burger Category competition on Sept. 26. The team developed their entry under the mentorship and coaching of Executive Chef Matt Axtell with the college’s Department of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Final Countdown_Burger Category Team_Texas Food Championship 092626

Del Mar College Culinary Arts majors and Burger Category team members Audrey Salinas (left) and team captain Nathanael Benavides (right) anticipate fellow student Cristobal Ramos to finish the final touches as the clock ticks down to stop preparing their entry. The team served the judges a Nilgai antelope and ribeye burger patty with Asadero cheese, Serrano aioli and candied bacon on a homemade waffle bun during the Texas Food Championship held Sept. 25-27, 2026. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Ready to Judge_DMC Regent David Loeb_Texas Food Championship_092626

A volunteer brings a dish ready for judging to Del Mar College Regent David Loeb, who served as a celebrity judge during the Texas Junior Chef Championship on Sept. 26, 2026, during the three-day Texas Food Championship held at Corpus Christi’s Water’s Edge Park. The TFC served as a qualifying competitive event for several different food categories with winners of a prized “Golden Ticket” securing a spot for the World Food Championships in Indiana in October. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Scoring the Dish_DMC Regent David Loeb_Texas Food Championship_092626

Del Mar College Regent David Loeb scores one of the entries of the Texas Junior Chef Championship, a competition for high school-age competitors, during the Texas Food Championship in Corpus Christi, Texas, Sept. 25-27, 2026. The college was the lead supporter of the event with Regent Loeb serving as a celebrity judge on Sept. 26. (Credit: Del Mar College)

Pollakis added, “The college is also grateful to our faculty and staff coaches whose mentorship, guidance and devotion helped students elevate their skills and performance to a very high level. This experience demonstrates the talent, determination and bright future of Del Mar College’s students majoring in the culinary, baking and hospitality pathways.”

In addition to Carrizales coaching the college’s two Dessert Category competitors, DMC Executive Chef Matt Axtell coached the Burger and Pasta teams while Associate Professor of Culinary Arts Chef Israel “Izzy” Villanueva mentored the team competing in the Seafood Category.

The World Food Championships attract between 300 and 400 teams annually, including competitors from across the United States as well as those who have earned a Golden Ticket from nearly 40 countries. The “heat in the kitchen” for Del Mar College TFC winner Alyana Willingham turned up a few more degrees as she plans and practices to become a “world champion.”

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. The college offers quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordability to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and across the South Texas Coastal Bend region. Nationally recognized while locally focused, Del Mar College provides students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities in the area. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.