Fiery Flavor Takes Center Stage at ZestFest 2026 Celebrity Chef Stage

FORT WORTH, Texas - EntSun -- The 25th Anniversary of ZestFest is turning up the heat with an unforgettable lineup on the ZestFest Celebrity Chef Stage, featuring nationally recognized chefs, award-winning pitmasters, and spicy food industry legends serving up flavor-packed demonstrations throughout the weekend of May 29–31, 2026 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Headlining the weekend will be rising culinary star James Nelson on Saturday, May 30, and acclaimed chefs Antonio Votta and Carlos Fuentes on Sunday, May 31. Legendary Texas caterer Eddie Deen will appear all three days of the event, bringing his signature Texas hospitality and crowd-pleasing flavors to the stage. Fans can also expect multiple high-energy appearances from the spicy chef trio of John "CaJohn" Hard, Buddy Taylor, and Jason Goodman, blending Cajun flair, Southern BBQ traditions, and Asian-inspired spice creations into an entertaining culinary experience.

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Houston native James Nelson, now National Sales Leader for Karma Sauce, first captured national attention as a Top 5 finalist on Gordon Ramsay's MasterChef Season 4. A longtime force in the craft hot sauce industry, Nelson co-founded Bravado Spice Co. before joining Karma Sauce in 2026 to lead national expansion efforts. With more than 100 industry awards tied to projects he has helped create, Nelson brings deep expertise and an obsession with flavor-first hot sauces that balance heat with culinary creativity.

On Sunday, Chef Antonio Votta and Chef Carlos Fuentes will showcase the elevated flavors behind Fort Worth's celebrated Bricks and Horses restaurant inside Bowie House. Chef Votta has earned praise for blending Texas ingredients, dry-aged local beef, and imaginative culinary techniques into a refined contemporary chophouse experience inspired by Texas horse culture.

Returning fan favorite Eddie Deen will bring decades of Texas culinary tradition to the stage all weekend long. Known throughout Dallas/Fort Worth for his legendary catering company, Deen has built a reputation for scratch-made barbecue, Cajun specialties, Southwestern cuisine, and memorable event experiences serving groups from 25 to 25,000 guests.

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The spicy chef trio promises to deliver some of the weekend's most entertaining moments. John "CaJohn" Hard, widely known as the "Godfather of Hot Sauce," continues to shape the fiery foods industry as a consultant and recipe developer following the sale of his iconic CaJohns brand.

Joining him is Hot Sauce Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Taylor of Gator Hammock, whose award-winning sauces and bold Southern BBQ flavors have become staples across the spicy food world. Taylor's Tropic Gator line captured Golden Chile Awards at ZestFest four consecutive years from 2022–2025.

Rounding out the trio is Jason Goodman, co-owner of ZestFest and former owner/publisher of Chile Pepper Magazine. Goodman, with his second year on the Celebrity Chef Stage, brings a lifelong passion for spice, food culture, and culinary adventure to the stage.

The Celebrity Chef Stage is included with admission to ZestFest 2026, where attendees can also enjoy hundreds of spicy food samples, live demonstrations, eating contests, specialty vendors, and the excitement of the 30th Anniversary Fiery Food Challenge Awards weekend.

For tickets, exhibitor information, and event details, visit Event Festival | Event Festival at ZestFest (https://zestfest.net/)