Preston Nguyen: Winning the World Food Championships at 18 (Part 1)

At 18, Preston Nguyen didn’t plan on competing in the World Food Championships.He was going to volunteer.Instead, a last-minute opportunity put him in the competition — alongside his parents — going up against chefs with decades more experience… and they walked away as Rookie of the Year.In Part 1 of Confessions: Beyond the Food, Preston shares how everything changed — from a COVID pivot into cooking, to winning Rookie of the Year, to stepping onto Next Level Chef at just 19.This episode is about what happens when success hits early — and the pressure that comes with it.In this episode, we cover:Growing up around family restaurants — but planning a future in architectureThe COVID pivot that changed everythingGetting a last-minute “golden ticket” into the World Food ChampionshipsWinning Rookie of the Year at 18 — and the pressure that followedCatching and cooking his own fish (despite a childhood trauma)Using TikTok to solve a high-level culinary challengeWhat Next Level Chef is really like behind the scenesThe pressure of performing with cameras on and no second chances