El Palacio chef Anthony Serrano makes World Food Championships Final Table

Anthony Serrano, chef and owner of El Palacio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Chandler, won one of 10 category championships at the World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Ala., on Sunday.

Nearly 400 professional and amateur chefs squared off at the fifth annual event, which bills itself as the largest competition in food sport.

The winner of each category – seafood, barbecue, chili, dessert, bacon, sandwich, seafood, burger, steak, and recipe – earned $10,000 and a berth in the $100,000 Final Table competition on Tuesday.

Serrano competed in the Recipe category, where this year’s theme was breakfast. He had the highest score in Saturday’s prelims among the top 10 who advanced to Sunday’s final.

Serrano clinched victory with a sausage crumble English muffin topped with a butternut squash and cream cheese purée, purple potato hash, candied sausage and butter poached egg, maple cream butter sauce, and a sausage crumble Parmesan frico.

Another East Valley chef, John Corey of Chef John’s Events & Catering, placed fifth in the Recipe category.