MasterChef Top 20 fan favorite Tommy Walton to appear at Mid-America Restaurant Expo on 9/26

Tommy Walton of MasterChef: Back to Win

Sep. 23, 2022 (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Attendees of the 2022 Mid-America Restaurant Expo are in for a real culinary treat this weekend when the Ohio Restaurant Association hosts its annual event, September 25-26, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This year’s event has a spectacular culinary lineup, including two appearances on September 26 by MasterChef fan favorite Tommy Walton of Seasons 6, 10, and the current Season 12.

After taking a two-year hiatus from live events due to COVID-19, the Mid-America Restaurant Expo is back in full force with many industry exhibits, educational sessions, speakers, cooking demos, and competitions.

Tommy Walton's Pork Ballotine

During one of the cooking demonstrations, Tommy will prepare his infamous Pork Ballotine dish, which won him an apron on Season 6 of MasterChef. As a bonus, Tommy will emcee “Mixed-Up!”, a new cocktail competition where participants create a modern interpretation of a classic cocktail using five ingredients or less.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tommy Walton to the 2022 Mid-America Restaurant Expo & Conference,” said John Barker, president and CEO of the Ohio Restaurant Association. “He joins a stellar lineup of industry experts as the Expo features world-class chef demonstrations, exceptional workshops, and exciting innovation. Walton’s expertise and personality are sure to be one of the many highlights of the 2022 Expo.”

“I’m truly delighted to be a part of the Mid-America Restaurant Expo’s live event this year,” said Tommy Walton. “Since childhood, growing up with family here, I’ve always been inspired by the bountiful goodness and the delicious traditions of the Buckeye State. I love exploring the many hidden gems of Ohio’s amazing culinary landscape and restaurant scene. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the talented, hard-working people behind Ohio’s gastronomic renaissance.”

The Mid-America Restaurant Expo is an industry-only event that attracts thousands of industry experts, exhibitors, and operators from the Midwest. It will take place September 25-26 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Event participants interested in watching Tommy’s cooking demonstration can join him twice on Monday, September 26 — first at 11:00 am on the Pop-Up Cooking Stage. Then at 12 noon, they can find Tommy at the event’s competition area where Tommy will emcee the new Mixed-Up! cocktail challenge.