After five weeks of intense culinary battles, Claudette Zepeda, representing Mexico, has officially become the inaugural champion of Guy’s Grocery Games: Global Games, narrowly defeating Kevin Lee, who represented South Korea, in one of the closest finales in the competition’s history.
The championship was decided by just a single point, capping off a dramatic finale that tested both chefs through multiple rounds of high-pressure cooking.
With the victory, Claudette earned:
- 🏆 The first-ever Global Games Championship Trophy
- 💰 $50,000 in prize money
- The distinction of becoming the first Global Games champion in the history of Guy’s Grocery Games
Throughout the competition, Claudette impressed the judges with her bold Mexican-inspired cuisine, culminating in a finale menu that paid tribute to her family and heritage.
For her final round, she prepared Pescado Zarandeado with Garlic Butter Rice as her entrée and Churros with Cajeta for dessert—both inspired by her grandfather from Nayarit, Mexico. The judges praised her dishes, describing them as “wildly tender” and “ethereal,” helping secure the narrow victory.
Following the emotional win, Claudette reflected on what the championship meant beyond the competition.
“This win isn’t just for me. It’s for generations of little Mexican girls, for immigrants who were told they weren’t good enough.”
Her heartfelt remarks quickly resonated with viewers, who praised the speech as one of the most emotional moments of the season.
Claudette’s victory marks a historic milestone for the Food Network competition, making her the very first chef to lift the Global Games trophy and cementing her place in Guy’s Grocery Games history. While the finale also sparked passionate debate among fans over the judging and the razor-thin margin of victory, there is no question that Claudette Zepeda’s name will forever be remembered as the inaugural Global Games Champion.
