Appalachia Chefs: Making It Big on the Small Screen

Appalachian chefs have been making their mark on the national culinary scene, showcasing the region’s rich food traditions and unique flavors on popular TV shows.

From grilling competitions to high-stakes grocery store challenges, these chefs bring a distinct approach to cooking that reflects the heritage of Appalachia—emphasizing local ingredients, traditional techniques, and a deep connection to the land.

Their appearances on shows like Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped: Grill Masters, and Cooks vs. Cons highlight their individual talents and the evolving Appalachian cuisine, inspiring a broader appreciation for the region’s culinary culture.

Guy’s Grocery Games

Matt Welsch

Wheeling, West Virginia

Hosted by Guy Fieri on Food Network, Guy’s Grocery Games features four chefs on each episode competing against each other for a grand prize of $20,000. This culinary competition is set in a grocery store where contestants face challenges through a series of rounds, with the ultimate champion receiving an opportunity to shop the market to win the prize money. Welsch prepared a pork entree with potatoes, green beans, portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and grilled apple slices for the win.

Cooks vs. Cons

Brittany Furbee

Morgantown, West Virginia

Geoffrey Zakarian hosts the Food Network cooking competition, in which talented home cooks compete against pros in a blind taste test to prove who has the best dish. The victorious cook or con will take home a $10,000 prize at the end of two rounds. Furbee’s steak and eggs benedict with a blue cheese mustard asparagus vinaigrette and blue cheese crumble hash browns scored her the grand prize of $10,000!

Best Baker in America

Jean-Francois Suteau

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

As the executive pastry chef of The Greenbrier Resort, Jean-Francois Suteau has been known for his incredible baked delights for years. However, in Season 2, which aired in 2018, he competed against eight other chefs to win $25,000 through various rounds of baking cakes, pies, and bonbons. While he did not come out victorious, Suteau did make it to the finale and gained a loyal following for his impressive skill and talent.

Chopped

Mary Brent Galyean

Appalachia

Known as an expedition chef, Mary Brent Galyean is a bit of a nomad when it comes to settling down in one geographic location. Naturally, she was a perfect fit for a Chopped: Grill Masters episode focused on outdoor cooking. While she didn’t come out victorious, she did create inventive dishes like a bacon granola stuffed hot dog, elk chops with blueberry brown sugar jus and a harvest soufflé made of acorn squash, eggs, bananas, and frosted cupcakes.

Is It Cake?

Steve Weiss

Ashburn, Virginia

Steve Weiss is no stranger to food television. He has appeared on a number of Food Network specials, including America’s Best Pastry, $50,000 Pastry Challenge, Pastry Daredevils, Sugar Impossible, Flying Sugar, Sugar Inventions and King of Cones. The chef and educator won the Food Network Series Halloween Wars Season 10 in 2022 and most recently competed in the Netflix “Is It Cake” series in 2022, where he was dubbed “the silent assassin” by host Mikey Day. One of his most notable cakes was a recreation of a grouping of melon, asparagus and cauliflower that consisted of an almond cake with milk chocolate ganache and orange zest that looked so real it fooled the judges.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Mike Costello

Lost Creek, West Virginia

In this show, the late Anthony Bourdain traveled the world uncovering lesser-known places and learning about their food. He traveled to West Virginia, where he enjoyed lunch with coal miners underground, watched on during an extreme sports event and attended a homecoming football game. As part of his culinary adventure, he traveled to Lost Creek Farm to learn about food rooted in place. Lost Creek Farm chefs and owners Mike Costello and Amy Dawson provided an Appalachian feast made from local food, including corn chowder, fried rabbit with chow-chow and paw paw ice cream.

Culinary Concerts

Marion Ohlinger

Morgantown, West Virginia

Chef Marion Ohlinger partnered with PBS to create “Culinary Concerts,” which features a farm-to-table dining experience paired with music from Appalachian artists. Marion visits farms in the region to select the ingredients and produce before heading back to his kitchen. While Chef Marion prepares a meal, local bands will play for the audience. The chef combines the two arts in each themed episode to educate viewers.

These chefs play a vital role in displaying Appalachia's rich culinary heritage. By participating in food television, they highlight the region's unique ingredients and flavors while inspiring others to explore and celebrate Appalachian cuisine. Their efforts promote local agricultural practices and contribute to a growing appreciation for the diverse culinary traditions found in Appalachia. Their visibility on national platforms continues to significantly contribute to the evolving narrative of Appalachian food culture.