COMPETITOR

Cowboy Chef Newton

HEAD COOK: Mike Newton

COMPETITION: World Invitational Steak Championship - SCA

I am a true Cowboy, and I have a passion for food. I was Texas born and raised, and the dichotomy of Texas cuisine with the influences of so many cultures, from French, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Spanish, Indian and more, provides so many opportunities for culinary creativity. From chicken-fried anything to barbeque to French sauces, I really can do it all, with my own Cowboy influence. I am a cattle rancher and Farm & Ranch Realtor, and the opportunity to be featured as “Newton”, the Cowboy Chef on MasterChef Season 8, opened many doors and allowed me to pursue what I love. I threw my hat in the restaurateur ring in November, 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic and in addition to tending the ranch and peddling a little land, I'm now serving my Texas Cowboy Cuisine to the great people of Stephenville, TX and all those that make the short drive from the DFW metroplex to see me. Some see the cowboy hat and hear my Texas drawl and think I don’t know food, but don’t underestimate me. I’ve worked with such Celebrity Owners and Chefs as Tony Vallone, Jack Baum, and Stephan Pyles, where this drawl has drawn folks into places like The Mansion at Turtle Creek, La Griglia, Sam’s Café, Hampton’s Gershwin’s, Houston’s, 8-0 and Richardson’s, and now luckily enough, Newton at The Cellar. I suffered a mild stroke in 2015, and it caused me to take a step back and re-evaluate how I was spending my time and the rest of my life. My second stroke in May, 2020 really fueled the fire to pursue what I love - cooking and serving! Given a second and third chance, I am passionate about giving back, and this God-given talent has allowed me to help raise funds for local charities, with almost $800,000 raised since my MasterChef appearance. I am a Rancher, Chef, Realtor & Philanthropist – definitely not a one-trick pony. I now live by the words of my late father, Bo Newton, “Do what you love, love what you do, and deliver more than you promise.”