COMPETITOR

Mary Shivers

COMPETITION: World Sandwich Championship

Growing up in a large family, my culinary background started out at a young age in my mom’s kitchen where cooking was a vital part of our daily routine on the family farm. Among so many other things, I owe my passion and love of cooking to her. Her kitchen was always open and she not only encouraged me to explore new recipes, she also inspired me to create my own. This set a lasting foundation for me to develop my passion for cooking and hone my culinary skills in my own kitchen. The name of my team, Mama's Fork, is a tribute to her. I have the fork that she used for turning fried chicken in a cast iron skillet. That fork is now close to 75 years old. It sits above my sink so that I see it each day, serving as a constant reminder of the many things she taught me throughout her life. Cooking is one of my favorites! My husband and I are recently retired from the teaching profession. We are enjoying visiting our children and exploring the United States. Our oldest son lives in California with his wife and their two sons. Our youngest son lives in Oklahoma City.