COMPETITOR

Chef Steph

HEAD COOK: Stephanie Brunell

COMPETITION: World Rice and Noodle Championship

I attended culinary school later in life, as a divorced single mother of two young children. Before graduating from culinary school I entered my first recipe contest and won first prize of a culinary trip/tour to Italy and $10,000. From that moment I was hooked on recipe competitions. I’ve won several competitions over the years, giving me recognition, travel, and prizes. I was an executive chef for many years, and over came many obstacles during those years. I was in a severe car accident in 2014 that left me with permanent spinal issues and the loss of the child I was carrying. I pushed myself to keep cooking and provide for my family. In 2017 while opening a new restaurant with my sister, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I continued my executive chef duties while fighting my battle with chemo and radiation. It was during one of those treatments that I was going through old messages and emails, only to find out that I qualified for a spot in the World Food Competition in 2013, but I had never seen the invitation until receiving chemo that day. I was so sad that I had missed that opportunity! But now here I am, years later, breast cancer survivor, newly married and following my joy to compete in cooking contests! I currently do private chef and floral work, and live with my husband, step daughter, and our three crazy dogs in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan.