Colorado Chefs Who Competed on Famous Cooking Shows

Whenever I'm feeling down (or maybe lacking in culinary inspiration) I love to turn on some sort of cooking or baking competition show.

While I’m by no means a professional cook, watching actual pros compete in the kitchen for a prize always gets me hyped.

Cooking Competition Shows That Inspire Viewers

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appetit)

During the height of COVID lockdown, I remember laying back and watching the baking competition show 'Nailed It' with my family. The stakes were low and the creations were absolutely wild.

I've since graduated to watching other programs like 'Chopped' or 'Kitchen Nightmares.'

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Colorado Chefs Who Competed on National TV

After doing some quick research, I found that there's a whole bunch of former contestants that call Colorado home.

The First Hell’s Kitchen Winner Was From Fort Collins

Did you know that the very first winner of the show 'Hell's Kitchen' is from Fort Collins?

Michael Wray competed on the show when he was only 27 years old, according to Screen Rant. After winning the show, Gordon Ramsay offered to mentor him in London. Wray turned down the job.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I regret it all the time. I was in Hell's Kitchen with a drug problem. I was deathly afraid of going to London with this giant addiction," Wray said.

He ended up working as a head chef in Los Angeles, and then opening his own restaurant Satou. After falling on some hard times, and moving around a bit, he is now living in San Diego with his wife.

More Colorado Chefs From Popular Food Shows

Wray isn't the only chef that found fame on television that hailed from the Centennial State.

Check out some of the other contestants down below!

Colorado Contestants on Your Favorite Cooking Competition Shows

Colorado is home to so many talented chefs, cooks, and restauranteurs. Did you know that a whole slew of them actually competed on some major cooking competition shows?

Gallery Credit: Kerri Mac

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