Montana Cook Beats 99 Competitors to Win Food Network’s Biggest Prize

We all know Montanans are tough folks. But we rarely get to see our state's tenacity on display through food. That changed recently for Bryce Stubbs of Bozeman when he competed on the Food Network's 100 Cooks. He won the competition by defeating 99 other home cooks from around the United States for a total of $215,000.

What made Bryce’s victory even sweeter than just winning money? He wasn’t a trained celebrity chef. The 24-year-old was working in an oil field when he decided to pursue a career as a professional chef. Bryce entered 100 Cooks with only six months of experience in a commercial kitchen. Within days, he had become the competitor that every other contestant was trying to beat.

Chef Nick/YouTube

I have spent countless hours in kitchens throughout my life; specifically preparing wild game I’ve hunted for my family. When I heard what Bryce prepared during the final round of 100 Cooks, I had no choice but to smile. Bryce's championship dish included grilled elk tenderloin with huckleberry sauce, taro root fries, and corn puree. Bryce stated that the elk tenderloin was a dish he thought would represent himself and his Montana heritage well. As a hunter myself, I enjoyed watching an ingredient that many people associate with being "Montana" take center stage. Elk is one of my top five favorite dishes to prepare and eat at home, so it was nice to see it highlighted on a national network such as Food Network.

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It gets even better. Bryce credits his late father (who died of cancer when Bryce was only 13) for inspiring his passion for cooking. During his time competing on 100 Cooks, Bryce said he could feel his father’s presence guiding him and providing him with confidence to continue pursuing a dream that at times seemed impossible.

Great job, Bryce. You may have taken home some big-time money. But you also took home something much bigger than that. You proved to the nation that some of the finest cooking comes straight from the heart of Big Sky Country.