This College Kid Beat Seasoned Pros on ‘Cutthroat Kitchen’
Photo: Food Network
Cody Candelario is a student at Niagara University studying luxury hospitality operations, but last night he made a quick turnaround from aspiring chef to TV champion.
It wasn’t an easy challenge for the 22-year-old on last night’s episode of Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, a reality cooking competition program that selects four chefs to battle each other with a budget of $25,000 each. One of Candelario’s experienced opponents was Chef Plum, a Food Network veteran who’s even appeared in ABC’s “The Taste.”
Photo: Food Network
His journey to the Food Network is equally impressive as his unexpected win. While working at Carmelo’s restaurant in Lewiston, N.Y., he caught attention when he started posting Instagram photos of his dishes. Chefs, promoters, cooking labels, and soon a Food Network casting agent, took notice of his pictures. (I mean, check out this burger, for example, how could you ignore it?) By mid-December of last year, he was already recruited for the show.
Though a native Healdsburg, Calif., the young chef is already making big moves around the globe. Currently, Candelario is spending the summer in Italy at Lake Como, Bellagio, where he interns at the luxurious Hotel Belvedere. For his senior year, he’ll be in Germany participating in Niagara’s dual-degree program in Applied Sciences.
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Candelario lists food truck owner, restaurateur, hotel owner, sommelier, Food Network judge, and even rock star as his long-term goals. But ultimately, he says, “I want to be happy.”
Read more on cooking competitions:
Behind the Scenes of ‘Cutthroat Kitchen’
The 24 Best Cooking Shows of All Time, Ranked
A Behind-the-Scenes Look At the ‘Chopped’ Set
