You can help chef Danny Smith of Murrells Inlet, S.C. practice for the World Food Championships in Dallas this November.
In September and October, the chef will prepare two seven-course meals at Benjamin’s Bakery in Surfside Beach to practice his timing for the annual competition. Smith describes his cuisine as new American and when not competing, he works at Benjamin’s Bakery and as personal chef.
At the World Food Championships, Smith will have an hour and a half to prepare a seafood dish incorporating the required ingredient, Sam’s Club king crab. The event provides only an oven, stove and counter space – Smith will bring all his pans, equipment and ingredients.
“I just like to work with food so much and this really gives you a chance to go outside of your normal restaurant and do fun stuff,” Smith said.
The World Food Championships “is the largest competition in Food Sport, where culinary competitors of previous events convene for a chance at winning the ultimate food crown and a share of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money,” the competition’s website states.
The event attracts more than 1,000 competitors from many states and multiple countries, the website adds.
This is the fifth year Smith qualified for the event. Last year, he made it to the second of two rounds in the seafood division. Smith “caught the fever of competing” in 2010 and has entered 35 cooking competitions since then.
Smith said the World Food Championships have a “family atmosphere,” with contestants watching each other grow year after year.
“The most rewarding thing is once you get into your station and the clock goes, you can’t get that kind of a feeling doing anything else that I can ever think of,” Smith said.
Dates for the upcoming seven course meals at Benjamin’s Bakery have not yet been released. For more information, check Danny Smith’s Facebook page or call Benjamin’s at 843-477-1100.
