The Truth About Kevin Cooper From Guy's Chance Of A Lifetime

At just 8-years-old, Kevin Cooper had an obsession with making peanut butter cookies and, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, his family soon grew tired of the daily dessert. Upon the pressing of his family, Cooper was persuaded to venture out of his peanut butter cookie phase and try other recipes. Fast forward to 2022, the chef is looking to win ownership of a "Chicken Guy!" franchise – provided he's the last contestant standing on "Guy's Chance of a Lifetime."

Cooper, who also goes by "Steek," didn't initially follow his passion for cooking, rather, he joined the Army. Per the Food Network, Cooper's time spent in the Army allowed him the opportunity to try a variety of different foods through his travels, which broadened his culinary horizons and solidified his dream of cooking as a serious career. 

The Inquirer reports that he attended J&A Institute of Culinary Arts and after a few years of cooking in restaurants, he set out on his own to create Succulent Imagination, a company that provides in-home cooking lessons and entertaining demonstrations, or, per the website, you can hire a private chef to come and cook for you.

A corporate profile piece published in the Liberty Lutheran shares that during the pandemic, Cooper took an executive chef position at Paul's Run, an active retirement community. Chef Kevin shares with the outlet the joy he gets from leading the culinary team in the community, noting that they are further motivated by helping lift the spirits of the residents during the stressful time of the pandemic by providing "upscale service and food."

Another nugget revealed by Cooper in this piece — he appeared in the 2017 season of the Food Network show "Cooks vs. Cons." But wait, there's more! According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, he competed on Food Network Canada's "Fire Masters," too. He shared with Liberty Lutheran, "I love to be in front of the camera cooking."

Clearly, the seasoned chef knows what it feels to throw himself into a competitive task on camera, and perhaps on this next venture with "Guy's Chance of a Lifetime," he'll prove himself the most worthy to run one of Guy Fieri's franchises.