BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Stacy Metzger has a past he is not proud of, but now he’s in a good place.
The air in Metzger’s kitchen is filled with the sounds and smells of grilled corn, seasoned and seared chicken filets, charred onions and pineapple sizzling in a cast iron skillet. This is Metzger’s happy place.
Metzger used to have a drug problem and was racking up felonies. Now, he’s three years sober and racking up recipes and recognition.
“I went from cooking meth to cooking food,” said Metzger.
But after hearing his nephews say they wanted him around, and being tired of being sick all the time, he gave up the drugs and turned to a new hobby.
“I didn’t want to quit doing drugs, you know. I wanted to continue until I had to see the disappointed look in their face—and it was rough,” said Metzger.
Now, Metzger is in the final rounds of a national online cooking competition called Favorite Chef. He’s on Celebrity Chef Carla Hall’s team. She chose Metzger because of the look and description of his tonkatsu BBQ pork soup.
He’s in second place in his group and counting on votes to send him to the final round, where he might get a chance to compete for a spread in Taste of Home magazine and a $25,000 check.
“I mean, I figured I would have made it in the initial rounds, but I didn’t think I was going to be in the final rounds like this. I’m beyond words with that,” said Metzger.
While Metzger waits, he stays busy turning grilled corn into funnel corn, topping it with butter, Himalayan sea salt, cinnamon and sugar, and finishing his luau burgers with cucumber kimchi and fruity BBQ sauce.
Metzger said if he wins the prize money, he will buy a car for his family and open a food truck.
You can check out his competition page here.
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