Delco Chef Wins Guy Fieri Competition, Will Open Chain In Philly

DREXEL HILL, PA — A local chef took the top prize in the inaugural season of a new competition show on the Food Network and will be running a local chain owned by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Chef Kevin "Steek" Cooper of Drexel Hill came out on top in a field of seven competitors who were vying to run an outpost of Fieri's chain, Chicken Guy, on "Guy's Chance of a Lifetime."

Cooper's win came as the show wrapped up in the sixth and final episode on Feb. 6.

Cooper, who runs Succulent Imagination catering, and his fellow competitors spend six episodes having their mettle tested to see who has what it takes to run a Chicken Guy franchise by taking on various challenges, such as running pop-ups, creating dishes, cooking full meals themselves, and more.

When it was all said and done, Cooper's hard work landed him the keys to a planned Chicken Guy chain in Philadelphia. After all, he is an Army veteran and Philadelphia native.

"Going through this process has taught me that digging deep is no other option for life," Cooper said on social media. "I’m grateful, I’m thankful, and I’m still at a loss for words."

Fieri said on the show's finale in Nashville the decision to name a winner was difficult and brutal.

"Kev, you desreve it. You're a wonderful guy," Fieri said. "The competition was incredibly tough, you showed so much strength."

Fieri then announced plans to open the next chain in Philadelphia.

"That's my hometown," Cooper said. "This is a dream come true for me."

Cooper said he couldn't believe he was crowned the victor.

"I really came here and fought the hardest fight I could possibly fight," he said. "I'm just happy, I'm grateful, I'm thankful."