Greer Chef Michael Sibert Wins Chopped
Greer Chef Michael Sibert Wins Chopped
Greer chef Michael Sibert won Food Network’s “Chopped” competition in an episode that aired March 4.
The long-running show, hosted by Ted Allen, pits four chefs against each other over three rounds of dishes.
Sibert — owner and chef of White Wine & Butter and Anonymous Burgers — created crab rangoon cake with cherry gastrique, teres major with risotto and “pancake tacos” with chocolate mousse, tamarind candied mango, pineapple, strawberries, watermelon, cucumbers and fresh blackberries.
He felt the second dish earned him his victory, and it ironically arose from a mishap. Sibert first tried to hard sear the steak in an oven and it came out underdone. He was able to correct it and said his biggest strength was utilizing the remaining ingredients for risotto and gravy.
“The best feedback I got from it was when the chef said, ‘tasting your food is like a hug from grandma,’” he said.
The comment touched his heart because he grew up watching the show with his grandmother. The comment speaks to the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
“No matter what, my boys can always cut the TV on — any kids that I’ve mentored up to this point — friends and family can cut the TV on and they can see me, and they can see me be successful and actually get that win,” Sibert said.
Sibert recalled being “fussed at” on the show for his relaxed attitude but retained his composure even with high stakes.
“On the show, they really build suspense,” he said. “It’s a long day, especially if you make it like all the way to the finals. It’s a very long day.”
It wasn’t Sibert’s first TV appearance. In July 2023, he appeared on “Guy’s Grocery Games” hosted by Guy Fieri. He knew then he’d be back on the Food Network and hoped for “Chopped” or “Hell’s Kitchen.”
When he was asked to be on “Chopped,” Sibert had just sent his family to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. He considered for a moment whether to accept the invitation. With only 24 hours to respond, he consulted his close friends and family. They agreed the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“It sucked to leave everything behind in the shape that everything was left (in) when I left town,” he said. “But I was going to perform on ‘Chopped’ with the thoughts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and everybody else affected by the hurricane.”
Chef Michael
