Former SLCC Culinary Student Wins $10K at World Food Championships

David Grover, a former student of the Salt Lake Community College Culinary Institute, won the World Recipe Champion award last week in the annual World Food Championships.

Grover shares the $10,000 prize with his longtime girlfriend and cooking partner Jamie Boyle of the team “The Half Baked Hippies” after preparing three dishes that wowed judges in Las Vegas. Grover’s team was one of nine category winners who beat out 400 other competitors for a chance to vie for a $100,000 World Food Champion award, which this year was won by a California cook.

David Grover and Jamie Boyle

Boyle and Grover live in Murray and have been competing in cooking competitions for the past six years in Utah and surrounding states.

“We cook for fun,” said Grover. “It’s not for winning – it’s not for anything other than going out and having fun. It’s our release – it’s our fun time. We aren’t chefs who compete or practice day in and day out in the kitchen.”

Which is why they were “shocked” upon learning they won the recipe category. To advance in the competition the pair made a “Creamy Bacon Stuffed Chicken” and then a “Chile Verde Lasagna.” The winning dish was “Wasatch Back Jack Taters,” using three kinds of potatoes, Wright Brand bacon, Land O’Lakes cream cheese, a blended queso fresco cheese infused with chile verde and cheese from Utah-based Heber Valley Artisan Cheese along with caramelized onions and jalapenos. The Unites States Potato Board was one of the sponsors of the event and potatoes had to be incorporated into the dishes in the World Recipe Championship.

Grover is the son of longtime SLCC automotive instructor Neal Grover, who as a Boy Scouts leader when his son was little cobbled together items rescued from the junk pile into the best-outfitted camps during backcountry outings with the Scouts. “While everyone else was eating cold cereal, we were eating bacon, eggs, pancakes, and fresh-caught trout with cornmeal breading on the griddle,” the younger Grover said. Grover’s father built the barbeque pit/trailer that the team uses for competitions.

David Grover took classes in the 90s at SLCC’s Culinary Institute and earned a Certified Culinarian certificate, but went on to become a compliance officer for Salt Lake City while Boyle works as a payroll coordinator for the State of Utah. But they’d someday, maybe in 10 years, like to open their own restaurant that offers an “eclectic” menu reflective of their penchant for variety in what they cook.

“That’s what really separates us apart from other people,” Grover said. “We cook what we love and we put our heart and soul into it.”

Comments

SLCC's Undergraduate Annual Research Conference Registration Deadline

Salt Lake Community College’s annual Undergraduate Projects, Performances, Presentations, and Research Conference (UP3RC) is set to take place on April 2, at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, offering students a chance to showcase their academic achievements, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange. The UP3RC is an annual event designed to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of undergraduate students. It provides a supportive environment for students to share their work, hone their presentations skills, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and faculty. All SLCC departments and programs, including faculty and staff, are encouraged to support and visit the day of the event. Students with their poster from last year's UPRC event “The goal of this event is to make sure every school and student is given the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Kamal Bewar, interim director of the STEM Learning Center, who is chairin

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o

HB 261 and HB 257 Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students: The Utah Legislature recently passed two bills that significantly impact higher education: HB 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives and HB 257 Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities. Salt Lake Community College is deeply committed to our students, faculty, and staff. We strive to be a place where all are welcomed and respected. While there are many unknowns about the ultimate effect these bills will have on some student and staff support programs, be assured that SLCC will maintain an environment where all can find success and feel a sense of belonging. In the coming months, college leadership will work to gain clarity and determine the changes necessary for legislative compliance. We will also share this information as it becomes available. We realize that during this time, some in our college community may feel unsettled and stressed. We encourage you to make use of available SLCC resources designed to support y

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog