OKC Chef Returns To Food Network To Defend Winning Title

Jonathan Stranger’s love for cooking started at as a child when he was cooking with his family. That love has taken him to places he’d never dreamed. 

“My paternal family is Italian, and so you got together every Sunday after church and cooked,” said Stranger. 

It was during that time Stranger realized there is something special about food. 

“What that taught me about cooking was not so much the love of cooking but the love of bringing people together and food does that really, really well,” said Stranger. 

He moved to New York City to attend culinary school where his life changed.

“When I moved to New York City, cooking became a passion. I saw this different level, this different level of attention, this professionalism, this artistry that I didn’t know existed in cuisine,” said Stranger. 

He eventually moved back to Oklahoma City where his passions have thrived and he opened multiple businesses. 

“So right now, we have Osteria, where we are sitting. We have bar Cicchetti, which is downtown. Mack and Ikes, which is up in Guthrie, and then, now we’re opening a place called El Coyote,” said Stranger. 

The restaurants are a way for Stranger to pour into young chefs. 

“At my career and where I am now, is kind of that pass along, and helping that new generation and hopefully seed them into Oklahoma City, and help them create their own and better restaurants," said Stranger. 

With all of this, Stranger found time to go on Guys Grocery Games on Food Network. 

“The first time I was asked to do it, I said, 'yes,' because I had never had that experience,” said Stranger. 

What was the toughest part of this chaotic game for Stranger? 

“I think the biggest challenge of the game is, for myself, is keeping the mind and not being distracted by everything else going on around you and just focus on the cooking and what you’re doing and on the game you’re playing,” said Stranger. 

He won the initial competition and was invited back to defend his title. 

“I got to go back and compete against three other great chefs that have become friends and everyone can kind of see what happens,” said Stranger 

His return appearance on the show airs this week on Food Network.