Morgantown woman to compete in World Food Championships

MORGANTOWN — Sherry Kozlowski might not have a professional culinary team or years of experience in the competitive kitchen, but she has one thing she hopes will help her come out on top at the World Food Championships next week: recipes she believes in.
               

It started out as a love for baking, escalated to entering regional food competitions and now the Morgantown resident is preparing for the chance of a lifetime: the World Food Championships, the largest competition in food sport. This year, 430 champions of previous events will come together to compete in Orange Beach, Alabama, for a chance at winning the crown and some serious cash.

Kozlowski has a chance to take home $10,000 if she wins the “Recipe” category, one of nine different divisions — the others are BBQ, Chili, Dessert, Bacon, Sandwich, Seafood, Burger and Steak.

The division winners have a shot at $100,000, which is awarded for the best dish overall.

Contestants in the Recipe category are required to serve up their best breakfast dishes at the competition.

Kozlowski qualified for the World Food Championships by taking home the top prize in the National Amatuer Mushroom cook-off in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, in September — which was no easy feat.

“We just went because I qualified,” she said. “When I was doing it, I knew it was good. I was tasting it and was saying, ‘I got this.’ But then I looked around and everybody’s looked, really, really good.”

Despite competing against the reigning champion and more experienced teams, Kozlowski took home the top prize for her Sunnyside of ‘Shrooms dish — landing her a spot in the World Food Championships next week.