Woodbridge man faces pro chefs on NBC’s ‘Food Fighters’

Will Spencer is ready for a ‘food fight’.

Spencer, a Woodbridge resident and father of four, will be featured on NBC’s new cooking challenge show ‘Food Fighters’ on NBC on August 27 at 8 p.m.

“I’ve been cooking since I was about 14 – it’s been a passion throughout my life. In my family I’ve been the designated cook and barbecuer for a long time. Growing up in the area, I went away to college to play football and I came back and have been working in the area ever since, but I’ve never really given up that passion for food,” said Spencer.

The show pits Spencer against several well-known chefs in five rounds. If he can win all five rounds, he’ll receive $100,000.

“This show is really about that one dish that your friend or family member makes, that you truly believe is better than what anyone else can do. It’s taking the best home cooks, and their signature family recipes or signature dishing, and pitting them against professional chefs,” said Spencer.

According to Spencer, his cooking style is a fusion of soul food and Latin cuisine.

“I do classic soul food things like shrimp and grits, and smothered chicken and all of the slow cooked sides, but I also do a lot of fresh Latin food with plantains and mangoes and papaya. I like to work with seafood and right now I’m really trying to fuse those two culinary tastes together,” Spencer said.

While Spencer currently works as a personal trainer, he said that the show has pushed him to begin his culinary career.

“This Food Fighters opportunity has really kind of jumpstarted my passion…I’ve been working in fitness and doing meal prep. So my culinary background has been preparing meals for people to get in shape…I’ve been doing with the personal training and now I’m looking at expanding that,” said Spencer.