Glenwood City graduate to be on Food Network show

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — Abbey Larson, a 1998 graduate of Glenwood City High School, will be seen in an episode of the Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games.”

Information from the network’s website indicates the episode Larson participated in is titled, “Guilty Pleasures”, and will have chefs competing to make a fast-food favorite using only ingredients costing more than $5 before they make a sweet and savory dinner using an unusual shopping cart.

The final two chefs will have to “roll with the punches” to make a decadent final dish to win the overall competition.

Larson’s mother, Glenwood City resident Faye Steffen, said she and Abbey’s father, John, are proud of the things their daughter has accomplished.

“She’s an artist and food is her medium,” Steffen said.

Steffen stated Larson became interested in cooking and working as a chef when she took a food class as a student at UW – Stout. Larson originally intended to study Graphic Arts and Design at the school, but switched to Hospitality and Tourism after enjoying the food service class she took.

After graduating from Stout, Larson pursued associates degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, worked in a restaurant, and taught a food service class at a local high school.

Larson, who was formerly Abbey Steffen, married teacher Zach Larson in August 2015 and is the current chef at the Brickhouse Café in Cable, where she serves breakfast and lunch dishes to locals and tourists on a daily basis.

Her mother, Faye, said Larson has a way of melding flavors people wouldn’t expect to taste good together. She also said Larson has enjoyed cooking since she was a child. Steffen stated Larson often had meals waiting for her family when they all returned home at the end of  the workday.

“We would ask her if she had gone grocery shopping when we saw what she had made,” Steffen stated. “She would tell us she made everything from items that were already in the home.”

Steffen said she and her husband are very proud of Abbey and invite people to watch Larson’s episode of “Guy’s Grocery Games” when it airs on Sunday, October 16 at 7 p.m.