The Dothan area isn’t just home to peanut statues galore but it’s actually a spot of notable cuisine and chefs. Many of whom have been featured on Food Network. From classic Southern favorites like fried chicken to good ,old-fashioned fair food, Dothan has something for everyone.
Kelsey Barnard Clark
Kelsey Barnard Clark on Top Chef
Kelsey Barnard Clark reacts after being told she was “Top Chef.” (Photo by: Carmo Correia/Bravo) Bravo
Clark is not just the owner of the popular restaurant KBC in downtown Dothan. The renowned chef is the winner of season 16 of Food Network’s cooking challenge series Top Chef. She claimed this title in 2019 and returned to Dothan where her success has only continued. Since winning Top Chef, Clark has released two books Southern Grit: 100+ Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Cook and Southern Get-Togethers: A Guide to Hosting Unforgettable Gatherings—Plus Entertaining Inspiration, Tips, and 100+ Recipes. Clark has also been featured on other TV shows such as Tournament of Champions, NFL Tailgate Takedown and Amazing Graze: Board Games.
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Chelsea Gieselmann
Outchef'd
Chelsea Geiselmann (right) with host Eddie Jackson and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, as seen on Outchef’d, Season 3. Food Network photo
Gieselmann is an Alabama-based chef, food blogger, and social media influencer, known online as @Southrngritskitchen. She rose to notoriety after winning third place in the rice category at the 2024 World Food Championships and appeared on Food Network’s Outchef’d. More recently Gieselmann is a resident of Wicksburg, a food columnist, marketing manager for the Dothan Poplar Head Farmers Market, and an advocate for local businesses, restaurants, and farmers.
Brooke De Jong
It seems like KBC has a lot of talent brewing in its kitchen as this next Food Network contestant made her way from Dothan before being featured on the network’s culinary competition, Next Baking Master:Paris. Brooke De Jong is a local baker and a part-time pastry chef at KBC. She appeared on Food Network just last year in May of 2024. Her love for baking started at a young age, baking at home as a kid.
Zack’s family restaurant
Zack's Restaurant
Employees at Zack’s Family Restaurant serve lunch to customers in this February 2020 photo. JAY HARE, DOTHAN EAGLE Employees at Zack’s Family Restaurant serve lunch to customers in this February 2020 photo.
A local family favorite restaurant that has been serving Dothan for almost two decades was also featured on Food Network. Zack’s family restaurant was featured on the Food Network for its good old-fashioned Southern cooking back in 2020. Unfortunately the restaurant suffered severe fire damage on July 16, 2022. However the restaurant reopened its doors to the public in late 2024.
The Corn Dog Man
The National Peanut Festival is a Wiregrass area favorite for numerous reasons but the main reason for most is probably the yummy food. From the peanut nut man to cotton candy and elephant ears everyone has their “must have” fair food. One of these fair classics is The Corn Dog Man who was also featured on the Food Network channel. A Canadian television show, “Carnival Eats,” featured a few vendors in 2017 at the National Peanut Festival. The show, aired on Food Network Canada and the Cooking Channel in the U.S., filmed The Corndog Man as well as the former Northview High School band boosters and Headland High School band boosters.
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