For aspiring teen chef Mark Coblentz, it all started with a box of macaroni and cheese. His love for that comfort food led him to cook the cheesy treat by himself with his mom’s supervision. Now, Mark stars in his own cooking show premiering on MPB Television May 5 at 1 p.m.
Making A Chef captures 15-year-old Mark’s passion for cooking and zeal to hone his craft. The half-hour episodes will air on MPB Television Saturdays at 1 p.m. with an encore presentation Sundays at 10 a.m.
The show follows Mark’s visits to kitchens across Mississippi as chefs and food artisans take him behind the scenes to demonstrate their favorite dishes. Then, from his kitchen, Mark shows viewers how to adapt what he learned to create easy, tasty dishes.
Join Mark on this culinary journey that includes cooking at Starkville’s Fire Station 5, grinding and cooking with corn, assembling a homemade pizza pie, grilling brisket and lots more.
In 2015, Mark was one of four young chefs selected to launch Chopped Junior, a Food Network TV competition series where he came in second. Mark went on to be a top 10 finalist twice on Master Chef Junior. He and his family live in Starkville, Mississippi.
“My mom and grandmothers cooked, and I enjoyed helping out,” said Mark. “When I was older, I started watching a lot of food TV and trying the recipes myself. I then began making more complex dishes and it evolved from there.”
