For those of you who don't know Chef Rory Schepisi, then let me tell you a bit about what I know. Rory came to this area back in 2005 as a part of a CMT reality show called "Popularity Contest" that was filmed in Vega, Texas she was originally from New Jersey.

NBC/Today Show
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Rory was one of the two finalists in the show and unfortunately, Alex won the first and only season of "Popularity Contest".    I remember rooting for Rory during this show, and of course I had to watch it because it was Vega, 30 minutes from Amarillo.

After that, I remember hearing that Rory was going to be a contestant on the first season of "The Next Food Network Star".  I must admit that season was tough and full of twists and turns, but in the end Rory was in the final two.  I remember each week I would vote Rory.  I wanted her to win.  So when the finally ran and it was time to announce the Next Food Network Star it wasn't Rory's name that was called.  It was Amy Finley's name announced.  To this day I believe Rory was robbed of that title, and looking back Amy's show never caught on and she is no longer a Food Network Star.

No matter what reality shows Rory lost she has made a name for herself here in the Texas Panhandle as well as all over the world.

According to her bio:

Rory has appeared as the guest chef on TLC's show Homemade Simple and the Rachael Ray Show, holds the title of the Texas Restaurant Association's "Best Chef of the West" in 2008 and 2009, and her famous ribs landed the cover of Bon Appétit magazine.

After falling in love with Vega, after "Popularity Contest" Rory opened her restaurant in Vega called The Boot Hill Saloon and Grill.

Well I guess I must have been in some other world last year but Rory was actually on the Today Show cooking up some steak and burgers with Al Roker.  I just ran across this video today.

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You can also catch Chef Rory cooking up some good stuff each Tuesday on KAMR's Studio 4.  

However, if you tune into Studio 4 on Friday you can catch her cooking up some good grub with Texas Country Music artist, Brandon Rhyder.

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