#Eddie jackson chef bulge series#
#Eddie jackson chef bulge tv#

When Bobby freakin’ Flay tells me to do something, I’m gonna do it! I still love the concept and I’m still very much about it on my daily walk, but I was trying to win. That said, I’m such a competitor and I don’t do anything half-assed, and Bobby Flay said something to me the second week: “Don’t worry about this Cheat Day - just worry about cooking good food every week.” And I decided that’s what I was going to try to do - along with having the best on-camera personality possible. So I was trying to figure out a way to combine the two things I love - food and fitness - which is where the “Cheat Day” concept came from. I’m a personal trainer, but I just love food. How hard is it to narrow down one style of cooking? You started with the concept of Cheat Day, then gave that up and focused more on healthy eating and Caribbean flavors. Your point of view changed quite a bit over the season. Once I moved to Houston, I was sitting there watching Food Network and the teaser came on, “If you think you have what it takes…” I looked at my girlfriend and said, “I think I can do that.” And she said, “Then do it!” So I went to the auditions in Austin, TX, and the rest is history.

#Eddie jackson chef bulge tv#

It made me realize I liked doing TV, but I didn’t think I was built for the stress of doing reality TV again. A couple of years ago, though, I did MasterChef - I went on as a prank.

I watched Food Network Star from way back in the day - from Guy Fieri all the way through Aarti, Jeff Mauro and Damaris - but I never thought I’d do anything like that. I’m a personal trainer and have a gym as well - it would’ve been hard to go out every day with a food truck, too. We specialized in doing events - big barbecue grilling on people’s porches - as opposed to a traditional food truck you see on the streets. I started to cater events in people’s homes and ended up getting a food truck, Caribbean Grill. You owned and operated a food truck before your stint on Food Network Star. I practiced and worked on my skills, and it led to where I am today. I had my whole life ahead of me, and there was this question, “What am I gonna do now?” My dad was like, “What do you love to do?” And I said “I love to cook.” “Well do something with that!” That made all the sense in the world. I’ve been cooking my whole life - but I had to do some soul searching. Had you always planned on exploring food as your post-football field?

Your NFL career was cut short by an injury.

#Eddie jackson chef bulge series#

TVLine caught up with Jackson the morning after he was named the Season 11 champ - a win that’ll lead to his road-tripping series BBQ Blitz premiering in October - to discuss his pre-Food Network life, his sudden shift from Caribbean fare to barbecue and any hot water he might’ve gotten into with his girlfriend over the season-long discussion of his toned physique. Chuck Lorre Weighs In on the End of Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola - Which Decision ‘Was Not My Call’?