Kentucky chef to show off his home recipes on new PBS cooking competition show

A Kentucky chef who has created award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs will compete in a new PBS cooking competition this month.

Brian Leigh of Bowling Green was one of10 cooks from across the country selected to face off on “The Great American Recipe,” a cooking show that emphasizes multiculturalism and how it has defined American cuisine.

Broadcast nationally, the eight-part television show will give contestants a chance to show off their signature home recipes. Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, the contestants will be judged by celebrity chefs Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot.

Leigh is the founder of B.T. Leigh’s Sauces & Rubs, where he sells his original products around the world.

He was exposed to German and Hungarian cuisine along with BBQ at a young age. He first discovered his talent for cooking when he was still working in the IT industry. He brought in a brisket that he made for his co-workers, and thought he had ruined it. However, they loved it so much that they began paying Leigh to continue bringing in his meats and sauces.

He says on the Meet the Contestants page for the TV show that his signature dish is a rib eye with blue cheese and BBQ Brussels sprouts.

Leigh is originally from Ohio, and said he had to change things up when he moved to Kentucky.

“When I moved to Kentucky, I realized I had to step-up my biscuit game, which we didn’t see much of in Ohio,” Leigh said. “And pimento cheese as well. I’ve always loved learning about food from different regions and seeing how those recipes can evolve, borrowing flavors from Caribbean or French traditions and pulling them in to make something new.”

Leigh compared his time on “The Great American Recipe” to being back in a commercial kitchen.

“It was certainly stressful, but also so much fun,” Leigh said. “I’ve made great, lifelong friends from the show, and we’d compare notes each night over dinner. It was such an invigorating experience just enjoying and learning from their breadth of culinary knowledge.”

“The Great American Recipe” will premiere Friday, June 24 at 9 p.m. on KET.

Leigh will also be hosting a free watch-party of the premiere of the show. The event will feature music, games, raffles and snacks. It will be held at the Capitol Arts Center in Bowling Green on Friday, June 24.