Food Chefs
THE SUPERHERO CHEF: FROM HOMELESS TO STAR RESTAURANT OWNER, DARNELL FERGUSON TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND THROUGH FOOD After taking a wrong turn down a self-destructive path of drugs and incarceration, a combination of faith, soulful cooking, and guidance from a few ‘superheroes’ pulled the now-celebrity chef back into the light By Melanie Young
D
DARNELL FERGUSON
66 I N S I G H T May 13–19, 2022
Darnell “Superchef” Ferguson, chef and owner of SuperChefs and Tha’ Drippin’ Crab in Louisville, Ky., and Superhero Chefs in Tuscumbia, Ala. ter opening, but his local heroes— the Louisville food community— helped him rebuild. His faith kept him together emotionally. Soon Ferguson’s story caught the attention of celebrity chefs and TV producers. He competed in Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” and other Food Network shows, picking up prize money and fame. He considers Fieri one of his superheroes. “Guy was one of the first people on a major level to see the star potential I have,” he said. “I had to prove it to him. Whenever I have a decision to make, I call him first. ... He always encourages me to keep going.” Now the 35-year-old father of eight owns SuperChefs and Tha’ Drippin Crab, both in Louisville, and Superhero Chefs, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He sees his past as a
lesson to help build a better future for others, especially at-risk youths. He’s active in supporting nonprofits Blessings in a Backpack and Children Shouldn’t Hunger, and he goes out of his way to hire staff who have been down on their luck. “I went down a bad path that could have ended elsewhere. I managed to turn my life around thanks to my faith in God, by working hard, and through the support of good people who encouraged and guided me,” Ferguson said. “Now I want to help others facing challenges to believe in themselves. Through dedication and hard work, you can become your own superhero.” Melanie Young is a writer and co-host of the national radio show “The Connected Table LIVE!” and host of “Fearless Fabulous You!” on iHeart.com
COURTESY OF SUPERCHEFS
Ferguson a r nel l “su perc hef ” generated a Ferguson has an impressive following for his roster of accomplishments, inventive takes on waffles, from cooking for Team USA pancakes, and at the 2008 Summer Olymother breakfast pics to becoming a breakout star staples. contestant on Food Network to opening three hit restaurants. The “Southern But his success didn’t come easy. egg rolls” at Born in Philadelphia, Ferguson Superhero Chefs are made with grew up in Columbus, Ohio, with a mac ‘n’ cheese single mother. She married when and fried chicken, Ferguson was in the fifth grade, and served with and he recalls having a loving a sweet potato sauce. childhood and enjoying cooking as a teenager. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to study culinary Ferguson’s big TV break: arts, but struggled on his own. competing “I could only afford night school on Guy Fieri’s and worked a day job at the Dairy “Tournament Queen. It made me feel discon- of Champions” nected from the other students,” on the Food Network. he said. “I needed money very badly, so I started selling drugs.” Drug dealing landed Ferguson in and out of jail. At one point, he was broke, living in his car, and facing an uncertain future. He sought a path forward through his church, Southeast Christian in Kentucky, and he credits pastor Comfort Food: Chad Mosteller for helping him Mac ‘n’ cheese refocus on what he loved doing Favorite most: cooking. “I am never going backward Ingredient to Cook With: again,” Ferguson said. “I was lost, Sugar! and my faith in God helped lead Ideal Way me back to find my purpose.” After working short-order to Unwind: Going to the restaurant jobs, Ferguson began beach with the launching pop-up breakfast con- family cepts within lunch- and dinner-only restaurants in 2012. His creative Biggest Inspiration: takes on waffles, pancakes, and egg “The kids that sandwiches generated a following. look up to me In 2015, at the age of 28, he opened are what keeps his first brick-and-mortar restau- me going and rant: SuperChefs. The restaurant motivated.” was destroyed in a fire months af-
