Local Chef One of 24 Competing in National Competition

Phoenixville resident, personal chef and owner of The Comfort Gourmet, Stephanie McKeon Krzywanski, has been selected as one of 24 chefs nationwide to participate in the Sears Chef Challenge. Krzywanski, originally from West Chester , Pa. , is competing in the Washington D.C. market. The first round of this three-round culinary competition began on May 5th with in-store demonstrations.

The first round winner is determined by online voting, which begins on June 26th and continues through July 10th via www.searschefchallenge.com. Anyone can vote once a day during that two-week period. Online voters also have a chance to win an entire suite of Kenmore appliances.

The Sears Chef Challenge grand prize is a complete kitchen renovation valued at over $35,000, plus an additional $20,000 donation to the winning Chef’s charity of choice. Krzywanski has chosen to partner with Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, a farming and handcrafting community, located in Kimberton, that encourages individuals, especially those with special needs, to discover and fulfill their greatest developmental and creative potential. More information about Camphill Kimberton can be found at: www.camphillkimberton.org.

Stephanie McKeon Krzywanski founded The Comfort Gourmet in 2008 after 12 years of working as an award-winning meeting and event manager. With the hard work and intense travel schedule that comes along with meeting management, Krzywanski was provided a unique opportunity to travel both domestically and internationally and sample the culinary delights of chefs from around the globe. Being exposed to such talent helped Krzywanski hone her skills to become the accomplished chef she is today.

The Comfort Gourmet specializes in in-home culinary needs such as weekly meal preparations, dinner parties, food and wine pairings and cooking instruction. For more information on the Sears Chef Challenge and to vote, visit www.searschefchallenge.com. For more information on Chef Stephanie Krzywanski, visit www.yourcomfortgourmet.com.