An Orange County chef and entrepreneur was recently chosen as the top chef on an episode of the Food Network’s “Chopped.” 

Ciaran McGoldrick is the owner of Glenmere Farm, a farm-to-table event catering business in the Village of Florida. 

The 29-year-old Culinary Institute of America graduate was picked as the top chef by the show’s judges on an episode that aired the day after Christmas. 

“The pressure is as intense as it appears, but what an incredible experience,” says McGoldrick. 

McGoldrick says he’s been a fan of the show since he was a child and that it was a surreal experience being on and winning.  

“I could not believe it,” McGoldrick says. “I felt confident, but it’s a whole different experience from feeling OK, to actually having the dish revealed, and it’s not yours, and you win. Just incredible.” 

McGoldrick says he was scouted for the show by a recruiter who saw his culinary dishes on Instagram and was chosen after a lengthy application process. 

He says the $10,000 he won on the show will be invested into his catering business.