Milwaukee chef Ashley Turner to compete on Food Network's "BBQ Brawl" with Bobby Flay

Milwaukee chef Ashley Turner, executive chef at the Milwaukee County Zoo, will compete on the Food Network's show "BBQ Brawl" premiering July 8, according to a Friday press release.

Turner is a Texas native who moved to Milwaukee with her family in 2019. She formerly served as the culinary director and executive chef for Door County Brewing and Hacienda Taproom and Kitchen. Carting her smoker up from Texas, Turner brought her BBQ-centric soul food to Milwaukee.

This will be Turner's second Food Network appearance, after she took second on the cooking show "Chopped" last year.

The BBQ business has long been a part of Turner's life; her family opened Lone Star BBQ in Texas when she was 16. As an adult, she opened several other BBQ restaurants in Texas with her dad.

Turner has also made a name for herself at the Wisconsin State Fair. Her "Glazy Boy" sandwich — pork loin on grilled, glazed donuts — won the Sporkie award in 2021. In 2022, she took second place for the "Sconnie Slugger," a brat corn dog with cheese curds.

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"BBQ Brawl" pits 12 grill masters in a 10-episode competition to be named "Master of the 'Cue." This is the show's fifth season, and it's filmed in Turner's native Texas.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is joined by Sunny Anderson and Michael Voltaggio, who will each coach a team of competitors.

"BBQ Brawl" premieres July 8 on the Food Network at 8 p.m. CT. During the first episode, competitors will prepare sliders with their signature flavors, as well as surf and turf, with the hopes of impressing judges.

Throughout the season, the grill masters will participate in various challenges, including cooking without wood or charcoal and preparing roadside BBQ.