Hometown cooks take awards at Paris Steak Wars
Hopkins County food sports competitors continue to take awards in grilling competitions. This weekend, Sulphur Springs natives Brandon “Woody” Williams won Grand Champion and Logan Vaughan garnered Peoples’ Choice at the Paris Steak Wars in Paris, TX.
Williams debuted his competitive cooking career in 2020 at Backstory Brewery’s Back-to-School Burger Bash, where he took second. Thus began his obsession with his “dad machine” the Weber grill, and he is known on social media as “The Weber Ninja” where he creates viral videos of grilling, barbecue and backyard cooking.
While Williams has competed many times in other cooking competitions, this is his first time at Paris Steak Wars.
“It’s a primary source of happiness,” he said. “It’s just grilling and enjoying life.”
While Williams may have started out as the “ultimate dad” as friends describe him, he now has an official sponsor in Herman Marshall of Dallas, and plans to join the Steak Cookoff Association and continue to compete at the professional level.
“You have to practice and plan, but when it’s in the middle of it, you have to not take yourself so seriously,” he said of his success.
For the two hometown friends, Williams and Vaughan are no strangers to competition. In 2020, Vaughan took Grand Champion at Paris, and in 2022 their rivalry was smoking.
“I guess I am gonna have to practice up before I pick another fight with a Ninja,” said Vaughan of Williams’ Grand Champion finish.
Still, Vaughan was not disappointed going home without the first prize trophy.
“Winning People’s Choice was a great feeling,” he noted. “Throughout the entirety of the event we had a long line of people waiting to try our steak.
Though they appeared this past weekend as competitors, Williams and Vaughan can often be seen cooking side by side. The two men showcased their steak skills for attendees at the Chamber of Commerce law enforcement appreciation banquet as well as G5 Cattle Company’s taco fair.
“Cooking at Paris Steak Wars was an amazing experience and getting the 1st place call was an incredible feeling,” Williams said. “Thanks to my sponsor, Herman Marshall Whiskey, for choosing me to represent their brand on the competition scene. Thanks to Weber Grills for making the baddest cooking machine ever created. Logan Vaughan, thank you for teaching my how to cook a completion steak. Paris Steak Wars, see y’all next year!”
Read more about Williams and Vaughan
