With an eye for the prize, Lakeland-based business owner Chef Ken James is no stranger to the spotlight. The Valencia College Culinary Arts and Hospitality student is currently competing on Food Network’s Season 17 of “The Great Food Truck Race”with his catering company-turned-food-truck Plates On Deck. In 2023, James won Culinary Arts Contest Pro First Place at the 2023 FusionFest and won Rapid Fire Challenge First Place at the 2023 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show. Viewers can tune in to watch Chef Ken James and his team compete on Sundays at 8 p.m.

Starting in 2020 in the Central Florida area, Plates on Deck brings a unique blend coined “eclectic soul” with signature dishes such as their award-winning passa passa pasta, cajun crab cakes, five-cheese mac, seafood boil and honey vanilla cornbread. The catering and private chef service host pop-ups and private events serving all of the Central Florida.

It was at the 2023 FusionFest that Laboratories Manager Chef Elisa Brewer first met the rising culinary businessman. Brewer observed, “(He) was one of the winners that night and his joy and love of food was quite evident”. After sharing his desire to enroll in the culinary arts program, Brewer was delighted to see the returning student while Brewer was a guest lecturer for the Catering & Events course. “He took all the knowledge he gained, adding to his business and brand in such an inspiring way, “she said. “I am quite glad to witness his pursuit of knowledge at Valencia College as well as his success in the industry.”

“It says a lot about the caliber of students in our program and the endless possibilities of our profession,” says Chef Alex Erdmann, Dean of School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality. The school hopes to host a viewing party in the coming weeks to watch an upcoming episode.

In 2014, James began making lunch for himself and his coworkers in New York. This became the concept for Plates on Deck. With the support of his spouse Ziomara Taveras and cousin Samuel Jenkins, the family-run business was selected to compete in season 17 of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race”: Games on the Gulf.

The show pits nine food trucks against each other through challenges during a road trip across the Gulf Coast. The show’s host Chef Tyler Florence presents prizes for completion of themed challenges and adds the total to earnings from food sales. After a strong start in episode 1,  Plates on Deck dropped to seventh in episode 2 after a challenging upset to early show rival Atlanta’s Cooks with Passion. Ken James and Team Plates on Deck compete for a chance at a life-changing $50,000 grand prize.

According to a Food Network May 23 press release, the show culminates into an action-packed season finale from the renowned South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami on Sunday, August 4.

James started at Valencia College in 2006, having studied Economics. After becoming a teenage dad, he would suspend his education to raise his child and continue working. As a blended family of six children, he currently has two in college as well. Returning back to continue his education, Chef Ken says the faculty have been instrumental.  “Everyone at the campus has been amazing; really great.” He recognized last year’s FusionFest as a driving force for him returning to Valencia College.

Ken James attributes his family as having brought about his passion for food, saying, “It’s the smiles and joy of feeding someone something you’ve created with your hands,” He said. James has always had a love for the kitchen and seeing his family prepare meals.

“Watching my mom, my aunt, my grandmother, my dad even; I have just always loved food and family.”

He takes that passion and has a “basketball coach mentality” to share his cooking skills with youth programs. As a former program manager for the local Boys’ Club, he translates that experience into a loving, stern and relatable mentor helping build life skills. He also explained that with education everyone has a unique skillset and how harnessing each player’s talent leads to a strong team. He plans to graduate and then return to educating youth to “reach back and pull them up”, providing opportunities for the next generation of culinary artists.

Ken James says the next goal would be the idea that “my children will see that when you have a dream and a goal… that with hard work, your gift and talent will make the way for you. It will come to fruition”. The family also hopes to establish a brick-and-mortar or a food truck after the experience on Food Network. Surprisingly, contestants weren’t able to keep the show trucks.

Check Instagram Plates on Deck @myplatesondeck for the pop-up  market and schedule to meet the team and try some of the delicious soul food for yourself.

The third episode of “The Great Food Truck Race” will air on Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. on Food Network.