Richland chef competes on Fox TV this week to become Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Food Star’

Richland’s Kagen Cox competes for an investment from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on “Food Stars,” which premiers May 24 on Fox.

Kagen Cox, owner of Kagen Coffee & Crepes, along with other participants will compete for a $250,000 investment through a series of activities that push contestants to provide they have the drive, dedication, creativity, passion and talent to warrant the investment.

Cox announced he was selected for the program on Facebook and Instagram.

Variety magazine, citing Fox, describes the program as a weekly challenge that calls on the aspiring moguls to create, market and sell to real customers. Their progress is evaluated by guest judges.

Cox is the only contestant from Washington state. He is competing against rivals from California, New York, Illinois and North California.

Jennifer and Kagen Cox opened the restaurant at 270 Williams Blvd. in the Uptown Shopping Center in 2016.

Crepe-hunting became a hobby after they married, started a family and settled in the Tri-Cities, where Kagen worked for BNSF Railway.

The business was a labor of love, launched in the vacant Golden Croissant spot. At first, he was chiefly interested in operating a coffee shop but expanded into a creperie as well.

This story was originally published May 22, 2023 at 11:02 AM.