Chris Shepherd has taken home a few awards lately, including the one award he didn't think he would win — the Waffle House Smackdown at the Charleston Food & Wine Festival in March. Each year, four chefs compete for the esteemed title, bragging rights and the Golden Egg Pan Award.

After competing against reigning champion Mike Lata of The Ordinary/Fig, Kevin Gillespie of Atlanta's Gunshow and Michael Hudman of Hog & Hominy/Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis, Shepherd, with Gillespie as his sous chef, battled Waffle House employee Jeff Appleton, who beat the two chefs with a perfect score.

Shepherd be cooking a Waffle House-inspired dinner at Hay Merchant. Expect plenty of smothered, covered and peppered hash browns, omelets and, of course, waffles, complete with beer pairings.