How This 'Chopped' Champion Chef Beat Cancer and Drug Addiction to Find Success An inspiring interview with author and chef Eric LeVine.

By Diana Falzone

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Chef Eric LeVine is a restauranteur, best-selling author and a winner of Food Network's highest-rated show Chopped. But success hasn't been an easy road for him. Over the course of his life, Eric has had to overcome drug addiction and beat cancer an astounding five times.

In this sit-down interview at his New Jersey seafood restaurant and sports bar, Mr. Crabby's Craft Kitchen + Bar, LeVine opened up about the challenges he's faced, and how he has used them as motivation to rise up in the culinary world.

Related: The Food Industry Is a 'Gold Rush' for BIZ Experiencess

After attending The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, LeVine worked with David Burke at the acclaimed River Cafe. From there, he went on to work under several celebrity chefs until he himself was named one of the top ten new chefs by USA Today.

Related: How Guy Fieri's Empire Almost Burned to the Ground

Despite the great critical reviews and awards for his food, Chef Eric never lost sight of the struggles that made him the man he is today. The cancer survivor lives by the adage to pay it forward. He is a cancer awareness advocate working with the American Cancer Society and was given their prestigious Heart and Soul Award.

We hope you are inspired as LeVine offers his hard-earned wisdom to aspiring and veteran BIZ Experiencess alike.

Diana Falzone

Journalist

Diana Falzone is a journalist. She is an anchor for Bold TV. Previously, she was a reporter for Fox News Channel and a talk show host for SiriusXM Radio.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from BIZ Experiences Exclusives

3 Simple Ways to Boost E-Commerce Sales

Why Your First 1,000 Customers Are Your Most Important

How to Grow Your Business By Finding New Customers

How to Beat The Working From Home Blues (60-Second Video)

Business Solutions

Learn How to Use ChatGPT to Automate Your Business

Streamline operations, boost productivity, and future-proof your skills with 25+ hours of hands-on training for just $19.97.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Making a Change

More Than 1,000 Business and Tech Courses Can Be Yours Forever for Just $20

Add coding, marketing, and finance skills to your title with this constantly updated course bundle.

Business News

Intel Is Laying Off 33,000 Employees in Turnaround Plan: 'Scale Back the Company'

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that the layoffs followed a "systematic review" of the company's headcount and spending.

Science & Technology

Stop Using ChatGPT Like an Amateur — Turn It Into a $100K Business Strategist

I used one ChatGPT prompt to uncover exactly why my funnel wasn't converting — and how to fix it.

Business Models

How I Turned a 'Dying' Business Losing $500,000 a Month Into a $45 Million Cash Machine

"Boring" businesses often deliver better returns than VC-funded disruption plays, with less competition and clearer paths to profitability.