Troy Johnson

Troy Johnson (born August 13, 1973) is a writer, food critic, and television personality from San Diego. He has been on several Food Network shows as a panelist and a judge on Iron Chef America and The Best Thing I Ever Ate. He is best known as a judge on the Food Network show Guy's Grocery Games since its inception in 2013 and Campus Eats on the Big Ten Network since 2016. He previously hosted Crave which was also on the Food Network, an award winning music show in San Diego called Fox Rox, and a San Diego Padres pregame show entitled Outta Left Field.

Early life and education Johnson was raised in Rancho Peñasquitos, a suburb of San Diego, and attended Mt. Carmel High School. He graduated in 1997 from California State University, Chico with a bachelor's degree in speech communications and poetry.

Career After college, he began writing as a music journalist where from 2002 to 2007 he was the music editor of the San Diego CityBeat. The show garnered a number of local Emmy Awards. After two seasons and declining ratings, the show was cancelled.

After becoming a fan favorite on Crave and it being the number two show in reruns on Fridays, the Food Network asked Johnson to become a judge on Guy's Grocery Games which started in 2013. He is still a rotating judge.

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2001-2007 Fox Rox Host 2006-2007 Outta Left Field Host 2010 Crave Host Writer 2010-2011 The Best Thing I Ever Ate Himself 3 episodes2012 The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread Himself Extreme Chef Judge Season 2 episode 3: "Desert Survival" 2013 Summer Snacks Food Expert TV show, 1 season, also called "All You Can Eat" 2013 Iron Chef America Judge Season 11 episode 9: "Bobby Flay vs. Hong Thaimee: Tamarind" 2013–present Guy's Grocery Games Judge 92 episodes Contestant on season 11 episode 9: "Joy to the Judge" 2016–present Campus Eats Co-host Writer 2019 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Himself Season 30 episode 2: "A World of Barbecue" Restaurant: Grand Ole BBQ