Chef Robert Hunt of Mt. Juliet LongHorn Steakhouse celebrated for achieving the milestone of grilling 1 million steaks.

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Robert Hunt keeps his secret spice blend under wraps, but he’s well aware that nothing beats the flavor imparted by a grill on a perfectly cooked steak.

At 59 years old, Hunt has expertly grilled over a million steaks during his almost thirty-year tenure at LongHorn Steakhouse locations in Middle Tennessee, with the last 12 years spent in Mt. Juliet. Recently, the company honored him with the title of Grill Master Legend, a distinction awarded to only 28 employees across LongHorn.

Hunt, originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, currently resides in Hermitage and is the proud parent of two children, who are 38 and 28 years old. He is recognized among his LongHorn colleagues as a mentor, renowned for his warm smile and kind nature.

"I've had a passion for cooking for as long as I can remember, but I only grilled my first steak in 1985," he recalled. "It turned out alright. I was still figuring things out at that time."

An event to honor Hunt and his 1 million steaks was held last month at the restaurant with LongHorn employees, Hunt’s family, LongHorn Steakhouse President Laura Williamson and Mt. Juliet officials in attendance. Hunt received a gold chef’s coat, a check for $5,000 and a proclamation from the city.

“LongHorn provides unique advantages that other dining establishments lack,” Hunt remarked. “We have an amazing team and a fantastic culture, plus the benefits and insurance that support my quality of life. It truly is the complete package. Every year, Grill Master Legends are chosen based on their years of service and a special formula LongHorn employs to assess the number of steaks we've grilled during our careers. Being acknowledged by LongHorn's leadership and the community has reaffirmed all my efforts over the past 27 years.”