Chef Zach Sherman

Chef Zachary “Big Z” Sherman is a culinary craftsman and flavor driven visionary whose love for cooking began early, sparked by a childhood babysitter who taught him to make chalupas, Spanish rice, and beans, and confidently told him he’d be a chef one day. She was right.

​

At 17, Zachary started in the dish pit and worked his way up to the grill, discovering not just a job but a lifelong calling. Since 2002, he has cooked across restaurants, events, and stadiums throughout Texas and beyond, absorbing lessons from every kitchen and every mentor along the way.

​

His career flourished at Barnett’s Whiskey House in Waco, where he rose from delivery driver and line cook to Chef, becoming a cornerstone of the Barnett’s culinary family. Today, Chef Z is a creative force behind The Drunken Duck, shaping one of Texas’s most exciting smash burger destinations alongside Executive Chef Tomas Pratt. From hand crafted sauces to custom spice blends and house ground patties, everything at The Drunken Duck reflects his commitment to doing things right, fresh, precise, and always delicious.

​

Rooted in generations of cooks and inspired by his late father’s legacy, Chef Z cooks with purpose, food as an expression of love, service, and community. He leads with humility and heart, no shortcuts, no ego, just genuine craft. His flavor style is bold, tangy, spicy, and soulful. Whether searing a perfect ribeye or elevating a comfort food favorite, every dish he creates is meant to make someone’s day.