Local chef travels 3,000-plus miles to compete on national reality show

Residents can tune in starting this week to see one of Eagle River’s own compete on a national reality show for the chance to win millions of dollars — an experience he called an “absolute adventure.”
Luke Olejniczak of Eagle River joined the cast of season two of “Deal or No Deal Island” to play against 12 other players and the “Banker” for the grand prize of more than $200 million.
According to NBC’s website, the show’s premise is, “Thirteen players are invited to stay in paradise, where they’ll face tough challenges, cutthroat strategy and all-star competitors… all leading up to the ultimate game of ‘Deal or No Deal’ for a shot at a record-breaking prize.”
Olejniczak grew up in the North Woods, cultivating a passion for cooking, fishing, hunting and all things outdoors, which made him an enticing candidate for the show. When not competing for millions of dollars in an island paradise, he operates his own business here in the North Woods — Private Chef Luke’s — where he creates memorable meal experiences for his guests.

Earning his spot

Prior to his appearance on “Deal or No Deal Island,” Olejniczak was actually confirmed last year to be a cast member on Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef” program in Ireland, but he had to decline due to scheduled meal bookings in the area.
“A casting agent found my Instagram page by chance and loved my story of being a self-trained product from small-town America,” Olejniczak explained. “I had to think long and hard about it, but I had far too many local dinner parties in the area scheduled and did not want to cancel any because the dinners I execute truly are important to me. I gave my word to the clients that I would execute their special dinner.”
Although he said it was the correct decision, Olejniczak regretted passing on the opportunity, assuming an offer like that would not come his way again.
But, the casting agent wasn’t ready to give up yet, promising Olejniczak he would have another opportunity. Although Olejniczak had his doubts, that agent was true to their word, and he received a phone call last March from an unlisted number in Los Angeles, Calif.
“Luke! How are you doing pal!? How would you like to win millions of dollars?!” the voice on the other end of the phone said. Lo and behold, it was the casting agent offering him a second chance at reality television.
“I thought standing by your word was truly something only held near and dear in Midwest culture, but I was wrong,” Olejniczak said. “They kept my profile and story and the whole process was a breeze and almost effortless!”
Filming occurred over the summer of 2024, forcing Olejniczak to reschedule a handful of dinner parties he had previously booked from mid-July into August. But none of his dining guests begrudged him this experience. In fact, he said everyone was very receptive and encouraging. They even kept the information about his appearance on the show to themselves, not “leaking” the chef’s exciting adventure.
The location of the elusive “Banker’s Island” is strictly confidential, but Olejniczak described it as “over 3,000 miles away in a land that doesn’t follow Packers football.” Contestants’ phones were confiscated and all efforts were in place to preserve the integrity of the show at all costs, he noted.
Olejniczak said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the conditions provided for contestants on Banker’s Island.
“We were truly treated to luxury. I had been warned that we were essentially going to be ‘camping,’ and I was prepared for that with little concern. I often take overnight hunting trips on the Deerskin River and Wisconsin River, so I thought I’d have a leg-up over the other contestants.
“However, the memory foam mattresses, air-conditioned yurts, fluffy bathrobes and other luxuries really leveled the playing field... we even had our garments pressed!” he explained.
“It was amazing the money poured into production and the sheer amount of staff it took to execute such a feat,” Olejniczack reminisced. “There had to be at least a couple hundred people involved in the process just to entertain viewers for an hour on a Tuesday evening during primetime. We were all treated like royalty, which was semi-uncomfortable at times; some contestants really didn’t mind being waited on and having every desire granted though.”

A month in paradise

The landscape may have changed, but Olejniczak was able to translate some of his favorite North Woods hobbies to use in his free time on Banker’s Island.
“I of course packed fishing gear. I just dug in my walleye and pike tackle and put together what I could and thought would potentially work. No matter how crazy the action got on the island, fishing was an escape. It’s the same watching a bobber for bluegills in northern Wisconsin or casting a line on Banker’s Island to bring that familiarity and peace,” he said.
“There were so many wonderful times, even off the Banker’s Island — tarpon fishing with a fishing guide, cooking with a local chef, running in the rainforest, surfing, and, of course, smoking real Cuban cigars was a real treat!”
Although Olejniczak was unable to land the elusive tarpon, he said the fishing on the island was incredible. Along with fishing, he embraced other experiences that allowed him to expand his horizons as well.
“I landed many jackfish and other assorted species. In the United States, jackfish are often considered garbage fish, but the guide I fished with a few times encouraged me to take a couple and cook them up.
“I found a local chef I bonded with and learned how to make jackfish curry. It turned out to be one of the best meals I had that entire month! Despite a language barrier, we understood each other and worked past it. Another memorable meal was an authentic indigenous feast I enjoyed in the rainforest on a cocoa plantation, prepared by tribal women and served in dried gourds.”
In addition to connecting to fellow contestants on the show, he was able to see an array of interesting wildlife, including sloths, howler monkeys, dolphins, starfish, crabs, and a multitude of different fish — many of which ended up on the end of his line.
But the reason for his visit to paradise was to compete, which brought with it some challenges Olejniczak was not accustomed to facing in the slower-paced life the North has to offer.
“I never really paid much attention before, but constantly looking over your shoulder and trying to figure out who’s genuine and who’s not was exhausting,” he said. “Up here in the North Woods, the culture is authentic — we take care of each other, and people keep their word. That wasn’t the case on Banker’s Island, and it’s not something I want to be around. Home here is truly special.”

Lasting friendships

With his winning smile, kindness and positive attitude, Olejniczak was able to take in more than just the cutthroat strategy of the gameplay, creating lasting relationships with some of the contestants he met on location.
“There’s one cast member I chat with weekly; he enjoys hearing about the hunting and fishing seasons up north. We exchange holiday pleasantries and talk for about 30-40 minutes each week. I’m sure we’ll be flying to see each other at some point. Another one I’m persuading to come up for some walleye fishing once things settle down,” Olejniczak shared.
“The other cast members I’ve mostly kept up with through social media. I even sent some wild game all the way to North Carolina — Wisconsin whitetail and bear steaks made it to her dinner table! There were truly some wonderful people on the show, and it was a blessing to cross paths with them.”
He added that he has also made connections with some contestants from season 1 of “Deal or No Deal Island.”
Good to be home
Traveling 3,000 miles can be a test of faith on a good day, and Olejniczak learned that first-hand, calling his return journey “a comedy of errors.”
Battling rescheduled flights, gate changes, ticket system issues, language barriers and a brief stint being locked in the ladies’ bathroom as his plane was boarding, he said it was like he had to “fight his way back.”
Upon returning home, he was able to take stock of just how blessed he is to live in northern Wisconsin, among the people and places he loves.
After a stop at Kwik Trip on the way back from the airport and a thick ribeye steak meal, Olejniczak settled back into his routine — working on scent training with his dogs to track wounded deer for the fall hunting season, calling his “near and dear” friends, and following up on dinner party inquiries he missed while he was away.
We won’t know until the season airs whether or not he outsmarted the banker and struck it rich on “Deal or No Deal Island,” but Olejniczak doesn’t seem changed by his brush with fame. If anything, the experience has driven home how important his hometown roots are in day-to-day life.
“Even if I had all the fortune in the world, I would still pursue my career as a private chef. I feel like I’ve already retired at the age of 29 because I’m blessed to live in an area I love and do a job that brings me so much pleasure and fulfillment. I already consider myself retired! How could you not enjoy being part of someone’s intimate occasion and creating food memories?
“The experience gave me a great perspective on how good we have it up here in the North Woods. We really have champagne problems here in the U.S. and should count our blessings.”
Deal or No Deal Island airs on NBC each Tuesday night starting at 7 p.m. Episode one aired Jan. 7 and is available to stream on Peacock.