Chef Smirnov, a Certified Executive Chef, is a member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), Texas Chef Association (TCA), and Houston Kashrush Association (HKA).

In January 2006 at the Ben E. Keith Company Food Show in Conroe, Chef Smirnov was awarded the silver medal in the Division I carving competition.

At the PFG Food Show Salon in April 2006, Chef Smirnov won the silver medal for Fruit Carving. In 2007, he received the gold medal for his carving at the Glazier Food Service Show.

Chef Smirnov was the only American chef to win a medal in any category at the 2006 International Virtual Salon Culinary in Australia. Entries from around the world were submitted via the internet. An international panel of judges awarded points to each entry and certain point levels were required for each medal level. Chef Smirnov's bronze medal carving entry was the highest and only medal winner in the carving division.