What I love most about being a competitor and a judge on Chopped is that being a competitor actually makes me a better judge. Once that basket opens you can’t get stuck on a concept because the clock is there and the ingredients are there and you have to let the limited amount of time and experience drive you. The adrenaline you have every round makes you so tired afterwards, not because you worked long, but because there’s a lot of emotion that goes through your body. I revisited some of those emotions last night during a viewing party we held at Ginny’s. Read More

Congratulations to Ted Allen and the “Chopped” team (Linda Lea, Dave Noll and Vivian Sorenson) at Food Network for their James Beard Foundation honors that were awarded last night. Chopped took the prize for Best Television Program, In-studio or Fixed Location and Ted was awarded the Media Personality/Host of a Television program for his work on Chopped. Good job, guys! Read More

Have you been watching Chopped All-Stars on the Food Network? It’s been a real nail biter! In this week’s episode, I finally get a chance to compete in the All-Stars challenge and possibly win money for my favorite charity- CCAP. Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, CCAP, gives young adults just out of high school the exposure to decide whether they want to pursue a career in the culinary field and also helps to place them in internships in restaurants to help further their experience. I’ve been a long-time advocate for their success and I can’t wait for the chance to help them along in their mission by competing in Chopped All-Stars this season.

Tune in this Sunday, April 29^th from 8:00-9:00PM on the Food Network to catch my episode of Chopped All-Stars. I’m competing against my fellow Chopped judges which are sure to be tough to beat. So tune in or set your DVRs for Chopped All-Stars this Sunday. It’s bound to be a good match!  Read More

Photo: pinprick

Secret ingredients are everywhere throughout the culinary world.  While some secrets, such as the contents of Old Bay seasoning and the exact classic Coca-Cola formula, are closely guarded, every so often we’re lucky enough to have chefs share what makes their dishes so unique.  In this month’s Food Network Magazine, I shared my secret ingredient: white miso, or shiromiso.

Miso, or fermented soybeans, is a millennia-old Asian tradition.   Read More

I witnessed something grand on Friday! I witnessed my neighborhood of Harlem get some much needed attention during the airing of my Food Network special Savoring Harlem. It aired for the first time on Friday night on the Food Network and on it, we discussed the new food revolution occurring in this great neighborhood.

Food is at the center of Harlem’s New Renaissance and we were very proud to have the chance to show you all just how far food has gotten in Harlem on the Food Network. To celebrate this great occasion, I invited some of the key people in putting together the special, including Food Network’s production team, as well as some of my close friends to my office in Harlem for a Savoring Harlem watch party.

It was such an honor to have everyone there while we watched our mission of bringing vigor back to Harlem become a reality right in front of our eyes. Read More

The SOBE Wine and Food Festival is current underway, down in Florida’s Miami Beach area.  Supported by sponsorships from The Food Network, Food and Wine Magazine, and American Express, among other companies, this four-day event  (Thursday through Sunday, February 23-26) promises to be a gastronomical extravaganza, catering to culinary enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike.  While many events, such as The Flavors of Flay presented by Certified Angus Beef–a thorough sampling of Chef Bobby Flay’s restaurant empire–are sold out, you can still score tickets to numerous SOBE Wine and Food festival events.

So if you live in South Florida and want a last-minute weekend activity, or if you are willing to do the necessary travel at the drop of the hat, consider one or several of these attractions. Read More

I’m proud to have Harlem as my neighborhood. Apart from the vast diversity of people, there also lies a vast diversity of food in Harlem. There is no doubt that Harlem is currently going through a new renaissance and food is right in the center of that change. Join me this Friday for my Food Network special, “Savoring Harlem,’ where I walk you through Harlem’s new food revolution and other aspects that make Harlem one of the most legendary neighborhoods in New York City.

‘Savoring Harlem’ airs this Friday, February 24th, starting at 8pm ET/PT on The Food Network. Before that you can chat with me on Food Network’s Facebook page at 3 pm where I’ll stop by to say hello and answer a few questions. Meanwhile, check out our trailer below for ‘Savoring Harlem.’ Read More

Last night, my Chopped friends and I had a reunion! I was happy to have my fellow Food Network’s Chopped judges stop by last night for dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. All of them showed including Marc Murphy, Ted Allen, Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, Seamus Mullen, Amanda Freitag, Scott Conant, and even the newly crowned Iron Chef America Jeffrey Zakarian.

It was so great to see everyone get together, especially for them to be able to check out my restaurant for some food and cocktails. Read More

Don’t forget to tune in tonight to the Food Network’s Next Iron Chef at 9pm/8c to watch as we battle it out in our next round to see who will become the Next Iron Chef America! I’m still in the competition and ready to prove once again why I should become the Next Iron Chef!

You can also vote for me to become the Next Iron Chef Fan Favorite by clicking here. Fans can vote up to 10 times per day, so be sure to get your voices heard! Read More

Photo: Paul Brissman

Don’t forget to tune in and see me on the unparalleled Food Network Next Iron Chef society that premieres this Sunday, October 30^th at 9pm ET/PT, where ten of the world’s most celebrated chefs go to battle to become a member of the elite Iron Chef culinary. The much anticipated The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs, will be a new eight-episode season hosted by Alton Brown and featuring myself and fellow chefs Anne Burrell, Michael Chiarello, Elizabeth Falkner, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chuck Hughes, Robert Irvine, Beau MacMillan, Spike Mendelsohn, and Geoffrey Zakarian. Read More