Chatting With the Chopped Champions Runner-Up
by Maria Russo in Shows, February 12th, 2013
In an all-new season of Chopped Champions, 16 chefs, each with a previous Chopped win under his or her belt, are returning to the kitchen to face off for a second time in the ultimate multicourse cook-off. Although they’re no strangers to mystery baskets, these chefs are under more pressure than ever, as they’re competing not just for Chopped glory but also a spot in the finale where they can ultimately claim a $50,000 prize and the coveted title of Grand Champion.
Each week, four chefs will take their places in the kitchen and battle it out in the hopes of outlasting the chopping block once again. While three will crumble beneath the demands of Champions cooking, one will prove his or her culinary chops for a second time. Check in with FN Dish every Tuesday night after the episode to hear from the Chopped chefs.
After four rounds of competition, Chefs Kenneth Johnson, Vinson Petrillo, Rob Evans and Jun Tanaka had outcooked 12 of their Champions rivals to compete in the Grand Finale battle, but ultimately only one would survive to become the Chopped Grand Champion after the finale face-off. Despite solid showings, Chef Kenneth’s appetizer and Chef Vinson’s entree dishes couldn’t live up to their competitors’, and they ultimately met the chopping block for the first time. Chefs Rob and Jun, however, advanced to the dessert course where they found baskets of carrot juice, almond flour, candied ginger and honeycomb awaiting them, and with only 30 minutes to cook, they prepared dishes that were representative of their styles of cooking and worthy of a Champions contest. In the end, despite a thoughtfully composed plate of carrot-and-ginger gelee with cinnamon-dusted French toast and almond foam, Chef Rob was chopped, but not before receiving sincere praise from the judges for a masterful showing in the tournament.
How has competing in the Champions competition changed you? Have you tweaked your approach to cooking and food?
RE: It has not changed me much as far as my approach to cooking. I like to think I’m always evolving as a chef and each experience is a move forward.
The judges agreed that your dishes were wonderfully risky and creative, made with very advanced techniques. How would you describe your style of cooking? Where did you find the inspiration to craft the dishes we saw on Champions?
RE: I can cook risky, traditional, simple, healthy, fast or slow. I feel I adapt quickly to the environment; at home it’s usually healthy, simple and fast.
You made and cooked from-scratch pasta in mere minutes during the appetizer round. Do you have any tips for home cooks who’re looking for a fast, fresh pasta recipe?
RE: I was proud of the pasta dish in such a short time. At home do a very small batch, start wet and slowly add flour. Chill flat in the freezer for 15 minutes if you’re in a hurry.
What’s next for you? Do you still plan to purchase a tractor?
RE: Next, I hope to connect my land to my business. I’d like to spend some time in the country and some time in the kitchen. A tractor would help.
Visit Food Network’s Chopped Champions headquarters for more insider coverage.
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More posts from Maria Russo.
In an all-new season of Chopped Champions, 16 chefs, each with a previous Chopped win under his or her belt, are returning to the kitchen to face off for a second time in the ultimate multicourse cook-off. Although they’re no strangers to mystery baskets, these chefs are under more pressure than ever, as they’re competing not just for Chopped glory but also a spot in the finale where they can ultimately claim a $50,000 prize and the coveted title of Grand Champion.
Each week, four chefs will take their places in the kitchen and battle it out in the hopes of outlasting the chopping block once again. While three will crumble beneath the demands of Champions cooking, one will prove his or her culinary chops for a second time. Check in with FN Dish every Tuesday night after the episode to hear from the Chopped chefs.
After four rounds of competition, Chefs Kenneth Johnson, Vinson Petrillo, Rob Evans and Jun Tanaka had outcooked 12 of their Champions rivals to compete in the Grand Finale battle, but ultimately only one would survive to become the Chopped Grand Champion after the finale face-off. Despite solid showings, Chef Kenneth’s appetizer and Chef Vinson’s entree dishes couldn’t live up to their competitors’, and they ultimately met the chopping block for the first time. Chefs Rob and Jun, however, advanced to the dessert course where they found baskets of carrot juice, almond flour, candied ginger and honeycomb awaiting them, and with only 30 minutes to cook, they prepared dishes that were representative of their styles of cooking and worthy of a Champions contest. In the end, despite a thoughtfully composed plate of carrot-and-ginger gelee with cinnamon-dusted French toast and almond foam, Chef Rob was chopped, but not before receiving sincere praise from the judges for a masterful showing in the tournament.
How has competing in the Champions competition changed you? Have you tweaked your approach to cooking and food?
RE: It has not changed me much as far as my approach to cooking. I like to think I’m always evolving as a chef and each experience is a move forward.
The judges agreed that your dishes were wonderfully risky and creative, made with very advanced techniques. How would you describe your style of cooking? Where did you find the inspiration to craft the dishes we saw on Champions?
RE: I can cook risky, traditional, simple, healthy, fast or slow. I feel I adapt quickly to the environment; at home it’s usually healthy, simple and fast.
You made and cooked from-scratch pasta in mere minutes during the appetizer round. Do you have any tips for home cooks who’re looking for a fast, fresh pasta recipe?
RE: I was proud of the pasta dish in such a short time. At home do a very small batch, start wet and slowly add flour. Chill flat in the freezer for 15 minutes if you’re in a hurry.
What’s next for you? Do you still plan to purchase a tractor?
RE: Next, I hope to connect my land to my business. I’d like to spend some time in the country and some time in the kitchen. A tractor would help.
Visit Food Network’s Chopped Champions headquarters for more insider coverage.
-
More posts from Maria Russo.
You should have been grand champion Rob. Great job and thank you for representing Maine and the great city of Portland.
not even close. his first dish was terrible
This kind of championship is not the most intesting one, but you could still learn some good tricks.
You won! Hopefully you got some cash. The judges should be ashamed!
I am so glad Rob didn't win. He acted like a snob and practically all his commentary was abouting winning the money and how much he deserved it, whereas his competitor told us a cute story of cooking with his grandmon and more about his love of cooking. Rob also acted like a poor sport when he lost. You should be ashamed of yourself Rob. I jumped with joy when your conceited self was knocked down a notch. LOL!! Congrats Jun!! You deserved it and enjoy!!!
I agree totally. I could not stand Rob's attitude.
Agree. I really liked Rob in previous Chopped episodes, but in the finale, he was obnoxiously over-confident. It's impossible to tell whose food was really better, not having tasted it… it seems that both of them deserved to win based on the judge's feedback, but I was personally very happy that it was Jun.
rob was such a poor loser in that final competition. he acted like all he had to do was show up and the $50k was his. all the other chefs praised each other, liked each others ideas.
good thing i can cross his crappy restaurant of my list of places to try
Rob got ripped off!! Jun's desert was nothing out of the ordinary!! The judges complain when the chef's do dishes that they already know and have done before, but…this time (for some reason) they praised Jun for it!! They need to make up their minds. Before the competition even began Geoffrey Zakarian was saying all these wonderful things about Jun!! And let's face it people who watch Chopped regularly, Geoffrey always gets what he wants!! He's a bully to the other judges…especially to the female judges!! Rob did an excellent job and all his dishes were amazing!! Rob Evans should be the Chopped Champion!!!
I liked both chefs. the winner and the runner up but I'm not sure how the judges based their final decision. It didn't match their criticisms in my opinion. I expected Ron to win from what they were saying.
I think both Rob and Jun were excellent and being familiar with Rob's restaurant and area native I of course was rooting for him He is not a snob and I think that his food looked great. It had to be a really tough choice for the judges. Long live Duck Fat!