RI Chef Eli Dunn to Return to Food Network's Show "Chopped"
GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team
RI Chef Eli Dunn to Return to Food Network's Show "Chopped"
Dunn’s episode will air on Tuesday, February 11 at 9 p.m.
Dunn won the show back in 2018 and joined GoLocal LIVE shortly after to talk about the experience.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“It has been a whirlwind, but fun to be a mini Rhode Island celebrity, but what I think is cooler is the provincial Rhody pride,” Dunn told GoLocal LIVE.
See His Interview Below
Dunn's Previous Win
With celebrity chefs Martha Stewart, Marcus Samuelsson, and Maneet Chauhan as judges and a very limited amount of time to produce dishes incorporating mystery items provided, the pressure was high.
Dunn told GoLocal LIVE that he had a few of the most challenging ingredients to cook with “Durian fruit and pigs ears were in the baskets, and I ran the gauntlet of difficult ingredients to cook with”.
However, Dunn lucked out with quahogs as a mystery item, being very well versed in the classic Rhode Island shellfish.
“Getting Quahogs was like manna from the Gods. It is funny, they had to do a couple of takes because my first reaction was disbelief. I made Rhode Island clam chowder, and I think that first round really won me the competition” sai Dunn. “I have a lot of faith in my ability to cook for people, to bridge that gap between myself and the diner. I really paid attention to each of their criticisms in each of the judgings, I learned a lot from them, and I think they could tell. That gave me an advantage because I was so open and teachable.”
Eli’s Kitchen
Eli’s Kitchen is a favorite amongst the East Bay community.
Sourcing local ingredients to produce creative comfort food, Eli’s serves lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch.