Outchef’d, Food Network’s new culinary show, launched an intriguing two-part episode on Tuesday, September 28, 2022 at 9 p.m. ET. The episode had two chefs and competitors from each side competing against each other. The chefs of the evening included Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Chef Antonia Lofaso. Home cooks Jimmy and Derek took on the legendary chefs. Derek Bowley is a Washington teacher who has always had a passion for cooking. The contestants only needed one vote from a panel of six tasters to win and take home $5,000, while the professional chefs had to try to win all the votes.
While Jimmy got one vote and won the cash prize, Derek got no vote in the second half of the program, leaving him empty-handed but with valuable culinary experience facing chef Antonia Lofaso.
Outchef is said to have more about Derek Bowley’s adventure with chef Antonia Lofaso.
Derek said earlier about the competition that his love for cooking started when he started helping his mother in the kitchen. When he moved alone and started cooking, he began to learn more by watching Food Network episodes, which “allowed him to try new things.” He confessed in a confession:
“I like to share what I know because I think food is great… and you can tell when I talk about food or cooking.”
When Outchef’d presenter Eddie Jackson greeted them, he was waiting in the green room with his wife Tim and friend SJ. Derek originally mistook it for an audition and was noticeably surprised to learn he was going up against Chef Antonia Lofaso. Chef Antonia Lofaso has past reality TV experience, including on series such as Cutthroat Kitchen, Top Chef, Chopped, and Restaurant Startup.
Outchef’d contestants and chefs were given eggs as the main ingredient for their meals and 45 minutes to prepare them. Derek struggled to cook his potatoes during the cooking time. He tried to put it in a pan for a better result, but he couldn’t until the end of the time limit. As the couple put the finishing touches to their meals, Outchef’d presenter Eddie Jackson took to the streets to select panel tasters to review the preparations.
Eggs?! Versus a legend like @chefantonia?! oh man. This isn’t going to be easy for Derek. #Outchefd pic.twitter.com/OFnM1nnuXC
— Food Network (@FoodNetwork) September 28, 2022
Check out the delicacies of the two chefs below.
Frittata from Derek Bowley with roasted vegetables, homemade fries and arugula salad
Tuscan Egg & Toast with Breakfast Sausage Ragu by Chef Antonia Lofaso
While the panel praised the chef’s menu and overall taste, they said the egg was not the “star of the meal.” Although Derek’s meal was “hearty and tender at the same time,” the panel found that the eggs and potatoes didn’t have much flavor.
Chef Antonia Lofaso had received all the votes for the end of the Outchef’d episode. Derek was grateful for his time on the program, even though he didn’t win the $10,000 prize. Outchef’d’s debut started off intriguing and there will be a lot more competition in the future. Other chefs competing against contestants include Eric Adjepong, Anne Burrell, Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Tiffani Faison, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Antonia Lofaso, Marc Murphy, and Geoffrey Zakarian.
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