Delaware’s Robbie Jester returns to ‘Chopped,’ this time starring in the Italian version.
If you peruse the list of upcoming Food Network programs, you might see a familiar name on the list of “Chopped” contestants.
Wearing a red chef’s coat, Robbie Jester of Pizzeria Mariana in Newark stands behind the signature basket of mystery ingredients.
Jester is one of the 16 chefs competing on “Chopped Battle Italiano,” which will debut on Tuesday, May 28.
Chefs Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini — Italian cuisine specialists — will judge the tournament.
Jester can’t comment on his participation yet; contestants are under strict orders to stay mum until the network’s legal department gives them the thumbs up.
However, given the photo, it’s all but assured that he’s in the running, and based on his experience with culinary contests, he’d certainly be a contender.
‘Chopped Battle Italiano’ is the latest TV cooking show that Jester has appeared on.
Jester experience
You may remember that Jester won the grand prize of $100,000 on “Pressure Cooker,” which aired in 2023 on Netflix. The cutthroat culinary battle was part “Survivor” and part “Top Chef”— the 11 contestants judged each other, and there was no host.
However, the highly rated show was not his first experience with reality TV and cooking competitions.
The Culinary Institute of America graduate’s shrimp scampi dish beat gave him the winning edge on the Food Network program “Beat Bobby Flay.”
He competed on “Guy’s Grocery Games” twice. Although he lost the first time, he won the show’s redemption competition.
Jester won the grand prize of $100,000 on ‘Pressure Cooker,’ which aired in 2023 on Netflix.
And your time starts now!
If you’ve been living under a “Chopped” basket, the regular show format has appetizer, entrée and dessert rounds.
Chefs must use the mystery ingredients for each course. However, they can add pantry items to their dishes, which must be completed in a set amount of time. There are four contestants, and one is eliminated in each round.
MORE CULINARY NEWS: Meet Bobby Pancake, celebrating High 5 Hospitality’s 20 years.
During special tournaments, such as Battle Italiano, each episode is a heat that whittles the contestant pool to the finalists.
In 2022, Reuben Dhanawade appeared on the “Chopped” special “Desperately Seeking Sous Chef.” The prize was a job offer from chefs Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant or Chris Santos.
Dhanawade did not win, but he still worked for Chauhan. He now lives in Charleston.
Bitten by the bug
The eight-episode “Pressure Cooker” was filmed in 2022 in Los Angeles, which kept Jester away from his family and businesses. After filming the show, Jester split from his business partner. It was a stressful time.
But the pleasure must outweigh the pain because Jester can’t seem to stay away from the camera.
And for his Delaware fans, that is a good thing.
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