Charlotte, NC chef will make third Food items Network look

Charlotte Chef Chris Coleman has finished it yet again. He went on to Food stuff Network and arrived property with an additional prize. This time, nevertheless, he can’t technically say he won.

The “Chopped” champion from Charlotte who went on to”Beat Bobby Flay” was invited back again to the network for “Alex vs. America,” which brings cooks from across the country to compete in an endeavor to choose down chef Alex Guarnaschelli, a recurrent Meals Community decide, Iron Chef and remarkably achieved culinary artist. Every episode features three chefs in two competitive rounds, with blind tastings and movie star judges.

This week’s cheese-themed episode led to the most unanticipated results and a initially for the series – a tie in between Coleman and the show’s namesake, Guarnaschelli. (For a entire episode synopsis, examine out Unpretentious Palate’s story.)

“I hardly snuck into the ultimate round as the underdog. I didn’t think I experienced a possibility to conquer Alex or even position,” Coleman explained to CharlotteFive. “I’m no cheese specialist, but I have been in the market for 24 a long time and have experienced loads of time to analysis and experiment with ingredients.”

Smooth cheese ice product

The final challenge was to come up with a smooth cheese dessert. Coleman, chef and co-proprietor of NoDa’s The Goodyear Home and Rock Hill’s Outdated Town Kitchen & Cocktails, dug deep into his roots to make a dish that would wow: caramelized white chocolate biscuits with Robiola cheese ice cream and raspberry-apricot purée.

“Growing up, I expended a good deal of summers on my grandparents’ farm in Mississippi, wherever my Maw Maw would often make us cast iron biscuits,” mentioned Coleman, a Charlotte indigenous who attended Harding Large and Central Piedmont’s culinary software. “I experienced already performed all over with white chocolate biscuits through my time at McNinch Household, and as shortly as they stated ‘soft cheese dessert,’ my mind went to comfortable cheese ice cream. It just all came collectively.”

The judges cherished the dish. But they also loved Guarnaschelli’s cheesecake and declared a tie. Coleman would just take household a compromised $7,500 prize (vs. $10,000 had he won outright), which will arrive in handy on an approaching vacation to Costa Rica for his wife’s 40th birthday.

“It was surreal,” Coleman said. “In my head, I was just heading to make my grandmother’s biscuits on nationwide Television, and that’s a personalized victory.”

Coleman credits that time on his grandparents’ farm for inspiring his budding culinary intellect. His career has spanned from a start off as a 14-calendar year-outdated bus boy at Captain’s Galley in Huntersville to turning into head chef of McNinch Property at age 21 to director of culinary knowledge at Charlotte’s Marriott Middle Town.

More just lately, he has partnered with Sean Potter & A.J. Klenk to variety the restaurant team Created On Hospitality, which has an ambitious goal of opening five dining places in five a long time (the initial two being Goodyear Household and Outdated City).

‘I do not feel I’m the most thrilling Television set identity. But I know food stuff …’

The day-to-working day cafe functions preserve him active, but he’s not ruling out another truth demonstrate run. Coleman said, typically, every time he competes on a display, the doorway opens for an additional possibility. He’s hoping that’s continue to the circumstance and claimed his dream is to appear on Bravo’s “Top Chef” or Foods Network’s “Tournament of Champions.”

“I’m always up for a challenge,” Coleman stated. “It’s enjoyable conference other cooks from across the place. It’s networking in a definitely neat way.”

Questioned why he keeps getting phone calls from Food items Network producers, Coleman humbly replied, “I don’t imagine I’m the most remarkable Television persona. But I know food items, and I believe they just want people who are self-assured and have a story to convey to.

“Every time I’m on, I make it a mission to speak about my hometown, Charlotte, and the elements we can resource locally here in North Carolina. I guess there’s some thing about a Southern guy.”

“Alex vs Cheese” is readily available on demand from customers on Foodstuff Network. The episode will also re-air at 2 p.m. Sunday.