Photo: Courtesy of Food Network
Last night in the season finale of Chopped All-Stars, Michael Proietti, Anne Burrell, Aaron Sanchez, and Nate Appleman faced off in front of judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Marcus Samuelsson, and Marc Murphy. Spoiler alert! The winner was Nate Appleman, per videos posted on Eater. Meanwhile, Food Network sends word that the second season of its Scott Conant vehicle 24 Hour Restaurant Battle will premiere on April 21 at 10 p.m. The judges this time around: Geoffrey Zakarian, Marcus Samuelsson, Ben Leventhal of the Feast, Gabriella Gershenson of Saveur, PR maven Alison Brod, Save the Deli author David Sax, Drew Nieporent of Nobu and Corton, and Outback Steakhouse co-founder Tim Gannon. Here’s the rundown of contestants.
Premiering Thursday, April 21st at 10pm ET/PT - “Battle of the Exes”
Davina Thomasula, a bartender at Park Bar, and Michele Ragussis, head chef and manager of Dutch Boy Burgers, co-own Stuft Catering in Brooklyn, N.Y. but seek to create their very own traditional restaurant called Avery Point. Eric Paraskevas, executive chef at Terra Restaurant in Philadelphia, and Laura Sandoval, a graduate student and server at Terra Restaurant, dream of seeing their own daring international restaurant, Magdalene, become a reality.
Premiering Thursday, April 28th at 10pm ET/PT - “Battle of Family Traditions”
Livingston, N.J. brothers Alexi Kavourakis, a compliance representative at Standard Chartered Bank, and Jonathan Kavourakis, a cook at Commerce Restaurant in New York City’s West Village, channel their Greek family traditions into a modern diner called Jaks Diner. Best friends Hope Billings, a Verizon call center manager in Livingston, N.J., and Natalie Stephenson, executive assistant at an asset management company in Philadelphia, overcome personal battles in hopes of opening Savor, an upscale and modern restaurant with traditional Southern specialties.
Premiering Thursday, May 5th at 10pm ET/PT - “Asian Food Battle”
Maiki Le, a sous chef at Josie Restaurant from Los Angeles, and Meghna Gandhi, an office assistant in Orange, Calif., dream of opening an Asian fusion restaurant, Piper. Anna Abbey, owner of catering company Rock ‘n’ Roll Noodle, and Stephanie Sposito, server at a fine dining restaurant, work together at a Chicago farmer’s market but dream of creating their restaurant called Street, where they can serve their Thai street food staples.
Premiering Thursday, May 12th at 10pm ET/PT - “Battle of the Twins”
Sylvia Jankowski, a clinician at Philadelphia’s Alexander McClure elementary school, and Sandra Baird, a Spanish teacher at Washington Lee High School and spin instructor in Arlington, Va., dream of bringing their grandmother’s family-style Spanish food to their restaurant, Allegria. Daniel and David Lipka, twin brothers from Elmhurst, Ill., co-own a bar called Art’s Tavern but dream of owning a casual full-service restaurant serving modern twists on American classics, called Vintage Social Club.
Premiering Thursday, May 19th at 10pm ET/PT - “Deli Battle”
Working together at New York restaurant Mark, Erik Rubin, chef and general manager, and Donna Erlich, manager, both grew up alongside their fathers in the restaurant business and now dream of opening an upscale deli called Rubin’s Reubens. New York-based brother and sister duo Zach Israel, operations manager of Hudson Terrace, and Sasha Israel, a bartender at SideBar and Hudson Terrace as well as a freelance photographer, dream of meshing a New York sports bar with a Kosher-style deli to create their restaurant, Izzy’s.
Premiering Thursday, May 26th at 10pm ET/PT - “Themed Restaurant Battle”
Brothers-in-law Rob Zahner, owner of Floral Park Florists in Floral Park, N.Y., and Tom Henrichs, executive chef at The Swan Club catering facility in Glenwood Landing, N.Y., focus on their love of German food to open a beer hall called G.A.S.T. HAUS. Texas-based best friends Carrie Layne (of Dallas), CEO of BestofTexas.com and BestBuzz.Biz, and Ann Marie Romero (of Allen), an account executive at BestofTexas.com and BestBuzz.Biz, bring their love of roller derby and sassy personalities together to create a gastropub called Bout.
