LIFE

Amenia chef conquers Food Network's 'Chopped'

Geoffrey Wilson
Poughkeepsie Journal

As the cameras started rolling on the "Chopped" set, it seemed the challenges were stacking up for Dafna Mizrahi.

On top of the normal challenges the cooking competition show's contestants face, such as time and required ingredients, Mizrahi was up against a culinary theme that didn't mesh with her typical style.

But, it was these challenges that made victory all the more sweet, Mizrahi said.

Mizrahi, chef and owner at Monte's Local Kitchen & Tap Room in Amenia, beat three competing chefs and impressed a panel of celebrity chefs and judges to win $10,000 on Food Network's "Chopped," which aired Thursday.

Amenia chef to represent Dutchess on 'Chopped'

The episode, titled "Chopped Gastropub," tasked chefs with making a three-course meal with mystery ingredients and a pub fare theme.

Mizrahi went into the competition with confidence from her past experience cooking for videos by Weber Grills.

"It can go either way," Mizrahi said. "If you have any fear, yes, it may affect you. But I went in with a really strong energy."

Even so, the show's strict time limits and rules proved rigorous.

"It's a huge challenge," Mizrahi said. "There's a lot of pressure and anxiety happening."

Stamina played another factor, as the one-hour show takes more than 12 hours to produce between cooking and interviews. Mizrahi said that the overall process ran from 6:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

"Prior to going on, I watched the show twice," Mizrahi said. "I didn't even know the judges when I got there, but I knew if I had the right ingredients, I'd be able to make something to impress them."

Dafna Mizrahi, chef-owner of Monte's Local Kitchen and Tap Room in Amenia, will compete on Food Network's "Chopped."

Mizrahi donated half her winnings to Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, a non-profit horse rescue based in Dover Plains. In choosing a charity, Mizrahi said she wanted to benefit her community.

The rest of the prize will be benefit her restaurant.

"Everything I do is going to tie back to the restaurant in some way," Mizrahi said.

As for the future, Mizrahi said she is working with an agent and looking at the possibility of starring in her own show. But as a Dutchess County resident and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Mizrahi said the area is a core component of her culinary identity.

"My home is Dutchess County, and I will continue to focus on the area if I can," Mizrahi said.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: @PoJoGeoffWilson.