DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – A Wicksburg chef was surprised with a challenge from one of America’s top chefs, appeared on national television and won with the help of his Southern-style cooking.
Home cook and food blogger Chelsea Gieselman, known locally for her brand “South Grits Kitchen” and with nearly 9,500 followers on Facebook and Instagram, was the centerpiece of Season 3, Episode 2 of Food Network’s “Outchef’d” on Thursday night.
The show pits amateur home chefs against culinary masters in a single-round cooking contest, with one vote from a panel of randomly selected judges giving the home chef the chance to take home a $5,000 prize.
During her nationally televised test, Chelsea surprised host Eddie Jackson when what she thought was an audition turned into a seafood showdown against Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef of New York City’s Butter restaurant and a veteran culinary talent that included winning “The Next Iron Chef: Redemption” in 2012.
Chelsea Gieselman of Outchef’d (Food Network)
The panel of four judges, whom Eddie met on the streets of New York, gave Chelsea’s Cajun Shrimp with Crab Grits a wide margin of victory, beating Chef Alex’s Crab Cakes by one vote with three votes, earning her $5,000 for each vote and an additional $2,000 for two votes, for a total of $7,000.
To celebrate the occasion, Chelsea hosted a viewing party for the premiere episode of “Outchef’d” Thursday night at Rock N’ Roll Sushi in Dothan.
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