Memphis chef wins Meals Network’s ‘Chopped’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis chef and restauranteur used her southern culinary competencies to become the Foods Network’s latest ‘Chopped’ champion and consider household a $10,000 prize.

Tamara Patterson, superior known as Chef Tam, took portion in the well-liked cooking levels of competition again in Oct, but the episode didn’t air until finally Tuesday night. Chef Tam mentioned it was tough holding the result a secret.

“I had to hold it underneath wraps. You had been sworn to secrecy,” stated Patterson.

Chef Tam, who owns Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe, has become a acquainted facial area on the Food items Network.

She has competed on “Guys Grocery Games” a few situations, where by she also managed to conquer out other cooks and acquire $16,000. Chef Tam is the first Memphis chef to acquire ‘Chopped.’

“I was competing versus individuals who have cooked in Michelin star dining places, and here I am, just a house-educated chef winning. It was definitely dope,” reported Patterson.

On ‘Chopped’, 4 cooks have to race in opposition to the clock to make an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. In the course of each individual spherical, they are pressured to use strange ingredients they pull out of a basket, and in each spherical, a contestant is removed.

“It was incredibly frantic, but it is tenser than you would at any time believe,” reported Patterson. We knew there was going to be a BLT topic, so we assumed, how can I make it a little bit various, but there is no way to get ready for it.”

Chef Tam received around the judges with her BLT fried mac-n-cheese ball and her BLT take on Shrimp and Grits and Stuffed French Toast.

“I believed, wow. I did it. I believed that this is virtually one thing I wrote down several years ago and claimed that I would do, and I’m getting an possibility to do it,” said Patterson.

Chef Tram opened ‘Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe‘ 5 yrs in the past and a short while ago opened ‘Chef Tam’s Express’ in Arlington, Texas.

All through the pandemic, she also ventured into the entire world of retail, marketing her personal cookware, sauces, and spices online.

“We around hundred products all branded that we experienced to just take on at the height of the pandemic,” she stated. We are just listed here milling out food items and our products every day.”

Chef Tam claimed there is no query her ‘Chopped” gain will be excellent for Memphis and her dining establishments and hopes she receives invited again.

“For me, it actually was a aspiration appear correct,” Patterson claimed.

Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe is found at 668 Union Avenue. You can learn far more about Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe and check out out their menu at https://www.thecheftam.com/.