"Chopped" Winner Dunn Recaps his Victory on LIVE
"Chopped" Winner Dunn Recaps his Victory on LIVE
“It has been a whirlwind, but fun to be a mini Rhode Island celebrity, but what I think is cooler is the provincial Rhody pride,” says Chef Dunn.
With celebrity chefs Martha Stewart, Marcus Samuelsson, and Maneet Chauhan as judges and a very limited amount of time to produce dishes incorporating mystery items provided, the pressure is extreme. Chef Dunn says he had a few of the most challenging ingredients to cook with “Durian fruit and pigs ears were in the baskets, and I ran the gauntlet of difficult ingredients to cook with”.
However, Chef Dunn lucked out with quahogs as a mystery item, being very well versed in the classic Rhode Island shellfish.
“Getting Quahogs was like manna from the Gods. It is funny, they had to do a couple of takes because my first reaction was disbelief. I made Rhode Island clam chowder, and I think that first round really won me the competition” says Chef Dunn. “I have a lot of faith in my ability to cook for people, to bridge that gap between myself and the diner. I really paid attention to each of their criticisms in each of the judgings, I learned a lot from them, and I think they could tell. That gave me an advantage because I was so open and teachable.”
Chef Dunn is the executive chef and owner of Eli’s Kitchen in Warren, a favorite amongst the East Bay community. Chef Dunn takes local sourcing very seriously; everything from the bar stools to the produce is found locally in the community.
By supporting local farmers and local designers, Chef Dunn is able to extend himself into the community. It is important for him to be able to have something for everyone, “We do a little bit of everything. We make all of our own breads in house, and everything from scratch. My goal is that if your partner loves steak and you really want a vegan curry, you can come to Eli’s and you can both have something delicious”. A well-rounded menu allows him to reach a broad audience, and appeal to different tastes.
Watch Chef Eli Dunn’s victory on the Food Network’s "Chopped," “Tea Eggs and Sympathy” episode, and follow him on Instagram at @eliskitchenwarren.