A Boston-area chef put his skills to the test on Food Network’s popular cooking show “Chopped” this week in a Chinese food-themed episode, which could have helped his overall performance.
“It’s an absolute honor to be named ‘Chopped Champion,’ especially on an episode celebrating Chinese food — something that’s very important to me,” chef Laurence Louie told MassLive Wednesday.
Louie, who is the chef and owner of Rubato Hong Kong Cafe in Quincy, beat out three other chefs in the cooking competition that pits four chefs against each other in three rounds: appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
The chefs get a basket containing four mystery ingredients, which they then have 30 minutes to make into a dish. After each course, one contestant gets “chopped” until one chef is left standing.
Louie made chicken siu mai, which are open-faced dumplings, with tanghulu sauce, as his appetizer.
He then prepared butter-poached salmon with fried milk breadcrumbs and bitter melon pilaf for his entrée. He made a jackfruit tart with milk tea crème patissiere and chow mein noodle crumble for dessert.
For Louie, this win signifies more than just the title of “Chopped Champion” and a $10,000 check.
“Taking home the win has meant a lot to me, my community, and my family,” Louie added. “With our first child on the way, this moment is something I hope to share with the folks around me now, but also the future generations.”
Louie’s restaurant specializes in traditional Hong Kong and Cantonese comfort food, but with a modern twist. Rubato has garnered attention from Eater Boston, Bon Appétit and now “Chopped.”
Louie was also named as a James Beard semifinalist last month, The Patriot Ledger reported. People can taste Louie’s food by visiting Rubato at 412 Hancock St. in Quincy.
