11 Things You Didn't Know About Elizabeth Falkner — Chopped All-Stars
Janet Rhodes, 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
FN Dish is counting down to the season 3 premiere of Chopped All-Stars by introducing a competitor every day. Sixteen competitors including Food Network and Cooking Channel talent, renowned chefs, Chopped judges and celebrities are competing for a chance to win the title of All-Stars champion and a $50,000 donation to charity. Watch the premiere on Sunday, April 7, at 9pm/8c and keep coming back to FN Dish for exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes previews.
Elizabeth Falkner first wowed the culinary world with her desserts before turning her attention to savory dishes. She has competed on Iron Chef America, The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs and recently, The Next Iron Chef: Redemption. Elizabeth previously ran her pastry shop, Citizen Cake, and restaurant, Orson, in San Francisco before relocating to Brooklyn to open her new Southern Italian restaurant, Krescendo. But there's a lot you don't know about Elizabeth — for example, she hates really sweet desserts. And if she weren't a chef, she would probably have been a superhero. You'll have to watch to find out whether she uses any special powers in the Chopped kitchen. Find out more about Elizabeth in her Q&A below.
What's your Achilles' heel ingredient, one that you hate to work with or encounter in someone else's dish?
Elizabeth Falkner: I just hate having sugary sweet desserts or food.
What dish or ingredient will we never catch you eating?
What was your most memorable meal? What, where, who? Details, please.
EF: Best meal I had recently was at La Vara in Brooklyn — it was dinner not long ago with Anita Lo and some friends. Amazing combinations and divine flavors. I also had a great lunch with Chef Bill Yosses, pastry chef of the White House, last summer at Eleven Madison Park. So Fun! Tasting menu was so delicious and beautiful, and a modern cocktail version of a Manhattan served in the kitchen with the use of liquid nitrogen. And the bergamot vanilla egg cream at the end of lunch.
EF: I have been obsessed with making coffee cakes at home in the mornings and I would say that is a guilty pleasure food for me. And, of course, my gelato!
Is there one dish that you always order out and never make at home?
EF: I order Thai chicken curry and Pad Si Ew. I don't make those at home.
If you weren’t in food, what career would you like to have tried?
EF: Now, I visit San Francisco, a great food city to visit. Montreal is up high on the list! LA and Chicago too!
EF: Favorite late-night snack is dinner! Pasta and/or salads with cheese and nuts. Or bruschetta with scrambled eggs and bottarga!
EF: I love to cook with other chefs: Gabrielle Hamilton, Alex Guarnaschelli, Barbara Lynch, Dominique Crenn and my crew at Krescendo!
Elizabeth is competing for The Edible Schoolyard Project.