America’s top Teppanyaki chefs have come to Hawaii to slice and dice their way through two rounds of competition. The speed round is a blur of steel, fire and steam as the competitors cook a surf and turf dinner in the time it usually takes to order a meal. In the signature round anything goes as the competitors attempt to entertain a tough panel of judges using everything from magic to juggling, all while creating a mind-blowing meal. Be careful. This show is dangerous!
COMPETITORS:
Kevin Matsuda Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort’s Musashi Restaurant Mililani, Hawaii
Kalae Tanaka Teppanyaki Chef – Sheraton Maui Wailuku, Hawaii
Nick Narimatsu Teppanyaki Chef at Tanaka of Tokyo Honolulu, Hawaii
Lam Ha Executive Teppanyaki Chef – Ichiban Restaurant Minneapolis, Minn.
Cavin Ross Head Chef/Bartender – Fire & Ice South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Judges: Tony Nemoto Benihana Regional Chef
Peter Tanhnavong Owner/Chef – Pacific Wave Restaurant St. Petersburg, Fla.
Charles Phan is the inventor of modern Vietnamese cuisine in America and Executive Chef and Owner of the Slanted Door family of restaurants. Born in Da Lat, Vietnam in 1962, the Phan family relocated just before the fall of Saigon, and spent two years in Guam before finally settling in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1977. A former architecture student at UC Berkeley (and a one-time software salesman), Phan opened his first restaurant, The Slanted Door, on Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District in 1995. It was quickly recognized for its unique Vietnamese flavor. The restaurant relocated from its original space to its current location in the historic Ferry Building in 2004. Phan’s other restaurants are: Out the Door/OTD, The Coachman, Hard Water, South at SFJAZZ, and Green Cap Catering. All are located in San Francisco, California. In 2004, Phan won the James Beard Foundation award for “Best Chef: California.” The Slanted Door was also nominated in the “Outstanding Restaurant” category in 2008, 2013 and 2014. In 2010 and 2011, Phan was nominated “Outstanding Chef” by the foundation. The Slanted Door won Outstanding Restaurant in 2014.Charles has been featured on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything, and Esquire Network’s Knife Fight. In addition to his awards and accolades, Phan is a leader in San Francisco food community and has participated in charitable events including Share Our Strength, Project Open Hands, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Make a Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, CUESA, Alex’s Lemonade, One Vietnam, 18 Reasons, Taste of the Nation. Charles’ first cookbook “Vietnamese Home Cooking” published by Ten Speed Press won 2013 IACP Chefs and Restaurants cookbook award. His second cookbook “The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food” was published in the Fall of 2014. Charles' Restaurants:Out the Door (San Francisco, CA)The Slanted Door (San Francisco, CA)OTD (San Francisco CA)Charles' Books:The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food (2014)Vietnamese Home Cooking (2012)
Chef Cliff Crooks connects with three chefs in need of help, starting with Carlos in New London, Conn. He came to the U.S. from Ecuador and achieved the American dream while working in kitchens, but as the head chef at Hot Rods Cafe, he must learn some tricks beyond cooking wings and burgers to help his best friend and the restaurant's owner bring in new customers to pay for a costly renovation. In Essex Junction, Vt., cooking saved the life of former addict Cody, but he needs help getting past his self-doubt to successfully run the kitchen at El Gato Cantina. Finally, Chef Cliff meets Kelly, a self-taught chef who transformed her health-food meal prep business into Fit Foodie Express in Long Beach, N.Y. She and her husband put their savings into the business, but her lack of cooking and restaurant experience could mean the end of not only their business but also their marriage.