Why Chocolate Cream Pie Brings Out Bobby’s Inner Child

If there’s one thing Bobby Flay is known for, it’s his struggle with baking. But when Bobby and his arch-nemesis, dessert, came face-to-face in Season 23 of Beat Bobby Flay, his competitor’s dish of choice fell conveniently within his wheelhouse. Chef DaVee Harned had no way of knowing that Bobby’s first memory of cooking was making chocolate pudding with his mom. So when she chose chocolate cream pie as her signature dish, the competition (much like Bobby’s pudding with the addition of cascabel chiles) heated up.

But even with legendary actor Drew Barrymore and chef Michael Voltaggio heckling him every step of the way, Bobby faced his fear of baking head-on with nothing but nostalgia and the teachings of his pastry chef by his side.

The Competition: Chef DaVee Harned

As she entered the arena with a flawless back walkover, chef DaVee Harned made it known to Taste by Spellbound owner and chef Miriam Taylor and Mr. Flay that they were both in for a challenge. When Bobby revealed the secret ingredient to be chocolate hazelnut spread, both contestants breathed a sigh of relief, followed by the instant realization that their competitor was also in their comfort zone. Whether it’s the name-brand favorite or an unspecified alternative, every pastry chef worth their sugar has at least a baker’s dozen go-to treats centered around the beloved chocolate hazelnut spread.

Chef DaVee, a former gymnast and current head pastry chef at Millers All Day in Charleston, South Carolina, ultimately came out on top, out-baking chef Miriam. With the goal of taking down Bobby, judges Drew and Michael knew Round 1’s winner had to be up to the task, though chef Miriam’s Swedish pancake with chocolate hazelnut cheesecake filling and berry compote received high praise from the judges.

But when chef DaVee came out with a whiskey chocolate hazelnut cake with chocolate hazelnut mousse and candied hazelnuts, the extent to which she’d incorporated the star ingredient was powerful enough to send her to Round 2 with one thing still on her mind: chocolate.

Round 2: Chocolate Cream Pie

“You’ve never even made that,” laughed Michael as Bobby tried his best to casually brush off the discomfort he seldom feels in his arena. Little did he know that Bobby’s pastry chef, Josephine Pacquing, has an upside-down, Mexican-chocolate cream pie recipe — and Bobby’s been taking notes. His love of Mexican chocolate inspired this spin on one of his favorite childhood desserts. Did kid Bobby prefer his chocolate cream pie upside down with cascabel chili pudding? Maybe.

All of that said, Bobby had never actually made chef Josephine’s dish himself. “Not too concerned that we need to sabotage him today,” noted Michael. “He’s definitely probably gonna sabotage himself.” That didn’t stop him and Drew from mimicking Bobby in schoolyard fashion. “I’ve watched my pastry chef do it, but I’ve never done it,” cried Drew through crocodile tears. Fun fact: this is the meanest Drew Barrymore has ever been to anyone.

A Spicy Twist

Before the final panel of judges got to taste Bobby’s dessert, Michael had to sneak in a spoonful of pudding. There was only one word he used to describe it: seductive. Before making things more awkward, he floated away, mildly frustrated that he trapped himself in a situation where he had to compliment Bobby. Not long after, Drew made the same mistake. She didn’t tell Bobby anything other than, “It’s OK,” but when she turned to the crowd, her clenched teeth showed everyone’s nightmare was becoming a reality: Bobby might win.

Chef DaVee stayed true to the classic iteration with a graham-cracker crust (with some saltines to bring out the sweetness), chocolate pudding, toasted meringue top and side of caramel.

While maintaining similar components, Bobby’s was a little different. Instead of crackers, he made a thin chocolate hazelnut crust that looked — to quote Drew — “like dirt.” Rather than toasted meringue, he inserted the essential creaminess in the form of bourbon whipped cream. The addition of cascabel chiles made his pudding the antithesis of the My-T-Fine Chocolate Pudding he and his mom made decades earlier. But his most radical change was flipping the dessert upside down: a pudding base, topped with hazelnut crumble and bourbon whipped cream beneath a disc of his signature dirt crust.

Cookbook-Worthy

“Visually, it looks like an unplanted flowerpot” was the main criticism judge and pastry chef Zac Young had for Bobby’s chocolate cream pie.

But the questionable presentation wasn’t enough to deter the judges from dubbing Bobby’s pie the winning dish. Not only that, but chef Josephine’s spiced chocolate cream pie recipe made it into Bobby’s cookbook: Beat Bobby Flay: Conquer the Kitchen With 100+ Battle-Tested Recipes.

As she came to terms with her failure in making Bobby a loser, Drew reflected on the day’s battle with a timeless quote. “Andy Warhol says you should fall in love with your eyes closed, and clearly that’s what happened today.” For the love of all that is good in this world, please, Drew, never change.