This Culinary Couple Fought for Control of Their Home Kitchen on 'Chef Grudge Match'

She trained under elite chefs from around the world.

He is a James Beard nominee and works on a farm that's been in his family since the late 1800s.

She was the senior executive chef for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He is the author of a Gullah Geechee cookbook.

She says he doesn’t use enough salt.

He says she focuses too much on the numbers.

Neither Tia Raiford nor her husband, Matthew, was willing to concede the title of head chef without the help of Chef Grudge Match host (and boxing legend) Laila Ali and judges Jet Tila and Stephanie Izard.

“I’ve paid my dues. For him to acknowledge that I’m the better chef is long overdue," Tia said.

The Challenge Ingredients

Competitors on Chef Grudge Match each pick a “secret weapon” — an ingredient that must be included in the meal. Tia and Matthew went for blood.

She chose canned collard greens. “The can is his adversary,” she explained.

Not to be outdone, Matthew brought mayonnaise, which Tia despises.

“Tia hates mayonnaise to the level she doesn't even like to taste it. She doesn’t like to smell it,” he said.

The evening’s task: create a romantic dinner.

30 Minutes to Win It

With $10,000, bragging rights and the other chef’s favorite kitchen knife on the line, the couple got to work. Tia chose to make collard green gnocchi — using mayonnaise as a binder.

“What my husband doesn’t realize is that even though I don't like mayonnaise, I know what to do with it,” she said.

Meanwhile, Matthew worked to make a shrimp po' boy sandwich with collard green pesto. From his cooking station, he taunted Tia by adding plenty of salt to the dish.

The alleged lack of salt in Matthew’s cooking, by the way, is what initially started their cooking rivalry.

Happily Ever After

With 44 points to Matthew’s 42, Tia eked out the win with her unique take on gnocchi. In addition to her bragging rights, $10,000 and Matthew’s prized cleaver, Tia also got her other wish: a sign in their kitchen declaring “Chef Tia’s Kitchen.”

“It’s awesome to be his partner, but it feels even better to win,” she said.

Later, host Laila called this her favorite Chef Grudge Match battle.

"It was really fun to watch them," she said. "I have a husband [and I] understand some of those types of disputes, right? [I was wondering] if they were actually going to be able to lay the grudge to bed."

We’re happy to report that the Raifords left the set holding hands, so it seems like things are just fine.