Originally from New Hampshire, Dumont is the first Iron Chef challenger from the state. She is now executive chef at Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.
Judges
Ted Allen
Dana Cowin
Julie White
Challenger stats: Chef Dumont
Restaurants: Harvest in Harvard Square
Cuisine: Contemporary New England
Interests: Surfing and anything on the beach, big dinners with friends and family, collecting sauce spoons
Ideal secret ingredient: Fennel and smoked bacon
Culinary inspirations: Laurent Manrique, Alain Ducasse, Paula Wolfert and mostly, my family who is all in the restaurant business and taught me that I could do anything I put my heart into
Ideal judge: James Haller from the Blue Stawbery
Culinary secret weapon: Desire, belief, practice and sharp Misono knives
Favorite restaurant: Oliveto in Oakland, Calif.
Favorite food: Thai and sushi
Food you won't go near: Brains...they should stay in your head!
Weirdest thing you've ever eaten: Live uni out of the shell at Rungis Market in Paris at 4 am
Favorite food destination: Lunch among the grapes in Sonoma County with friends and German street food
Alternative dream job: Surfing photographer and traveling writer