Local Caterer on Chopped

Executive Chf Taji Marie appears on Chopped, airing tonight at 7 p.m. on the Food Network.

Marie is half of the local cooking school and catering company Simple Gourmet, based in Redondo Beach. She and Melanie Barsuk, a Hermosa Beach resident, cater for the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy, said Barsuk.

Marie, who creates most of Simple Gourmet's recipes, will have 30 minutes to create something spectacular from a basket of random ingredients.