Restaurant Takeover: MasterChef Visits East Meadow

Long Island native Derrick Prince ventured to Los Angeles earlier this year to compete among 100 amateur chefs for the chance of a lifetime - to publish their own cookbook and win $250,000 - all under the guidance of culinary master Gordon Ramsay. 

Prince, 33, and owner Frank Buffolino have been longtime friends after crossing paths in the Long Island music scene, and finally got to collaborate in the kitchen Monday night.

The MasterChef contestant invaded East Meadow's F&S Bar and Grill to host a viewing party while serving up some of his signature dishes, like chorizo sope served with a fire roasted salsa, which earned him his spot on the FOX series, and pan seared chicken breast decorated in risotto style quinoa, collard greens and carrot ginger sauce.

"I wanted to do some of the food I made on MasterChef," Prince said. "I figured people who came that weren't friends of mine would want a dish that was from the show."

Monday night's specialty menu also served a kale and mustard greens salad, chili pei mussels and a flourless coffee chocolate cake.

Prince's style of cooking was a bit of a change from the standard fare seen at the East Meadow establishment. Buffolino's menu offers gourmet-style pub food with a little extra flair, while Prince presented his array of elegant dishes.

"Frank's restaurant is a more relaxed atmosphere, so what we did tonight was a lot different," Prince said. "But, a kitchen is a kitchen and tonight was a great time."

Prince, who currently resides in West Babylon, still views himself as a newbie in the kitchen. He has worked primarily as a freelance web designer over the last several years and just recently began to focus on his culinary career.

"My wife was always more into cooking than I was and I slowly started edging her out of the kitchen and doing more on my own," he said.

"I don't technically consider myself a chef," Prince added. "I did learn a lot on the show though. I learned a lot about food and I learned a lot about how to work with people, especially from the team challenges."

Prince has already seen a heap of success from his stint on MasterChef and hopes to seize any more opportunities that arise from his "15 minutes of fame".

"I worked staging at a restaurant in Chicago," said Prince, "and I have plans in December to cook at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Las Vegas."

Though he may be fairly new to the culinary world, Prince's dishes have been a big hit. Katie Mehr, a Wantagh resident, came out to support Prince on Monday and was more than impressed with his work.

"I've known Derrick for about two and a half years now through roller derby, and I was extremely psyched to come taste [his] dishes first hand," she said. "My eye was on the Chorizo as that was the dish that won him his slot on MasterChef, and as I anticipated, it was phenomenal."

Prince's future work plans are unknown but the rising star told Patch he wants to make a full transition to the kitchen.

"I'm a little sick of sitting in front of the computer and would love to get working over a stove."