Philly Chef Beats Bobby Flay On Food Network Cooking Competition

PHILADELPHIA — A local chef recently came out on top, beating a celebrity chef, on a long-running Food Network cooking competition show.

Scott Calhoun squared off against celebrity chef on the hit program "Beat Bobby Flay."

Calhoun, owner executive chef at Ember and Ash, 1520 E. Passyunk Ave. in Philadelphia, appeared on the program on Dec. 21 with his business partner and fellow executive chef Dave Feola.

The chefs had to compete against one another to determine who advanced to take on Bobby Flay.

"I don't think we've had anything like this before, two guys in business together going up against each other," Flay said on the show.

"We compete every day," Calhoun said.

"I'll take him down to get to you," Feola responded.

Ultimately, Calhoun's dish — a fire roasted hatch chili pepper stuffed with a shrimp mousse and served with tahina sauce — led celebrity chef judges Anne Burrell and Michael Symon to send him on for a battle with Flay.

"If I had to lose to someone, I'm glad it's someone I decided to go into business with," Feola said.

In the final round against Flay, Calhoun made a chicken liver pate with onions sous vide and a port wine reduction.

That dish was tasty and beautiful enough for three new judges — two chefs and a food TV host — to crown Calhoun the winner against Flay, who made chicken liver with pickled shallots and agrodolce sauce.

"I came here to prove that simple food can be beautiful and delicious," Calhoun said. "And I know that I've proved that tonight."

The episode is available to stream on demand via Xfinity and will soon be available on Discovery+.

Calhoun began his career in a sandwich shop in Lancaster and later attended the Culinary Institute of America.

He and Feola met while working at Jean Georges in New York City.

He's worked for noted restaurateurs Marc Vetri, Stephen Starr, and Jen Carrol before going into business with Feola.

Learn more about Calhoun, Feola, and Ember and Ash online here.