A popular Detroit chef scored himself a victory on Food Network’s Chopped: All-American Showdown. Detroit chef Omar Anani, the mastermind behind Detroit’s Saffron De Twah restaurant has experienced much success over the years. In 2021, he was honored as a Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Food Fighter for his efforts in feeding those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he has been a consistent contender for the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Great Lakes region in the past two years.
Recently, on the Chopped: All-American Showdown, stood out as the champion of the North region. The current season of the cooking competition series gathered 16 cooks from various cities nationwide to represent the North, South, East, and West regions. As one of the four chefs representing the North, Anani showcased his culinary talent by crafting three dishes using ingredients from the notorious “Chopped” mystery box. The grand finale winner would have the chance to claim a $50,000 prize.
Food Network’s Chopped: All-American Showdown
During the competition, judges Eric Adjepong, Scott Conant, and Alex Guarnaschelli sought out all-American dishes, and Anani shared offerings that reflected the diverse flair of America. Anani’s creations included fried lake perch with a sautéed corn salad, goat meatballs infused with cardamom, clove, coriander, and other warm spices, and a chocolate peanut butter mahalabia with a root beer cherry gastrique.
Anani’s journey in the dessert course was particularly intense as he went head-to-head with Vedaa, representing Ohio, in the Michigan-Ohio rivalry. Anani’s dessert, featuring cherries, a Michigan summertime favorite, and buckeyes, the famous Ohio chocolate-covered peanut butter candy, emerged victorious, filling the people of Michigan with pride.
The Chopped: All-American Showdown continues next week, showcasing four chefs from the South who will compete for a spot in the grand finale scheduled to air on August 8th at 8 p.m.