Eric Adjepong hones his unique poker skills as host of 'Wild Card Kitchen' [Interview]

season 16 best chef Broadcast in 2018. The top three finalists for the Kentucky season of the reality series are: Eric Adjepong, Sarah Bradley and Kelsey Bernard Clark took home the top prize. Eric was eliminated before the finals, but the defeat did not hinder his career.in front best chef, Eric earned degrees in Culinary Arts and Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University. He continued his education at the University of Westminster in London, where he obtained a Master's degree in Public Health and International Public Health and Nutrition. It was also in London that he started working at a Michelin-starred restaurant.before returning stateside for the match. best chef.

Things only improved after Eric's first stint. best chef.He was invited back to the series and competed in Top Chef All Stars: LA.and eventually became a regular face on the Food Network, primarily as a judge on shows like chopped, tournament of championsis also the host of alex vs america.He is also a writer and we worked together penguin A children's book called Sankofa: A culinary story of resilience and belonging. This book follows the stories behind the food of the African diaspora. According to Masterclass, the Ghanaian word “means 'to take back' in the Akan Twi language, but the meaning of sankofa is expanded more widely in this Akan proverb: 'Se wo wa fi na. 'Wosankofa a Yenki' (translated from Akan), which means 'It is not taboo to go back to retrieve what you have forgotten'). Eric is Ghanaian-American and his culture is always at the forefront.

Currently, Eric is hosting a new Food Network series. wild card kitchena new competitive series with a poker twist.collider I had a chance to talk with Eric about his new series and the current state of West African cuisine in the American culinary landscape.

Eric Agyepong shines a light on the culinary beauty of the African diaspora

The American culinary world, especially in high-end restaurants, pays special respect to Western cuisines such as French, Italian, and other European cuisines. Americans have been trained to think of these foods as the height of sophistication because they have been the norm for decades. Eric is one of several Black chefs in the American culinary industry, working diligently to bring African flavors to fine dining.

When asked about the state of West African cuisine in fine dining, Eric said: “West African flavors and cuisines from around the continent are more prevalent in European culinary circles than in America. While things are moving forward internationally, Americans are now being introduced to the flavors of the continent. ”

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To help with that, Eric has partnered with: Ayo I created two dishes for my frozen food collection: Waakye and Chicken Yassa. This is a partnership he is extremely proud of. According to an article on LATaco.com, “African cuisine is vastly underrepresented and underrepresented in popular food media. Africa is one of the world's largest diasporas, with 54 countries and more than 1.4 billion people. Not telling these stories, which vary from region to region and disenchant and reinvent our understanding and relationship with food, is a colonialism that has marked a disastrous era in reporting. It's the same as succumbing to the ideas of the times.” The article also notes that many foods in American cuisine, such as rice and okra, came to America in the form of seeds brought by enslaved Africans. Africa is the second largest continent in the world, but the flavors of the various countries that make up Africa have yet to make their way into the mainstream American diet.

'Wildcard Kitchen' brings new twist to Food Network

Eric is the host of a new Food Network series. wild card kitchen. The new series is an unusual but exciting concept that combines cooking competition and poker. When asked about his poker skills, Eric was very candid: “Not at all!” He may not be a professional poker player, but he has learned a thing or two from watching his peers compete. wild card kitchen It takes place “after hours” in the Food Network's Test Kitchen. According to the premise, food network, that means the chefs will receive a special invitation to “bring $5,000 to play three hands of his Underground Cooking Poker game.” Get to know each other better. The participants fight to create a dish based on the cards they're dealt, betting with their instincts and cold hard cash, and have scores to settle and personal stakes to lose. While the luck of the draw determines dishes and cooking times, wild cards combine unpredictable challenges that will test chefs like never before. ”

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When asked how, wild card kitchen Different from other contest shows food network Eric “As you know, it's after hours, and our chefs are ready to win. You can see a different side of the chef. They are more relaxed and wear street clothes. It's relaxing and a lot of fun. ” He was genuine about the chefs taking things seriously. When it comes to who has the best poker face, Eric's answer may surprise some.

When asked, he said:Tiffany Faison I have some pretty good ones. But do you know who has a really good poker face? jettila! People wouldn't expect it, but he loves playing poker and is good at it. ” Eric also said that although he is new to poker, he is learning, as he is starting to notice the instructions Chef gives when playing the game.It will be interesting to see how relaxed you are food network Personality will appear wild card kitchen. With its poker concept and the idea of ​​being a chance to see the network's favorite chefs compete from a different perspective, the series has the potential to stand out among its contemporaries.

Wildcard Kitchen premieres on Tuesday, March 12th at 9pm ET and 8pm ET on Food Network. Episodes can be streamed online.Watch on Food Network