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Last week, Barcelona Chef Christian Petroni took top honors in the 2010 premiere episode of Food Network's hit TV show, "Chopped." The executive chef and general manager of Barcelona Wine Bar's Greenwich location won $10,000 and some serious bragging rights among his fellow chefs in the Barcelona group, which also includes locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield, West Hartford and New Haven.
Petroni claims the experience was similar to a night in his restaurant kitchen. "You have to be able to think on your feet and make spur of the moment decisions," he said. According to the chef, it was one of the Barcelona co-owners who encouraged him to audtion. "He said he wouldn't hire anyone he didn't think could win," he mused.
"Chopped" asks a group of four chefs to create dishes in a small window of time using a collection of mystery ingredients that are revealed just moments before the competition and cooking begin. On this episode the ingredients were as follows:
First course: Mussels, asparagus, cactus pear, and beans. Second course: Poussin, watermelon radish, sharp cheddar, and frozen waffles. Third course: Green papaya, saltine crackers, dried mango, and cotton candy.
The most unusual ingredient had to be the cotton candy," he said, laughing. "Who ever cooks with cotton candy?
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