Local chef Brian Cieslak has been cooking since he was 13. Now, the talented 24-year-old will take the culinary stage on Food Network’s Chopped in an episode airing Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m..
Cieslak is currently a cook at Preserve in Annapolis, though his impressive resume is full to bursting with Baltimore-based experience: He served as a sous chef at Fleet Street Kitchen, Bookmakers Cocktail Club and Waterfront Kitchen, working a total of 4.5 years under Chef Chris Amendola.
He says he heard about the Chopped opportunity on Craigslist, of all places (but was also contacted by a local scout).
“I was very excited,” he says. “I knew it was going to be a one-of-a-kind experience, and I knew representing for Baltimore on national television was going to do a lot for my family and friends.”
Though he can’t discuss the results of the show until after it has aired, Cieslak says that what goes into the hour-long episode is actually a “very long day” with “a ton of sitting around and waiting.”
He also expresses that the famous judges were “very interesting,” and he appreciated the opportunity to “explore New York for three days.”
Though Preserve is not having a viewing party, exactly, Cieslak says his episode will air on the restaurant’s television Thursday evening. We look forward to seeing how he does!
Images courtesy of The Food Network.
