Dec 12, 2022Potato Expo: A quick Q&A with Ted Allen
If there’s something Ted Allen is known for, it’s judging of food. Bravo’s “Top Chef” featured him as a judge in its first few seasons, and Food Network and its lineup of renowned cooking competition shows — like “Chopped,” “Chopped Junior,” “Iron Chef America” and others — wouldn’t be complete without him gracefully delivering the final verdicts.
Allen is now bringing that to Potato Expo, where he’ll judge Chefs Simon Majumdar and Duff Goldman on their culinary magic featuring a key ingredient: spuds.
You’ve judged a lot of intense competitions. Where does this one rank? (Remember, this could determine the potato’s superstardom.)
Yes, from Iron Chef America to Chopped and beyond, I’ve judged exacting cooking competitions for almost 20 years, now — and I love doing it! This Spud’s for You is going to be especially exciting; there is almost no ingredient as versatile and delicious as this noble vegetable, and I can’t wait to see what the brilliant culinary minds of Simon and Duff come up with. And the competition is stiff: These two chefs love to win — and they HATE to lose! (Suddenly, I’m feeling the pressure.)
What is it that drew you to Potato Expo?
When I heard about Potato Expo and the battle of these titans, I immediately wanted to be a part of it. I’ve loved all things potato since I was a kid, I cook with them all the time, and I can’t wait to see what happens when two incredibly skilled and competitive people give it their all!
We have yet to reach peak potato, so what are you hoping to see happen in the culinary world regarding potatoes?
The quest for peak potato will never end! It’s too delicious for us to ever stop the search for potato perfection. And while trends can be fun, the potato is so iconic and beloved, I’m not sure it even needs them.
Any recommendations for getting more potatoes on more plates?
Never stop imagining, experimenting, trying new combinations of ingredients and techniques. That’s the fun part!
The gamble is on, so whose team do you think will win?
There’s no way to predict who will take the title in this bout! But I’m honored to get to taste Duff and Simon’s work. And, as always, my decision will be based solely on the food on the plate.
