Derek Christensen, a Phoenix-based chef who has worked at Bacanora and currently runs a pop-up called Nordborg at Sauvage wine bar, is the latest winner of Food Network’s “Chopped.”
The episode, titled “Southwestern Strength,” premiered on June 25 and featured four chefs from the Southwest: two from New Mexico, one from Colorado and Christensen. Using ingredients such as prickly pear and mesquite flour, the chefs were tasked with creating an appetizer first, then an entree and finally a dessert. One chef is eliminated after each round until one winner remains.
Christensen won it all, taking home the grand prize of $10,000 after wowing the judges with his mesquite-spiced date clafoutis, made with mesquite flour, ruby red grapefruit, white chocolate chips and cactus-shaped macarons. He celebrated his win at a watch party at Wren House Brewing in Phoenix on Tuesday night.
It was his second time appearing on a Food Network show. Ten years ago, Christensen appeared on an episode of “Cutthroat Kitchen,” which he said was “the most chaotic show to be on.” In contrast, he said the “Chopped” set was full of good energy and a generally more relaxed experience. The biggest challenge this time around, he said, was the clock.
“Watching a few episodes before I went out there to film, I was like, alright, absolutely, I’ll have all of my plates ready and plated with five minutes left,” Christensen told The Arizona Republic. “But that’s not realistic at all. The time just flies so quickly.”
Where to find Derek Christensen’s food in Phoenix
You can try Christensen’s cooking every Thursday and Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. at his Nordborg pop-up inside Sauvage wine bar in Phoenix.
He said Nordborg has evolved over the last few months from experimenting with Nordic and Scandinavian food to his current “summer holiday” series, which takes inspiration from a different part of the Mediterranean each week.
How to watch Derek Christensen on “Chopped”
“Southwestern Strength” was the 12th episode of Season 58 of “Chopped.” The episode aired on Food Network on June 25. A rerun is scheduled for 11 a.m. Arizona time on Tuesday, July 2.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix chef Derek Christensen wins Food Network’s ‘Chopped’
