Dine with “Chopped Champ” Derek Walker at the Library Alehouse October 21, 2013
Chef Derek Walker of Bread and Roses Cafe, St. Joseph Center, in Venice is only one of a handful of neighborhood chefs to win the “Chopped” TV Show on the Food Network.
The show has a simple format: Four chefs compete against each other and the clock, and must use ingredients in a mystery basket to make a meal of three courses, one in each round. A panel of celebrity chefs judge each round and eliminate a chef who is “Chopped.” The winning chef is awarded $10,000 and the title.
Even when the “Chopped” show first aired on the Food Network first aired, host Ted Allen lent an air of intelligence and serious to the show despite the often silly novelty ingredients in the basket. And the basket! A black wicker hamper which opens from the center with a swooping air of pomp. Over the years there have been themes and championships form the champions on the show and even contests among the judges themselves.
So what goes on”behind the stove” on the show, starting with the grueling 12 hour shift to film it, that winds up being 22 minutes on air. Now you have a chance to find out for yourself.
Paying homage to Chef Derek Walker of Bread and Roses Café, St. Joseph Center, and his recent victory on the Food TV Network series “Chopped,” Chef-Partner, Tom Hugenberger of the Library Alehouse on Main Street in Santa Monica, will create his own meal using the same basket ingredients in the show challenge, Monday evening October 21, beginning at 6 p.m. 
Chef Walker will make his winning dessert of Aged Cheddar and Apple Cookies with Spiced Chocolate Ganache and Fried Mint, and share his insider’s view of the “back stove” doings of the Food Network’s most popular series.
Profits from the event will benefit the St. Joseph Center. The cost is $29.11 (Library Alehouse address). Beverages, tax and tip are not included. Cicerone, Alex P. Davis, will pair beers with each course for an additional $9.
Seating is limited. For details and reservations, 310-314-4855 or 310-701-6412, www.facebook.com/stjosephcent ,www.libraryalehouse.com
As a bonus, “Library Alehouse Cards,” which offer a 15 % discount on meals at the restaurant, will be distributed to all the attendees.
Derek Walker is St. Joseph Center’s Executive Chef at Bread and Roses Café and teaches in the Culinary Training Program. Read about Chef Walker’s win at: https://www.facebook.com/stjosephctr, http://stjosephctr.org/bread_roses.html,
http://stjosephctr.org/culinary_training.html,
Library Alehouse: www.libraryalehouse.com