p(right caption). Chef Dennis whips up Apple Butter Tarts

Food Channel Chef Dennis Pitchford took turns taking the stage this weekend with the two most recent winners of the FOX network’s Hell’s Kitchen reality TV competition. The three culinary artists were the featured performers at the ‘Taste of the Ozarks’ Food Show sponsored by Springfield Grocer Company. The trio demonstrated cooking techniques for attendees from the restaurant industry.

(When you think about it, with his last name, Pitchford, Dennis would be a natural to appear on the show. Dennis “Pitchfork” Pitchford.)

Chef Dennis also seized the opportunity to interview the two Hell’s Kitchen victors for video segments that will be posted on The Food Channel this week, so stay tuned for that. We’ll find out if the reality show’s star, Chef Gordon Ramsay, is really as mean as he appears on the series.

Classmates reconnect

Chef Christina Machamer, winner of the 2008 Hell’s Kitchen series, was a classmate of Chef Dennis at the Culinary Institute of America, so the two spent some time reminiscing about their days at the CIA.
At one point, Christina even belted out a couple verses from a humorous song based on one of the classes they had both taken at the hallowed Hyde Park, NY, culinary academy.

A persistent fly made his presence felt during Christina’s interview, making an unscheduled landing on her face at one point. Professionals that they are, the two chefs carried on without cracking up. We’ll have to wait and see whether the annoying insect shows up on the video—and I guess we’ll have to decide whether or not to edit the little guy out or leave him in for comic relief.

p(right caption). Hell’s Kitchen Winners Rock and Christina

Chef Rock Harper, the 2007 season winner, clearly enjoyed performing for the crowd, sprinkling his cooking demo with a generous measure of humor. During his interview with Chef Dennis, Rock offered some interesting comments about the city of Las Vegas, where he has been working most recently.

Chef Christina demonstrated a flatbread pizza, while Chef Rock demo’d a Savannah Slaw. Chef Dennis showed how to create an Apple Butter Tart, samples of which were quickly devoured by the crowd. Copies of the recipe were also snapped up by the show attendees. Of course, you can find the recipe right here on the site.

VIDEO: “Here’s a little taste of the event.