SWFL Chefs are Lighting Up the Small Screen

Four of our own are gracing TVs across the country.

We’re experiencing a bit of a pop culture renaissance for local chefs representing our neck of the woods in cooking competition shows.

First up was chef Gerald Sombright of Ario on Marco Island, picked as a cheftestant for season 14 of the award-winning Top Chef on Bravo. He was eliminated early on but cooked to redeem himself for two extra weeks on its companion web series, Last Chance Kitchen (he won the first episode before ultimately packing up his knives on Dec. 15).

Next was chef Andy Hyde of Chef Hyde Gourmet. His speed and finesse, gained from years of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens throughout Europe and refined through his private chef business in Naples, quickly impressed judge Richard Blais on the Dec. 11 episode of Guy’s Grocery Games. He advanced to the second round of the Food Network show but bowed out in a tightly fought battle against another chef. (To see the full episode, click here.)

Last but not least, we’re eagerly awaiting the debut of two local chefs on upcoming installments of Alton Brown’s Cutthroat Kitchen, also a Food Network program. Chef Asif Syed of 21 Spices in Naples (one of Gulfshore Life’s 10 Best New Restaurants of the year), along with chef Andy Hamilton of Pine Island’s Saltwater Smokehouse, both filmed episodes this past year that are said to be airing in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to foodnetwork.com listings for when.

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