Memphis’ Chef Tam wins Food Network’s ‘Chopped’
Tamra Patterson, known by most Memphians as Chef Tam, can add “Chopped” champion to her list of accolades.
On the April 5 episode of the popular Food Network show “Chopped,” Patterson battled against four other chefs and won the big prize of $10,000. While many Memphians have competed on the show, she is the first to win.
“I can’t wait to tell my son” was her initial reaction when she realized she had won. “I came to ‘Chopped’ and kicked tail. It feels amazing!”
This was Patterson’s first time to appear on “Chopped,” but not her first time on Food Network. She has competed on three different episodes of “Guy’s Grocery Games,” even winning once. She has also competed on OWN’S “Great American Cookout.”
“This is something I have always wanted to do and the hardest show I have ever competed on,” Patterson said when her appearance on the competition show was announced. “It was fun, but nerve-wracking.”
Patterson is the chef and owner of Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe in Downtown Memphis. Since opening in March 2017, Chef Tam has made a name for herself for her creative Southern soul food dishes.
On the “Chopped” episode titled “Epic BLT Battle,” the chefs found Bltthemed ingredients in every basket and were encouraged to celebrate the classic flavor combination in their dishes.
In the first round, Patterson wowed the judges with her Fried Mac-ncheese Ball served with a Sriracha-tomato Sauce. “I make fried mac-ncheese in the restaurant every day ... winner-winner chicken dinner,” she said when she saw the basket ingredients, which included macaroni-andcheese.
“I told them I made them really big because I am from Texas,” said Patterson of the dish that kept her off the first chopping block.
For the next round, the challenge was to create an entrée from the sandwich ingredients. The basket included pork belly, a lettuce bouquet, tomato vodka and beets.
Patterson created what she called “a play on Shrimp & Grits” — Cheddar Grits with a Tomato Vodka-beet Cream Sauce topped with Crispy Pork Belly and Crispy Fried Kale Chips.
The dish was a success, and Patterson moved on to the Dessert Round.
For that final round, bacon grease, lettuce-flavored ice cream, roasted tomatoes and strawberry milk powder were the mysterious basket ingredients.
Patterson said round three was the most stressful. “First, I was up against a pastry chef,” she said of her fear of that round. “Then the lettuce ice cream in the basket was the worst thing I have ever tasted.”
Patterson overcame her apprehensions and avoided the final chopping block with a Stuffed French Toast BLT filled with a strawberry and tomato puree and topped with a lettuce whipped cream and candied bacon.
“I love the candied bacon, I thought it was great,” judge Marc Murphy said of the winning dish.
“I wanted to win to show my son you can do anything you want to,” Patterson said.
“It feels feel great to be the first Memphian to have won the show,” she added. “I can’t tell you how great it feels to represent the city of Memphis. I would love to be able to continue to do that.”
So what’s next for the newest “Chopped” champion?
“I have never stopped to enjoy a milestone like this,” Patterson said. “I would like to take a moment to relish in this victory.”
We predict she won’t sit still long. In the past year alone, she has launched a line of cookware, started a collection of juices and opened a second Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe restaurant in Arlington, Texas.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.