Feature
BY JENNA BAGCAL
An Astoria chef at a popular Greek
restaurant emerged victorious on a
recent episode of Food Network's
"Chopped."
Nicholas Poulmentis, the executive chef
and co-owner of Akrotiri Seafood Taverna,
located at 29-20 30th Ave., was one of
the four contestants on the episode, which
aired at 9 p.m. on July 3.
Courtesy of The Food Network
ASTORIA CHEF
SLICES AND DICES
HIS WAY TO VICTORY
on popular Food Network
show 'CHOPPED'
The chef's appetizer, entree and dessert
carried him through each round of the com-petition
to ultimately win the $10,000 prize.
On the episode, Poulmentis told the judges,
Marc Murphy, Alex Guarnaschelli and Martha
Stewart, that if he won, he would use the prize
money to travel to Greece with his family.
When QNS spoke to Poulmentis be-fore
the show aired, he said that he was
"super excited" for Tuesday's show, and
relieved that the wait was finally over.
40 JULY 2018 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
The chef said that it was hard to keep his
participation in the show a secret from his
family and friends.
According to Poulmentis, once chosen
to appear on "Chopped," the production
team does not allow contestants to talk
about their participation during the film-ing
process.
"My daughter lost her mind," said the
chef after he told his family he was going
to be on the show. "I was super happy
because it's all about her and the kids."
The husband and father of two came
to Astoria from the island of Kythira in
Greece six years ago, after his country
was undergoing economic hardships,
as previously reported by QNS. Grow-ing
up, the chef worked in restaurants
and received his culinary education in
Anavysos culinary school in Greece and
Le Cordin Bleu in Paris. To date, the chef
and Michelin Star winner has had over 25
Courtesy of Nicholas Poulmentis
/www.qns.com
