Athens-based chef and Puma Yu’s co-owner Pete Amadhanirundr appeared on Food Network’s competition show, “Chopped,” on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The episode was themed “Thai Takedown!” and featured Dom Hetrakul, a Thai actor who will be featured in the upcoming season of “The White Lotus,” to introduce ingredients to the competitors.
Amadhanirundr received a semifinalist nomination for Top Chef in the Southeast from the James Beard Foundation in 2024.
Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Amadhanirundr expressed his passion for Thai cuisine at the start.
“I believe that Thai cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the world,” Amadhanirundr said. “I just really want to showcase that.”
The competition followed the show’s signature format, challenging four chefs to compete in three rounds of creating a dish from an assortment of designated ingredients with a $10,000 prize at the end.
During the appetizer round, Hetrakul challenged chefs to transform Khao Soi, green papaya, sun-dried bananas and chicken feet into a winning appetizer in 20 minutes.
Amadhanirundr crafted a Thai spring salad featuring spring greens, pickled papaya and tomatillos with fried chili chicken feet as garnish and sun-dried banana sauce on the bottom.
The judges praised Amadhanirundr’s dish. One judge appreciated the taste, while another said the pickled papaya with tomatillo was genius.
The judges noted that overall, the dish was “delicious and spicy enough.”
Despite the positive feedback, Amadhanirundr was eliminated on the basis of his sun-dried banana sauce being too thick, according to the judges.
The next rounds challenged the remaining chefs in an entree and dessert round.
The entree round had chefs open a basket with Chor Muang, Thai coriander, prawns and mango sticky rice, while the final dessert round presented them with a carved fruit platter, freeze-dried durian, Thai pancakes and Thai tea ice cream.
The competition ended with Chef Kasem Saengsawang from San Francisco winning the episode and receiving the $10,000 prize.
