Chef Zach Hutton wins 'Chopped' episode
GHST chef the latest Oklahoma chef to win on Food Network
Another week, another Oklahoma chef does the state proud on national television. This time, it was 2021? James Beard Award semifinalist Zach Hutton’s turn. The show in question was Food Network’s hit competition show Chopped.
Hutton took home the $10,000 prize winning an episode entitled “Trash into Treasure.” This competition was right up Hutton’s alley. His embrace of local practices is well-known in these parts. At Scratch Paseo he’d practically created a closed loop sourcing system to drill down the Oklahoma in his Oklahoma-centric menu.
Hutton and his wife Kayla left Scratch Paseo last year and have since taken over GHST for Trent Ward. The Huttons will next partner with Ward to breathe new life into the space where farm-to-table pioneer Ludivine lived until last year.
To win this seed money, Hutton first had to convert a shrimp-laden basket under a zero-waste restriction. For an entrée, he had to use a leftover using and vegetable tops to hit the bulls-eye on a center-of-the plate dish.
He and Kayla celebrated the occasion at Ponyboy with a throng of his friends, family and folks from around the 405 diningscape. The crowd erupted when his victory was announced the roof was properly raised.
Hutton joins an elite group of chefs who’ve come back from Food Network a winner, including chefs Kevin Lee, Corey Harris, Jonathon Stranger, Tabb Singleton, and the Big Truck Tacos crew.
Congrats to Zach!