Season 12, Episode 1
"Sunny Side Apps"
Chopped Champion Cory Bahr
Episode theme: Candy
Original air date June 5, 2012
Image of sour lemon candy; entree round ingredient.
Image by erodriguex from Pixabay.
Meet the Chefs
Jesse Kramer
At the time he competed on Chopped, Jesse Kramer was co-owner and executive chef of Brooklyn Taco Co., his own restaurant concept in New York City. Unfortunately, it went out of business in 2015 after a five-year run. Kramer published an article with Entrepreneur, 6 Lessons I Wish I'd Known Before My Business Failed, reflecting on the experience. He didn’t stay out of business for long though. His latest venture, Maker’s Kitchen, offers private virtual cooking classes as corporate team-building events, sharing cooking skills, good food, and fun in the kitchen with a wide audience.
Brian Howard
Although he didn’t win on Chopped, Chef Brian Howard has had a strong culinary career, before and after competing. This veteran of Las Vegas fine dining opened his first restaurant concept as chef/owner in Sin City in 2016. Sparrow + Wolf [Neighborhood Cookery and Libations] is an off-strip modern American dining experience that routinely makes the local “best of” lists. After a few years of success, Howard partnered to form Spaghetti on the Wall hospitality group with goals to expand Sparrow+Wolf and explore other restaurant concepts. In 2022, their new fast-casual concept Half Bird Chicken & Beer was born.
Tony Kang
Chef Kang came back to the Chopped kitchen for a redemption episode in season fourteen, but sadly, was chopped again. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Cory Bahr
Winning Chopped was just the beginning of a stellar career for Chef Cory Bahr. He owns and operates three businesses including Standard Coffee Co., Heritage Catering, and flagship Parish Restaurant & Bar which highlights the ingredients and techniques of the Delta region. As an advocate for sustainable, local food and fishing, Bahr is a Culinary Ambassador for the state of Louisiana. He has also returned to reality television several times since his Chopped appearance, as a runner-up on season thirteen of Food Network Star, and also claiming victory against Chef Bobby Flay on Beat Bobby Flay.