A local Downtown restaurant owner will be the Food Network’s next contestant on the hit head-chef tournament show Chopped.
Rachel McGill is a Lincoln native, and the Executive Chef/Owner of DISH, a new American restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Lincoln on 11th and O Street.
McGill is set to appear on Chopped this Tuesday, August 15th, airing on the Food Network at 7 p.m. CT.
This won’t be McGill’s first time bracing the competitive element of cuisine, being named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award: Best Chef Midwest in 2022.
On a recent episode of The Dan Parsons Show, McGill was able to break from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, and call in to discuss her upcoming feature.
“We’re pretty excited… I can’t reveal anything, just the air date. So you guys will have to tune in and check it out,” was all McGill could reveal about her performance on the national network show.
McGill’s episode “Oh My Squash,” is episode 19 of Chopped season 55. The description reads:
“In the appetizer round, the chefs must make use of an unusual peanut butter product, and the competitors ramp up the creativity to try to give the judges plates they won’t forget. Then in the entrée round, all three chefs run for the grill pans after seeing the protein in the basket, and a beverage inspires some sweet sauces. Squash in the dessert basket is an interesting challenge for the two chefs as they battle for the title and the prize.”
Downtown restaurants and businesses have recently seen a boon in patronage due in part to the record ticket sales success of the Lied Centers 10-day run of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, which closed curtains this weekend.
“We have been absolutely slammed all week,” McGill told Dan… but this isn’t hampering her enthusiasm, “We’ve been really enjoying it. It’s been great. We’ve had a great crowd in. Everyone really enjoyed the show that I’ve talked to. So we’re really, really grateful to have it here, have it at the Lied Center, have it downtown, all of it. It’s amazing.”
KLIN News confirmed a rumor floated during her call-in: Tuesday’s episode of Chopped featuring McGill will be broadcast on the massive “CUBE” screen in the Haymarket’s Railyard district. For more information on streaming and showtimes, visit: foodnetwork.com.
For more information on DISH, go to dishdowntown.com.
(Photo Courtesy: Food Network, Chopped)