Nine year old Baltimorean competes on Food Network’s Chopped

What a surprise I just got from my friend Daniel Waldman, he just posted to watch  his daughter Amandine on the Food Network’s Chopped Junior, Tuesday, September 6^th at 8pm ET/PT.  Things started to make sense to me – I had mentored Amandine back in March on knife skills, taste and flavor just thinking she wanted to learn more about cooking, she loves to cook with her dad. But I digress.

Daniel just explained what he could, which is very limited until the show airs.  He said Amandine; his perky, petite powerhouse of a nine year old wanted to compete on Chopped Junior, and what parent can deny their child an opportunity--- so they let her apply.  

Orioles’ Adam Jones versus The Local Fry’s Kevin and Elizabeth Irish

Elizabeth and Kevin Irish - The Local Fry

The best I can tell, this is the 5th year for CareFirst Fans’ Ballpark Cooking Challenge, it is taking place this afternoon and airing tonight, August 3 on MASN during O's Xtra, the Orioles exclusive pregame show, before the Birds take on the Rangers. The Orioles’ outfielder has won the past two Ballpark Food Challenges and the bragging rights but will that stand for another year?

Back in June, fans were asked to Tweet or Instagram their best recipe tagged with #IChallengeAJ and the #StayHungry man chose the winner.

AJ’s competition is the husband and wife duo who own Federal Hill’s The Local Fry  famous for their British Isles inspired chips topped with  the tastiest toppings.  French fry aficionados need to try The Local Fry’s selection of specialty French fries.  The plain and unadulterated triple fried Idaho potatoes are top-notch, crispy and tasty, but at The Local Fry you want to dig into their specialty French fries.  This isn’t just stoner food, the French fries are topped with tasty flavor profiles that are globally inspired: Poutine, Greek, Kimchi Pork, Buffalo Chicken, Hawaiian,Bahn Mi,  Tonkatsu Curry and the house fries named ‘The Local Fries’ on the blackboard menu are spicy Mexican.  

The Local Fry's Hawaiian fries

Judges include Chef Chad Gauss from The Food Market and 13-year-old Bryce Taylor, a Food Network Teen Chef and Junior Finalist from Food Network’s show Chopped Junior. Chris Person, Sous Chef for Dempsey’s Brew Pub & Restaurant, will serve as Jones' assistant for the day.

For those of you who like to follow on social media: Adam Jones @simplyaj10 – The Local Fry @The LocalFry