Edmonds chef reps Pacific Northwest on new Food Network show

EDMONDS — Edmonds chef Brian Madayag will compete — and depict the Pacific Northwest — on Food items Network’s new opposition exhibit, “Beachside Brawl,” this weekend.

“Beachside Brawl” premieres 10 p.m. Sunday on Food stuff Community. You can also capture repeats over the subsequent several months.

The display is a contest that pits West Coastline vs . East Coastline cuisine. Pacific- and Atlantic-dependent chefs compete “over which coastline does summer time meals ideal,” according to a Meals Community news release.

Madayag, who owns Barkada in Edmonds, flexed his culinary capabilities and Pacific Rim roots on the clearly show.

Host Antonia Lofaso challenged two teams of 4 cooks from each individual coastline to build a menu of boardwalk stand dishes that finest characterize their aspect of the region. The menu experienced to incorporate anything fried, on a stick, in a bun, cheesy and sweet. Those dishes were being then served to beachgoers.

Cooks Tiffani Faison (East Coastline) and Brooke Williamson (West Coast) led and mentored each workforce throughout the competition. Soon after every single spherical, a single member on the getting rid of staff was eradicated.

“You experienced to have all your guns all set and be able to think on the fly,” Madayag reported. “It was really difficult as far as applying all your abilities at one time.”

The present was shot on the Redondo Pier in southern California in mid-March.

“They experienced us costume up in summer attire, but it was 60-some thing degrees,” Madayag explained, laughing. “The producers ended up like, ‘Don’t shiver on digicam.’”

Madayag opened Barkada in 2018 to showcase his family’s Filipino and Hawaiian roots — and convey extra meals range to Snohomish County. The Filipinx American cafe was his Edmonds “homecoming” immediately after operating in Seattle eateries for a long time. (He started his culinary vocation at Tom Douglas’s dining establishments).

Contestant chef Brian Madayag, who will contend on “Beachside Brawl.” The Food stuff Network sequence starts off Sunday. (Meals Network) 20220617

Barkada’s menu is “inspired by these mom-and-pop outlets you go to in Hawaii and get your blended plates from,” Madayag explained, referring to the conventional, beloved dish of Hawaii that often consists of macaroni salad, rice and mains like Kalua pig, rooster adobo or garlic shrimp. Musubi and lumpia are also on Barkada’s menu.

“I was representing not just the Pacific Northwest, but the Pacific Ocean,” Madayag mentioned of the Meals Network display.

The Foods Network workforce contacted Madayag by way of Barkada’s Instagram profile about competing on “Beachside Brawl.” He went by way of “several” Zoom interviews and was underneath the scrutiny of a network scout who secretly visited Barkada.

Out of 100 chefs on the West Coastline, Madayag was a person of 4 who created the slash. He located out two months ahead of the show was to be filmed.

“I was just in shock that we bought identified as,” he mentioned.

He said he didn’t snooze for 3 days primary up to the shoot. When he arrived on set, he noticed cameras, big tents and network crews just about everywhere.

“I was so anxious,” Madayag explained. “Trying to continue to be calm and acquiring out of my possess head, that was the toughest element.”

After the initial problem, the nerves subsided — somewhat.

While this was Madayag’s first levels of competition display, he was showcased on PBS’s “No Passports Required” in 2019. Host Marcus Samuelsson visited the Filipino neighborhood in the Seattle space for the to start with episode in Year 2.

“We received to get him squid fishing on the Edmonds Pier,” Madayag claimed.

On “Beachside Brawl,” Madayag competed with chefs who’d previously been on Food stuff Community demonstrates, including Seattle chef Kaleena Bliss. Earlier this yr, Bliss won the “Chopped: On line casino Royale” cooking event.

Would Madayag contend on a Foodstuff Network display once again?

“I consider I would say yes to do yet another one particular,” Madayag explained. In truth, he’s currently gotten a several phone calls for likely displays next “Beachside Brawl.”

As much as the winner goes — and which coastline arrived out on top — Madayag said you’ll have to tune in this weekend.

“Just staying on the clearly show, I truly feel like we received currently,” Madayag explained. “They liked us more than all these other chefs they interviewed on the West Coast, and I received to inform my tale about my heritage. Even in advance of the opposition started off, I felt like a winner.”

Taylor Goebel: 425-339-3046 [email protected] Twitter: @TaylorGoebel.