Bindra’s Indian street food delicacies gets him a $10,000 ‘Chopped’ award
Our Bureau
Houston, TX
Jassi Bindra, an Indian American chef who is famous for his wide-ranging Indian cuisine, won the $10,000 grand prize on the Food Network series “Chopped.” In the August 15 episode, Bindra, the co-owner and executive chef at Amrina in Woodlands, Texas, has beaten 3 other chefs in a set of three 20- to 30-minute cooking rounds.
The chef made his mark and went into the challenge with confidence, applying the knowledge of traditional recipes from India with his own special touch, impressing judges Chris Santos, Maneet Chauhan, and Eric Adjepong.
Bindra, the chef has dedicated his win to the city of Houston and the Sikh community, as this could be the first time a turbaned chef from the community has won a reality TV cooking competition like Chopped.
“I’m here to show how Indian cuisine can be stimulating,” said Bindra ahead of the appetizer challenge against Massachusetts chef Emilie Rose Bishop, traveling celebrity chef Morgan Ferguson from Maryland, and Rachel McGill, the first James Beard Award-nominated chef from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Bindra said the experience was full of learning and fun. “It really brings out your inner qualities with planning and time management,” he said. “If I get a chance again, I’d love to showcase my skills again.”
The proud chef staged a watch party at Amrina on August 16, inviting guests to watch the excitement unfold, as per reports. Bindra said reservations began “blowing up” starting at 5 pm and by the time of the episode, it was a packed house full of curious diners.
People kept asking him whether he won. “I just said, ‘Keep watching!’ The fun was actually in watching. It felt like a game show with all the cheering,” he said.
As per Bindra, he will donate part of his $10,000 to charity, particularly the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the remainder will go to gadgets for his kitchen, gifts for his son, and partying with his friends. He is planning to offer a three-course Chopped menu at Amrina, with a twist on the three dishes featured on the show, so diners can get a real taste.
Before starting the Amrina concept with co-owners and brothers Surpreet and Preet Paul Singh in 2022, Bindra had spent many years at the Michelin Guide-featured Northern Indian restaurant Punjab Grill in Washington, DC.
