Season 12, Episode 6
"Orzo It Seemed"
Chopped Champion Joe Rego
Episode theme: none
Original air date July 17, 2012
Image of sharon fruit; dessert round ingredient.
Image by Lebensmittelfotos from Pixabay
Meet the Chefs
Alex Friedman
Chef Alex Friedman has had a solid culinary career in the Atlanta metro region. He’s been an executive chef for twenty years at multiple restaurants, including P’cheen International Bistro and Pub (now closed), in which he was a partner. In 2020 and 2022, he was named a “Georgia Grown Executive Chef” by the Georgia Restaurant Association for his leadership in the farm-to-table movement and for promoting the use of local, seasonal food from Georgia farmers.
Brigeth Brookins
Chef Brigeth Brookins spent a decade in kitchen and managerial roles at top-notch Las Vegas properties before relocating to Hawaii in 2017. Currently, she is the Director of Food and Beverage at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Even though she has no formal culinary training, she holds multiple degrees in languages and management, and she is working on a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership.
Willie Box
Chef Willie Box was a childhood friend of rapper/actor Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges. It was Bridges who nurtured Box's culinary talent by sponsoring his schooling at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. For a time, Box was a chef at the (now closed) Atlanta outpost of STRAITS restaurant, co-owned by Bridges. But, mainly, Chef Willie works as a private chef and caterer. He’s also competed on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen.
Joe (Jose) Rego
Chef Rego was born in Lisbon, Portugal then emigrated with family to the United States. As a teen, he worked part-time at Dunkin' Donuts earning the nickname “Joey bag’o donuts". Rego didn’t initially pursue cooking as a career, until a friend convinced him to follow his talent and passion for food. After culinary training at Johnson & Wales, he’s worked and owned restaurants up and down the eastern half of the US. Since 2017, he's been located in Dartmouth, MA at Cask & Pig Kitchen & Alehouse as a chef/partner in the venture. He also returned to tv–twice–appearing on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen.
Hungry for more?
Stream these episodes of Cutthroat Kitchen!
Chef Willie Box
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“A Dingo Ate My Dutch Baby” (Season 10, Episode 4)
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“Heat One, Axe to Grind” (Camp Cutthroat 2: Alton's Revenge Tournament)
Chef Joe Rego​
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“Cacciatore by His Toe” (Season 10, Episode 3)
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"1960s" (Time Warp Tournament)