Local chef to be on Food Network

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Chef Ria Pell, the culinary artist behind Ria’s Bluebird and Sauced, is competing on the wildly popular show “Chopped” on the Food Network.

The reality elimination cooking show hosted by Ted Allen airs Tuesday, Nov. 20. Pell invites the community to gather at Sauced Restaurant & Lounge on Edgewood Avenue in Inman Park for a viewing party as well as chance to nosh on food from “badass local chefs” from The Spotted Trotter, Fox Brother’s BBQ, Palookaville, Rathbun’s and Taria Camerino of The Optimist.

There will  also be hand-crafted cocktails by Sauced’s own barkeepers. DJs Osmose and Ree de la Vega get the party started  at 8 p.m. and “Chopped” screens at 10 p.m.

“Chopped” is a competitive cooking show that “challenges chefs with baskets of ‘mystery ingredients’ over three rounds.”

“The first round was the quickest 20 minutes of my life!” says Pell in a prepared statement.

Pell traveled to New York City in February to film the show, described as a “grueling all-day ordeal.”

Pell is no stranger to appearing on TV to exhibit the cooking skills that’s she’s honed at Ria’s Bluebird and Sauced. She’s been on the Food Network’s “The Hungry Detective” and TLC’s “Best Food Ever” and has also been featured in national publications like the New York Times, Esquire, GQ, Spin, Elle, Southern Living and more.

And, oh yeah, she was voted Best Chef by GA Voice readers in 2011.

Photo: Chef Ria Pell with the famous ‘Chopped’ knife. (Publicity Photo)