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CELE�RIT� C�EFS �Top� Chopped celebrity che�s Amanda Freita�� Marcus Samuelsson� Ale� Guarnaschelli� Marc Murphy� Maneet Chauhan� and Chris Santos appear on aFood Network press panel� �Lower le�t� Amanda Freita� si�ns her cookbook� The Chef Next Door� �Center� Freita� prepares adish while bein� �lmed �or aFood Network show� �Ri�ht� Che�s Freita�� Brooke Williamson� and Stephanie I�ard prep �ood �or a�undraisin� event�
on Unique Eats , Beat Bobby Flay , Guy Fieri ’ s Tournament of Champions and American Diner Revival with Ty Pennington .
Because she has been on the other side the judges ’ table , she feels more empathy for the chefs , she says .
“ When you walk up to the judge ’ s table , you already know what you ’ ve done wrong ,” says Freitag .“ You ’ re just waiting to hear it from us . Itry to tell them something they don ’ t know , so they can walk away with something . I try not to beat them up too much .”
Food Network appearances take a lot of energy , even before the cameras go on . Freitag says that , depending on the day , participants are on the set by 8 a . m ., and sometimes finish
as late as 9p . m . and that ’ s not taking hair and makeup into account .
“ It ’ s quicker for guys ,” she says . “ One time , Ted Allen sat down in amakeup chair next to me , and we timed it . It was two hours for me , and 60 seconds for him .”
Freitag reaches her audience directly through “ Easy AF ,” the digital series dedicated to proving how fun and quick making basic but beloved dishes like baked chicken breasts and crispy bacon Brussels sprouts can be . The series can be found onamandafreitag . com , and anew video and recipe comes out every Monday . Her cookbook , The Chef Next Door , published in 2015 , has the same mission , though she concedes that it ’ s easier to cook when
you ’ re in a space that ’ s literally called “ Kitchen Stadium .”
“ I was cooking in my tiny Chelsea kitchen , and I realized how hard it is ,” she says . “ You have to prep , chop , and serve the meal to your family who are now discerning judges because of us ( the professional chefs ), and then you have to clean it up .”
Add a couple of product lines into the mix — she offers seasonings called AF Spice Blends , and is launching a bottled , premade cocktails online business this November — and Freitag has arecipe for constant contact with her public .
“ I do alot of work travel to food festivals ,” she says . “ I ’ m not home much , so when Iam , Iwant it to be simple .” ■
�ANEL� FREDERIC� M� BROWN�GETTY IMAGES� BOO�� DIA DI�ASU�IL�GETTY IMAGES� FILMING� GUSTAVO CABALLERO�GETTY IMAGES� �RE��ING� ASTRID STAWIAR��GETTY IMAGES
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HOLIDAY 2022 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE