TV Land

Chefs vs. City: Yawn

Cosentino and Sanchez
Cosentino and Sanchez Photo: Food Network

Friday night’s episode of Chefs vs. City pitted Chris Cosentino and Aarón Sanchez against two “Boston” foodies, chefs/owners of Wilmington’s Foccacia, Peter and Robert Depesa. The teams competed in a food-based scavenger hunt through Boston, which sounds great, but we couldn’t help feeling a sense of opportunity lost.

Not only were the competitors not actually from Boston (and a shot of their Wilmington restaurant may have put Food Network viewers under the misapprehension that Boston restaurants are in strip malls), but the challenges took place on awfully familiar, tourist-sanctioned ground. From making a Boston Cream Pie at Parker’s Restaurant to speed-eating baked beans at Durgin Park, it was all a little dull. We would have loved to see more of the true best Boston’s food scene has to offer - maybe devouring bánh mì in the streets of Chinatown or completing some sort of butchery challenge with Jamie Bissonnette or Will Gilson.

What about you? What challenges would you have liked to see on the Boston episode of Chefs vs. City?

Earlier: Chefs vs. City Uses the Term “Boston” Loosely

Chefs vs. City: Yawn