Ever since appearing on the Food Network show "Cooks Vs. Cons" in 2016, Charlie Loomis has wanted to take on reality TV cooking star Bobby Flay. On Sunday night, he gets his chance.
Loomis, executive chef at the Feed Co. Table and Tavern on Main Street, will appear on "Beat Bobby Flay," a cooking competition show that features non-celebrity cooks and chefs vying for the chance to battle the multiple Iron Chef winner.
Loomis said he recorded the show in April and that it was supposed to air in October but kept getting bumped. It will air at 10 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network. A viewing party will start at 9 p.m. at the Feed.
"They finally called me last week," Loomis said.
Loomis is prevented from giving specifics about how he did or what he prepared, but said the competition was intense and legitimate.
"In my mind, I figured we were going to get some time to prep or some leeway time for planning, but we pretty much walked out there and they told us what we were cooking and said, 'You have 20 minutes. Go.'"
He did say the contestants were shown the kitchen ahead of taping to get an idea of what equipment and supplies were available.
Chef Charlie Loomis poses at The Feed Table and Tavern on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. / Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter"But at that point, we have no idea what we would be cooking, and you're walking through someone else's kitchen," he said. "You are thinking about what ingredients they might throw at us, so you are not memorizing the kitchen."
Loomis said he didn't spend a lot of time before taping the show practicing, but that the days leading up to it, and especially the flight to New York City, were very stressed-filled with lots of worrying about what dish he might be asked to prepare. Standing backstage waiting to be introduced was also stressful.
"That was the most nerve-wracking to me was the flight there thinking about what kind of things they might throw at me. Once I was there and we started cooking, I was fine."
Loomis said Flay is a consummate professional who records three episodes of the show six days a week for six months out of the year, which might explain why he comes out on top almost 70% of the time on the show.
"He gets lots of practice, and he's good at it," he said.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.