A Providence chef brought her Puerto Rican flavors to 'Guy's Grocery Games.' What it was like
When Guy Fieri's "Guy's Grocery Games" episode "10 Pounds, Two Rounds" premieres Jan. 31 at 9 p.m. on Food Network, a familiar Providence face will be on the small screen for her television debut.
Little Sister chef/owner Milena Pagán is one of four chefs to take on a Flavortown first. They'll have to shop for and prepare two complete meals for four using no more than 10 pounds of total ingredients. The winning chef can turn their food dishes into as much as $20,000.
Pagán can't say much more about how the competition went. But she did suggest viewers should stay around 'til the end.
All about Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri, who's long been married to a Rhode Island native, has always been one to shine the light on chefs in the Ocean State, especially with his "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Pagán had nothing but good things to say about her 36 hours filming the show in Santa Rosa, California.
It may have been rushed but, she said, "I had so much fun! I didn’t care if I won or lost."
"I would go back and relive that day for the rest of my life."
"I was expecting it might be a tense competition, but Guy makes sure everyone has fun, and I appreciated that," she said.
"Guy spoke to all of us before the show started filming," she said. "He made the show fun."
Pagán said she hooked him up with jams and hot sauces from her Puerto Rican restaurant, Little Sister. "He was super-gracious."
"I cooked all Puerto Rican food," she said. "I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to highlight my culture."
She said Fieri, who loves comfort food, appreciated the flavors she brought to the competition.
How did she get selected for 'Grocery Games'?
"They found me on social media and I interviewed with them the same day I found out about the James Beard nomination so it was exciting surprises one after the next!" she said.
It was last January when Pagán was one of three Rhode Island chefs nominated for the James Beard awards in the category Best Chef: Northeast. She was one of three, alongside Robert Andreozzi of Pizza Marvin and Sherry Pocknett, the chef who won the Beard award for her Indigenous menu at Sly Fox Den, Too in Charlestown.
Little Sister, at 737a Hope St. in Providence, is an artisan café with a menu of Puerto Rican specialties. They serve breakfast pastries, brunch and lunch. Her husband, Darcy Coleman, is co-owner. Pagán also opened the popular Rebelle Artisan Bagels in Providence in 2017 and closed it recently. She is moving it to Cambridge in the coming weeks.
Boston chef Tiffany Faison was one of the judges, which was another thrill for Pagán. She's been a fan since her first appearance years ago on Food Network.
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"I signed up for two more competitions after 'Grocery Games,'" she added. She can't wait for her next amazing opportunity.
"I had such a blast; I realized I really enjoy competing."
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Little Sister's Milena Pagán to appear on 'Guy's Grocery Games'
