Larchmont Chef Featured On Food Network Tonight

LARCHMONT, NY (WCBS 880) - Tonight, Larchmont chef Anna Maria Santorelli will be making her "Chopped" debut.

WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi reports

We'll have to wait to find out if she won, but she does say that she competed in all three rounds.

"It just turned out to be just awesome," Santorelli told WCBS 880 reporter Catherine Cioffi.

Santorelli, who owns Anna Maria's Restaurant, says a huge cut to her hand in the first round was a major setback, but she fought through it and she stuck to her roots with the bizarre ingredients.

She said, "That was my trick. I said, 'You know what! Even if I'm not familiar with it, I'm gonna make it work.' You have to have that vision and I have the passion for what I do, so I'm going to make a dish out of it."

Some of those dishes are going to be offered today at her restaurant in honor of her "Chopped" debut.

"Chopped" airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. on the Food Network.

Anna Maria's restaurant is located at 18 Chatsworth Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538. Phone: 914-833-0555. On the web at: http://www.annamariasrestaurant.com/