Jill Biden hosts military chefs crowned ‘Chopped’ champions for a guest stint on White House Navy Mess
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Air Force chef and a Marine Corps chef, both crowned “Chopped” champions during Jill Biden’s appearance on a military-themed episode of the Food Network show, released on Friday preparing lemon-spice scallops and osso buco in the White House Navy Mess.
Air Force Chief Opal Poullard, 37, and Marine Corps Chief Dustin Lewis, 34, accepted the mission from the first lady, who made a surprise appearance on a May episode of “Chopped,” as part of her White House initiative to promote active- serving and retired military personnel, their families and caregivers.
A jury ruled that the four-man team of military chefs, including an army and a navy chef, beat a team of four celebrity chefs from the Food Network. The first lady congratulated the winners, gave them White House aprons signed by herself and the president Joe Biden and invited them to the executive mansion to help cook Tuesday for the 4th of July.
The White House guest chief came as Jill Biden visited the Marine Corps recruiting depot on Parris Island, South Carolina, on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s all-volunteer military, which she and the president will also celebrate on Tuesday.
Born in Los Angeles, Poullard lives in Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, where she is an advanced culinary instructor. Born in Dayton, Ohio, and stationed in North Carolina, Lewis was most recently chief chef to the Marine Corps Commander. He was previously chef to Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Lewis’ signature dish was scallops with lemon herbs, risotto with parmesan and roasted asparagus with white truffle herb oil and charred focaccia. Poullard’s, inspired by her travels to Rome, was braised osso buco, or veal shank, served with polenta, shaved parmesan, crispy fennel, and shallots.
The Navy Mess, located on the ground floor of the West Wing of the White House, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for staff. The US Navy’s Presidential Food Service operates the mess’s executive dining rooms and provides takeout and catering services.
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Superville reported from Kissimmee, Florida.
