Tampa Latina Chef Rosana Rivera 'Beat Bobby Flay' on Food Network

Tampa Chef Rosana Rivera successfully won on "Beat Bobby Flay" against the Food Network star on December 26th, 2019. Bobby Flay has a track record of wins, but was defeated by Chef Rivera's beef empanada recipe. She first had to beat her husband, Chef Ricardo Castro, in a toe-to-toe challenge over papaya.

It is a huge moment both for Latin women as Chef Rivera is the first Latina to beat Bobby Flay as well as one of the first people from Tampa as well.

"I had no doubt she was going to win. I knew it. I teared up when they said her name. I'm super proud of her achievement," said Chef Ricardo Castro when he found out he was out of the running.

"This experience has been one of the highlights of my year. I feel super proud as a Female Chef, Entrepreneur, Puerto Rican, and Tampanian to have had the honor to not only participate in Beat Bobby Flay but to have competed against Ricardo, my other half in business and life. Ricardo is a Chef that has my utmost admiration. Most importantly, competing against Iron Chef Bobby Flay is an experience I will never forget. I have a deep respect for his talent, charisma, and the amazing team that works with him. It is an honor that I was able to cook side by side with him, compete against him, and can proudly say I Beat Bobby Flay," said Chef Rosana Rivera on her win.

The couple currently owns Xilo and Kofe at The Hall on Franklin food hall in Tampa Heights as well as a catering company called R2 Provisions and an upscale food truck. They previously owned a concept called Piquant bakery that specialized in French baking and are planning future concepts in Lakeland, St. Petersburg, and in other cities.

The episode can be viewed on Food Network's website at https://watch.foodnetwork.com/tv-shows/beat-bobby-flay/full-episodes/it-mustve-been-love

Read more: http://carloseats.com/2019/12/28/tampa-chef-rosana-rivera-successfully-beat-bobby-flay-on-food-network/

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