Daytona Beach area chef competes on popular Food Network show

Local award-winning chef, business owner, James Beard nominee, author, professor and husband Hari Pulapaka adds one more title to his collection of many hats: "Beat Bobby Flay" contestant.

Pulapaka, a DeLand resident known for his previously owning the restaurant Cress and multiple semifinalist James Beard Foundation awards for Best Chefs in America, had a chance to compete against Bobby Flay and other talented chefs on one of the biggest cooking competitions on Food Network.

The episode is called "Happy Feet," and is the second show on the 33rd season of "Beat Bobby Flay." Its scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Thursday, May 4, on Food Network and again at midnight on Friday, May 5, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 3 p.m. May 11, 10 p.m. May 14 and 1 a.m. May 15.

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The author of "Dreaming in Spice: A Sinfully Vegetarian Odyssey" and soon to be released "Heart-Healthy Plant-Based CookBook," was grateful to be offered the opportunity to compete in the show.

"Thousands try to get on the iconic show, so it was most definitely humbling and inspiring to be invited," Pulapaka said via text Thursday. "I'm honored to cook professionally and am grateful for the outpouring of support since I joined the industry more than 17 years ago."

Pulapaka currently works for Stetson University as an Associate Professor of Mathematics as well as the Global Cooking School he founded which focuses on culinary events, consulting, menu development, training, sustainability, cookbooks and recipes. He is also offering a themed dining experience for small groups at the Breyting Coffee Bar in DeLand.

The two-time Food & Wine Top 100 Peoples' Chefs in America title holder's next quest is presenting his demo on "Culinary Principles; 10 reasons why traceably sustainable is also delicious" at the 2023 American Culinary Federation National Convention in New Orleans.

This isn't the first time Food Network has shown love to the Volusia-Flagler area. Last year, Guy Fieri visited six restaurants in the Daytona Beach area to feature on his Food Network Show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."

Related: My time with Guy Fieri: Covering his Daytona invasion and what he ate at all 6 restaurants

Caroline Hebert is the restaurant and entertainment writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Orleans native and food enthusiast, she can be contacted at chebert@news-jrnl.com. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona's Chef Hari Pulapaka on Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay show