Feb. 24, 2014 By Michael Florio
Natasha Pogrebinsky, a local chef and co-owner of Long Island City’s Bear Restaurant & Bar, will be reappearing on the Food Network’s “Chopped” Tuesday night.
Pogrebinsky will appear on the February 25th (10:00 pm) episode named “Return and Redeem,” in which contestants who lost during earlier episodes are brought back to compete again for a $10,000 prize.
Pogrebinsky, who said she had a great time when the show was shot recently, was pleased to be have been given a second chance after being on the show last year. She was not permitted to say how she did concerning Tuesday’s episode.
“I knew the kitchen better now [for the Feb. 25 episode], but it was a little more nerve racking with even more people watching and rooting for me this time,” she said. “It is very exciting but it’s also crazy and hectic.”
Pogrebinsky, as well as the other contestants in the “Return and Redeem” episode, was required to prepare a meal using the following ingredients: lime green jello; rainbow candy stripes; red snapper Dulce de Leche; and pickled turnips.
Pogrebinsky, a Ukraine Immigrant, graduated from the French Culinary Institute and teaches restaurant management courses at CUNY’s Brooklyn College.
Pogrebinsky and her brother opened up Bear Restaurant & Bar, located at 12-14 31st Ave, in 2011, and serve modern Russian cuisine.
She hopes to open up a second restaurant later this year, which will be in Astoria.
Pogrebinsky is excited to represent the Long Island City and Astoria communities on “Chopped.”
“I am so grateful for the support from the community after the first episode and I look forward to representing them for years to come,” she said.
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