A top chef in Naples makes her Food Network debut on 'Chopped' Jan. 9: What to know

Alligator hearts and marshmallow?

Combining those two ingredients, plus crackers and snap peas, into a palatable appetizer might stress the most accomplished chefs.

But most aren’t Bicyclette Cookshop’s executive chef/partner Kayla Pfeiffer, who finds her greatest joy and confidence in the kitchen, even when it’s not her own.

Pfeiffer previously served as executive chef at several popular Naples restaurants executing concepts created by others at The French, Bar Tulia at Mercato, and a short stint at PJK Neighborhood Chinese.

The kitchen for this mashup?

Food Network’s set for “Chopped” in New York City. The show is hosted by Ted Allen.

Pfeiffer and her three chef competitors had 15 minutes to figure out what to do with these diverse ingredients and prepare them in a way that would appeal to the show’s three-member judging panel.

One such judge was Esther Choi, famous as chef/owner of m?kbar and m?kbar Brooklyn and for losing by a mere point to the five Iron Chefs during the finale of Netflix's "Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend."

“I'm a really big fan of hers. She’s a female chef and complete badass, so it was really cool to meet her,” said Pfeiffer, though there was minimal interaction between competitors and judges, just like you see on the show.

Making her Food Network debut, Pfeiffer had some familiarity with organ meats early in her career at the now-closed Michelin two-starred Picholine in New York City, which used nose-to-tail ingredients.

So how did her dish turn out?

Food Network’s top brass won’t let us tell you.

But if your curiosity is piqued, tune in Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. to find out.

Southwest Florida’s foodie talent pool

With all she’s accomplished, Pfeiffer turns 28 on Jan. 3.

Yet, she’s not Southwest Florida’s youngest Food Network competitor; that distinction goes to baking sensation Alissa Telusca of Naples, who was 12 when she made it to the final five during her season on Food Network’s "Kids Baking Championship."

Pastry chef Sean Dwyer, formerly of Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club, appeared on Food Network’s season two Spring Baking Championship: Easter in 2022.

Chef Asif Syed actually “Beat Bobby Flay” in 2018 and appeared on "Guy's Grocery Games" and "Cutthroat Kitchen", all on Food Network.

Onetime Fort Myers resident Derrick Fox finished as a two-time finalist on FOX’s Masterchef.

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Former Daily News and News-Press scribes Annabelle Tometich and Andrew Atkins were judges on Food Network’s "Big Restaurant Bet," airing its one-and-done 2022 season taped in Fort Myers and hosted by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Other locals on the panel included Darren Veilleux, now at Rebecca’s, Jovana Batkovic of Nice Guys in Cape Coral and country singer Ben Allen.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples chef competing on Food Network's Chopped. How, when to watch