WPB Pitmaster to Battle on ‘Beat Bobby Flay’
Introduction to the Competition
Matt Abdo will fight fire with fire. Literally. The Pig Beach BBQ co-owner and pitmaster will barbecue-battle on a special themed episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” set to air at 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.
The Food Network cooking competition has two chefs face off against each other in a first round, preparing a dish with a specific ingredient in just 20 minutes. Two guest hosts then determine which contestant proceeds to a 45-minute kitchen-off against celebrity chef Bobby Flay himself. The winner of the second round is chosen by three guest judges in a blind taste-test.
The Competition
Abdoo will be going grill-to-grill against Chicago’s Dominique Leach, who has appeared on “Fire Masters,” “BBQ Brawl” and “Chopped.” But Abdoo ain’t no slouch when it comes to TV either. The chef — who lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife and two children — is a regular on NBC’s “Today” show and has appeared on other Food Network shows such as “The Kitchen,” “Battle of the Brothers,” “Worst Cooks in America,” “Throwdown With Michael Symon” and “Kitchen Crash.” He was a judge on “Beat Bobby Flay” six times.
Experience and Strategy
“I’ve been very fortunate,” Abdoo says. “I became very good friends with the ‘Today’ show people when I did my first segment in 2014 and they did have me on quite regularly ever since, which is like a dream come true.” That extensive television experience allows him to be relaxed on the air. “Since I’ve been on camera a bunch of times before, I wasn’t as nervous with the filming aspect of things, but your blood pressure’s high, you’re sweating,” he says.
Watch Parties and Locations
Pig Beach BBQ has locations in West Palm Beach, Boston and Queens, New York, in a business partnership between Abdoo, Rob Shawger and Shane McBride. All three restaurants will host watch parties on Thursday for the special episode, titled “The Thrill of the Grill,” which was actually taped back in January 2024.
Interview with Matt Abdoo
Here is more about Abdoo and the special “Beat Bobby Flay” episode from an interview that’s been edited for length and clarity.
About the Competition
Q: Since you’ve been on “Beat Bobby Flay” before as a judge, what do you really want us to know about the competition?
A: The show’s legit. Like being a judge … you have absolutely no idea whose dish is whose. You can sometimes try to guess and, every time you try to guess, you’re usually wrong. At least that’s been my take on it. And the show’s legit in the sense that when that bell rings for 20 minutes, you have exactly 20 minutes in round one. And that bell rings in round two … boom, you have 45 minutes. There’s no cutting, there’s no stopping, there’s no repositioning, it’s all live feed. Any edits they do are edits in post-production like cutting between cameras back and forth. So it’s pretty spectacular how they film the whole thing.
Insider Information
Q: Without any spoilers, what “Beat Bobby Flay” insider info can you share with loyal viewers?
A: What’s also really cool is that you don’t really get to see how detailed the kitchen is on camera. I mean sometimes you get little snippets when the chefs are running to the pantry or to the refrigerators, but it’s awesome. … They have everything you could possibly think of. It’s amazing. It’s the perfect dry storage for any restaurant wanting to do any cuisine ever. It’s amazing what they have.
Strategy and Planning
Q: You’ve judged “Beat Bobby Flay” before, but this was your first time competing. Did you have a plan in place for this “The Thrill of the Grill” episode?
A: On my plane trip up and in the hotel room the night before, I binge-watched probably 20 episodes just to kind of get my strategy together, to see what wins. The takeaway was: The more complicated you get in round one, the more often you lose, because people get bogged down with timing, trying to do things that were too complicated or too time-consuming. So I went into it with the strategy of just keep it simple, trust in my training, do the things that I know work well.
Conclusion
The “Beat Bobby Flay” episode titled “The Thrill of the Grill” will air at 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, on the Food Network. Visit foodnetwork.com/shows/beat-bobby-flay. The South Florida location of Pig Beach BBQ is at 2400 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Visit pigbeachnyc.com or call 561-803-0333.
FAQs
Q: When will the episode air?
A: The episode will air at 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.
Q: Where can I watch the episode?
A: The episode will air on the Food Network.
Q: Can I attend a watch party?
A: Yes, all three Pig Beach BBQ locations will host watch parties on Thursday.
Q: What dish will be served at the watch party?
A: A dish that was part of the show will be served, but the specific dish is not disclosed.
Q: How can I get more information about Pig Beach BBQ?
A: You can visit pigbeachnyc.com or call 561-803-0333 for more information.
