Two New Mexico chefs, Ray Naranjo and Justin Pioche, will compete in a special all-Indigenous episode of Food Network’s “Chopped,” airing April 21 at 8 p.m. Naranjo, a Santa Clara Pueblo chef, owns the food truck Manko in Española, which serves Indigenous cuisine and has a name rooted in the Tewa language. “If you’re at a feast day or a dance event, they’ll invite you to come eat by saying ‘Manko.’ It’s your turn to eat,” Naranjo said. With 25 years of experience as an executive chef, Naranjo worked his way up from large kitchens to fine dining, eventually becoming the top chef at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center before opening Manko in 2022.The other chef competing is Justin Pioche of Fruitland, who runs Pioche Food Group, a Navajo-owned business specializing in catering and private dining with a focus on Navajo foods. Pioche also works on a nonprofit educational farm, teaching local students about preserving the history of their food and culture.”Food has always been our medicine, and always will be. And that’s why food is so important to me as a chef and as a Navajo,” Pioche said.Naranjo says Food Network first reached out to him on social media: “I guess they were trying to create this unique all-Indigenous ‘Chopped’ episode,” Naranjo said in an interview on Wednesday. Soon after, he traveled to New York City to film the episode, keeping the experience under wraps for two years. “It took a little while to come out,” he said. As the air date approaches, Naranjo says the excitement is building again. “All the anxiety came back. All the hype, it’s there,” he said. While he can’t reveal much about the competition, Naranjo shared that the episode will feature Native foods, similar to the ingredients and flavors found at his food truck. “I think it’s totally cool. I think that New Mexico food rules, and I think that you all are in for a great episode,” he said. The episode airs April 21 at 8 p.m on Food Network.
Two New Mexico chefs, Ray Naranjo and Justin Pioche, will compete in a special all-Indigenous episode of Food Network’s “Chopped,” airing April 21 at 8 p.m.
Naranjo, a Santa Clara Pueblo chef, owns the food truck Manko in Española, which serves Indigenous cuisine and has a name rooted in the Tewa language.
“If you’re at a feast day or a dance event, they’ll invite you to come eat by saying ‘Manko.’ It’s your turn to eat,” Naranjo said.
With 25 years of experience as an executive chef, Naranjo worked his way up from large kitchens to fine dining, eventually becoming the top chef at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center before opening Manko in 2022.
The other chef competing is Justin Pioche of Fruitland, who runs Pioche Food Group, a Navajo-owned business specializing in catering and private dining with a focus on Navajo foods. Pioche also works on a nonprofit educational farm, teaching local students about preserving the history of their food and culture.
“Food has always been our medicine, and always will be. And that’s why food is so important to me as a chef and as a Navajo,” Pioche said.
Naranjo says Food Network first reached out to him on social media: “I guess they were trying to create this unique all-Indigenous ‘Chopped’ episode,” Naranjo said in an interview on Wednesday.
Soon after, he traveled to New York City to film the episode, keeping the experience under wraps for two years.
“It took a little while to come out,” he said.
As the air date approaches, Naranjo says the excitement is building again.
“All the anxiety came back. All the hype, it’s there,” he said.
While he can’t reveal much about the competition, Naranjo shared that the episode will feature Native foods, similar to the ingredients and flavors found at his food truck.
“I think it’s totally cool. I think that New Mexico food rules, and I think that you all are in for a great episode,” he said.
The episode airs April 21 at 8 p.m on Food Network.
