The Boston vs. New York rivalry continues this week on a special St. Patrick’s Day edition of “Chopped.”
The “Luck of the Irish” episode, which airs March 13 at 10 p.m., will feature a pair of chefs from the Big Apple, as well as local culinary stars Andrei Enikeev of McGreevy’s and Alexandra Galvis of the Lenox Hotel’s Sólás, who will duke it out in the kitchen using iconic ingredients from the Emerald Isle. Following their appearance on the Food Network competition series, Enikeev and Galvis will throw down in a rematch of sorts at their respective Boylston Street restaurants on March 14.
The Sólás chef tells Metro that she was thrilled to represent the Hub and showcase her skills in Irish cuisine on the upcoming episode of “Chopped.”
“When I found out that it was going to be Irish-themed, I was kind of a relieved because at least I know that,” Galvis says. “It was a great experience.”
Although she definitely knows her way around Irish soda bread and corned beef, Galvis is neither a native of Ireland nor Boston. She actually hails from Colombia, but was forced to flee the war-torn country with her family in 2000, which prompted their move to Massachusetts.
At the age of 18, Galvis began living on her own, eventually moving to Virginia before heading to North Carolina. She got involved in the culinary world thanks to a 10-week program at a North Carolina food bank, which taught her everything she needed to know in order to hold her own in a kitchen.
After finding her footing with a few early internships and restaurant jobs, Galvis came back to Massachusetts in 2014, where she now works as a sous chef for Sólás. Galvis decided to return to the Bay State because she feels at home here and loves the area’s diverse food scene and culture.
“I love my Celtics, I love my Patriots,” Galvis jokes. “Home, culture, food, that was it. That’s what did it.”
Following her stint on “Chopped,” Galvis hopes the extra exposure can help her accomplish her dream one day opening up an Irish food truck. However, no matter what kitchen she’s in, Galvis wants to make sure her cooking always highlights her roots, passions and love of great flavors.
“I never forget my roots,” she says. “I always make sure that I cook with my heart.”
