'I had him on the ropes': Milwaukee chef Adam Pawlak on 'Beat Bobby Flay'

Milwaukee’s own Adam Pawlak was close but he didn't take down celebrity chef Bobby Flay in the Food Network series "Beat Bobby Flay."

Pawlak, who owns Egg & Flour Pasta Bar at 2273 S. Howell Ave., competed on an episode of the show, called “Raise the Steaks,” that first aired last week.

“I had him on the ropes,” Pawlak said. “I had him very nervous. He even thought he was going to lose.”

To get to Flay, Pawlak first went up against Page Pressley, the chef and owner of The Newsstand in San Antonio, Texas, in a 20-minute first round with ingredients chosen by Flay.

After defeating Pressley, Pawlak faced Flay in a 45-minute showdown and got to pick the dish — steak and potatoes.

Aside from pasta, he said that's his signature dish. Ultimately, though, the judges favored Flay's potatoes.

“I was really excited. I cooked really good food,” Pawlak said. “I would love a rematch against Flay.”

Regardless of the outcome, Pawlak enjoyed being on the show and said cooking competitively keeps things fun and fresh.

With the show, what you see is what you get, he said. The competition was straightforward, fast-paced and left little room for error.

“For Bobby Flay, I was just super-excited,” Pawlak said. “It's a lot different having the chance to go up against someone of that level.”

Previously, Pawlak competed on Fox’s "Hell’s Kitchen" and Food Network's "Superchef Grudge Match."

“It’s cool to have the opportunity to cook against one of the best in the world and showcase my skills,” he said.

Milwaukee is having its moment on TV. Besides Pawlak on "Beat Bobby Flay," season 21 of Bravo's "Top Chef" has put a spotlight on the dining scene in the city and the state.

More: Milwaukee chef Dan Jacobs shares his Kennedy's Disease diagnosis on 'Top Chef: Wisconsin'

“We have a lot of culture here and a lot of different people from all over the place," Pawlak said. "I think we've managed to get people from all over the world and country to come to Milwaukee. ... whether it's opening a restaurant or just live here and have that culture."

Brian Cripps, the executive chef at Tre Rivali at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel competed on "the show "Beat Bobby Flay" in an episode that aired in July 2023. Dan Jacobs, the co-owner of DanDan and EsterEv and a current "Top Chef" contestant, competed on the show in an episode that aired in August 2020.

Pawlak opened Egg & Flour Pasta Bar in the Bay View neighborhood in 2020 and was previously at the Crossroads Collective Food Hall at 2238 N. Farwell Ave.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee chef Adam Pawlak comes close in quest to 'Beat Bobby Flay'