Wisconsin Rapids-area cranberry grower discusses 'spectacular' experience on Bravo's 'Top Chef'

BIRON – Four hundred pounds of hand-picked cranberries made the three-hour journey from Biron to Milwaukee last September to star in an episode of "Top Chef: Wisconsin."

Rochelle Biegel Hoffman, a fifth-generation cranberry grower, brought the berries to the set and taught competing chefs about the state fruit. This season of the Bravo show, "Top Chef: Wisconsin" was filmed in Milwaukee, and Hoffman — from Rooted in Red on the Dempze Cranberry family farm in Biron — was invited to appear on Wednesday’s episode where chefs were assigned to create dishes with cranberries.

Hoffman told the Daily Tribune the whole experience working with "Top Chef" was really great. She first connected with Bravo about 18 months ago, after Travel Wisconsin connected with the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association and reached out to cranberry growers in Wisconsin. Hoffman said she and other growers met with the Bravo crew and shared their experiences growing cranberries, the economic impact cranberries have on the state and how Wisconsin is the world’s leader in production. Hoffman then traveled to Milwaukee to film the episode, bringing the bogs directly into the studio.

Bravo filmed last September, wrapping production before the cranberry harvest season started, Hoffman said. Because of the timing, Hoffman said she and her team picked 400 pounds of cranberries by hand and brought them, along with boxes and waders, down to the studio in Milwaukee. Hoffman said they all wanted to bring that harvest experience directly to the production.

'Cranberries aren't just a Thanksgiving food staple'

On Wednesday’s episode, competing chefs were greeted by judges wearing waders standing in a metal stock tank filled with water and cranberries floating on top. Hoffman entered, telling chefs contrary to what many people think, cranberries don’t grow in water. They grow in soil, and then the bogs are flooded to harvest, much like the cranberries floating in the stock tank in front of them. Chefs were then told they had to create dishes using cranberries.

“Don’t get bogged down,” said Tom Colicchio, one of the judges.

Hoffman joined the judges in tasting the dishes, asking the chefs what it was like working with cranberries. She called a cranberry soup “a first,” and told the chefs these were some of the most delicious cranberries she had ever tasted.

Hoffman told the Daily Tribune she loved Wednesday's episode and the creativity the chefs had while thinking of dishes to make. Cranberries were used not only as a sauce, but also as soup, curry and a cake with unique flavors and presentations she had never seen before.

"It gives folks ideas that cranberries aren't just a Thanksgiving food staple, but is a super fruit that can be used in unique ways that elevate a dish," she said.

What was it like filming with 'Top Chef?'

Hoffman said the whole experience was “spectacular,” calling the show a top-notch, top-shelf production. The crew was so accommodating and thoroughly researched the history of cranberries and the state itself.

“This show is a real show,” she said.

The chefs are actually doing the challenges in real-time, and Hoffman said she and the judges really tasted the food and debated the merits of each dish as they tried all of the concoctions. They also asked her genuine opinion, she said.

She was incredibly surprised at how real and authentic the cooking show was and how extremely talented the chefs were. As a fifth-generation cranberry grower who has been around the fruit her whole life, Hoffman said she was surprised at how many ways the chefs creatively used the fruit in their dishes. They were all both tasty and aesthetically beautiful, she said.

The Biron cranberry farm has seen its share of filming projects, Hoffman said. In 2021, Dempze Cranberry was featured on Family Dinner with Andrew Zimmern on the Magnolia Network on Discovery+, a project that sparked Rooted in Red.

Rooted in Red is an event space and venue on the Dempze family farm at 1060 Center St. in Biron, just outside of Wisconsin Rapids. It offers tours and rents out space for various events, but Rooted in Red also hosts a summer event lineup of its own, often featuring local entertainment and food trucks. One annual event is the Farm Dinner Experience, scheduled for Sept. 28, 2024. Hoffman said her experience at “Top Chef: Wisconsin” really spurred and inspired her to think about future Farm Dinner menus, incorporating some of the ideas from the show.

Celebrate 'Top Chef: Wisconsin' with Rooted in Red

“Top Chef: Wisconsin” Episode 9 aired on Bravo Wednesday and is now streaming on Peacock.

Rooted in Red will be hosting a “Top Chef” viewing party Saturday to celebrate the episode. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the episode will be shown at 6 p.m. at Rooted in Red. The event is open to the public and will include complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.

Hoffman said the entire experience was really warm and delightful, and she saw so many good ideas for using cranberries in creative ways. She said she was excited to be able to highlight cranberries on such a large platform and share more about the state’s robust industry.

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Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: 'Top Chef: Wisconsin': Biron cranberry grower talks time on Bravo show