Sacramento Restaurant Owner Competes On Food Network's Chopped

On the chopping block in last night's Chopped episode was Sacramento's own Chando Madrigal. The owner and chef behind the iconic Chando's Tacos made it all the way to the final two contestants in the Food Network competition show. Madrigal tells CBS13 that he had no idea the episode was a taco throw down but that he is proud of how he finished. During the first round, Madrigal says he cut his thumb, slowing him down and making him miss the opportunity to garnish his dish, docking him points. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that the entree part was Madrigal's strongest dish, where he made red snapper tacos with jicama salad. The judges had agreed that Madrigal's taco for the entree round was the best dish of the day. Ultimately, the desert part of the challenge is where Madrigal says he lost when he did not make a taco, but a sweet corn tamale and a mango glaze. All in all, Madrigal says he is grateful for the opportunity and talks about expanding the popular Sacramento chain to Atlanta, Georgia.