RIVER VALE, N.J.—Chef Michael Merida can now add another achievement to his distinguished resume: He has just beaten Bobby Flay.
Merida bested the world-famous chef on his own show, “Beat Bobby Flay,” which aired Sunday, Feb. 23 on Food Network and featured special guest Martha Stewart, the cooking and home goods icon. The episode was called “The Queen Is In,” in honor of Stewart.
On the morning after his triumphant victory aired on national television, Merida was his jovial self inside his Hillsdale Avenue cafe, Rocking Roots, where he was congratulated by a steady stream of patrons.
Outside, celebratory balloons adorned the doorway and a banner announced his appearance on the show.
“Competing and beating someone of his stature, and knowing how good of a chef he is, it was definitely validation to show my skill exceeded his that day,” Merida told Pascack Press. “I wanted to see who the better chef was when it came to flavors—and I out flavored him.”
In the episode, Merida advanced after an opening-round challenge against retired FDNY 9/11-first-responder-turned chef, Katherine Fuchs of Astoria, Queens. To win, he prepared a toasted Israeli couscous with mandarin oranges, pea tendrils and Marcona almonds, which also featured a orange ponzu and orange-infused crema.
In the main event against Flay, Merida’s smoked cod croquettes were punctuated with flavors from a charred-tomato aioli and basil/jalapeno puree.
A panel of three distinguished judges liked it more than Flay’s blue crab and shrimp croquette, with Romesco sauce and green onion sauce.
“[My] croquette was made with smoked cod, and potatoes and other vegetables. So it was a very plant-based, vegetarian type dish,” Merida said.
Both dishes Merida cooked were devoid of any meat, which is something you’ll notice when you visit his newest culinary venture, the chef-driven cafe, coffee and juice bar in Hillsdale. In addition to daily service, he hosts special tasting dinners there about three times a month, where his fine-dinning chops are on display in dynamic vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian menus.
On his website for Rocking Roots, the Culinary Institute of America-trained Merida says he hopes to inspire people to live their healthiest life by connecting them with real food. It opened shortly after Merida filmed the TV show in 2019. He kept news of his big victory a secret until the show aired.
The big win was an exciting moment for Merida and his fans as he became the first chef based in New Jersey to win “Beat Bobby Flay,” which is now in its 23rd season.
Merida said his two daughters pushed him to compete on the show.
“Once I got accepted to do the program, they were ecstatic,” he said.
He resides in River Vale with his family.