Chef Tam was on Food Network's 'Alex vs America.' Here's how she did against the Iron Chef

While she may not have beaten Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli on Food Network's "Alex vs America," Tamra Patterson feels the experience was a win.

"I admit I am happiest when I win," she said. "But this experience was something different. You may not win them all, but sometimes you are just grateful to even be in the room. Not everyone can compete against an Iron Chef."

The owner of Memphis restaurant Chef Tam's Underground Cafe competed on the “Southern Comfort” episode of "Alex vs America" that aired Sunday.

In its third season, "Alex vs America" invites chefs to attempt to take down Guarnaschelli, the most feared and accomplished competition cook in America. In each episode, Guarnaschelli faces three chefs in two rounds of cooking, and anyone — even Guarnaschelli — can be sent home after a blind tasting by the judges. In the "Southern Comfort" episode, Patterson also competed against Austin Sumrall from White Pillars Restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Justin Burdett from Acme Restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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Patterson wowed the judges in the first round with her Southern Fried Chicken with Hoecake and Grilled Okra. "They told me it was the best fried chicken they had ever eaten," she said.

Despite a solid showing, Patterson was sent home after the second round, which had an "On the Farm" brunch theme. She made a Mint Julep French Toast Stack with Fried Chicken, Mint Julep Candied Bacon and a Fried Egg.

The judges told her that her dish didn't fit the "On the Farm" theme, and she was eliminated from the competition, which Sumrall ultimately won.

It was the fifth time Patterson has appeared on Food Network. She won "Chopped" in April 2022 and competed on three different episodes of "Guy's Grocery Games," even winning once. She has also competed on OWN's "Great American Cookout."

Patterson said she is honored to be asked to be in the competition. “I have never applied for any of the competition shows I have been on. They have called me," she said. "Being on 'Alex vs America' shows me my level of talent because not everyone can say they have competed against an Iron Chef.”

Patterson is the chef and owner of Chef Tam's Underground Cafe in Downtown Memphis. Since opening in March 2017, she has made a name for herself for her creative Southern soul food dishes. In addition to her flagship restaurant, she has a line of cookware, a collection of juices and a second Chef Tam's restaurant in Arlington, Texas.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer. 

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Food Network's Alex vs America: How Memphis' Chef Tam did