Westchester chef Christian Petroni to star in two new Food Network shows

Chef Christian Petroni, the former chef/owner behind the Fortina Restaurant Group and the 2018 Food Network Star, is in two new TV shows, one of which airs Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.

"Restaurant Hustle 2021: Back in Business" is a follow-up to the Food Network's "Restaurant Hustle 2020: All on the Line," which showcased how four chefs across the country managed their restaurants during the height of the pandemic.

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The documentary follows Maneet Chauhan of Chauhan Ale and Masala House in Nashville; Antonia Lofaso of Black Market Liquor Bar, Scopa Italian Roots, and DAMA in Los Angeles; Marcus Samuelsson of Harlem's Red Rooster and Ginny's Supper Club; and Westchester-based Petroni, who in the first episode revealed how hard it was leaving the restaurant group he helped create.

In this new version, Executive Producer Guy Fieri showcases the highs and lows of navigating the re-emerging restaurant industry in 2021.

Without revealing any spoilers, Petroni has segued into his Gabagool media business, which focuses on helping small restaurants and chefs navigate the culinary world. That includes setting up mobile kitchens, incorporating new technologies, and selling Gabagool merchandise such as T-shirts and hoodies. A teaser on his Instagram also showcases a new private studio kitchen which, he wrote, will be "a place to learn. A place to talk/eat/enjoy life while looking at beautiful art on the wall."

Petroni will also be in "Guy's Chance of a Lifetime" airing at 9 p.m. Jan. 2 on the Food Network and Discovery+. In this new show, seven food entrepreneurs from around the county vie for a chance to run their own Chicken Guy! franchise. Petroni is not competing; rather he helps mentor the candidates. There are six hour-long episodes.

He will also be on upcoming episodes of "Chopped" which Petroni said is super cool as it's part of a casino tournament.

Said Petroni: “I feel so blessed and lucky for Guy Fieri and the Food Network. Because of these opportunities, I've been given a second chance of life after losing the restaurants."

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester chef Christian Petroni appears in two Food Network shows