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Two local chefs battled it out on the Food Network’s “Chef Grudge Match” premiere earlier this month. Taylor Frankel and Maria Busato went head-to-head in a match up to see who would be awarded money, bragging rights and a prized knife. The new show is hosted by , Hall of Fame boxing champion and boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s daughter. The cooking competition program is housed in a boxing ring complete with a live audience surrounding the chefs as they create a dish during a set amount of time.

Frankel and Busato basically went through the ranks in the cheffing business in the Vail Valley at the same time. They both came here when they were young adults and honed their skills and put in the time at various restaurant establishments and eventually worked together at Sweet Basil and its sister restaurant, Mountain Standard. Today, has her own private chef business and is the executive chef at Slope Room at Gravity Haus Vail and also is a private chef.

Frankel has been on the Food Network before, appearing on where chefs who are talented and brave enough attempt to take down “Iron Chef” Alex Guarnaschelli, a feared and accomplished competition cook (Frankel won both rounds on that show). When Frankel was asked by the Food Network to participate in its latest show concept, “Chef Grudge Match,” she knew exactly who she would ask.  

“They contacted me about “Chef Grudge Match” and said, ‘We want you to invite your culinary grudge’ and there was no contemplation. I knew immediately that Maria was the person I wanted to go head-to-head with,” Frankel said. “It’s the largest challenge I could possibly set up for myself and I regretted that instantly.”

Busato accepted the challenge.

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“I told Taylor I would do this, but then I was completely terrified because I knew that Taylor wouldn’t make it easy for me. She gives her best at anything that we’ve ever done together. So, I was mortified, honestly, to compete against her,” Busato said.

The “Chef Grudge Match” competition called for the two dueling chefs to come up with a dish in 30 minutes. Each chef brought an ingredient that they knew was not a favorite of the other chef.

“I brought a spice I know Taylor hated,” said Busato.

“I brought a food item that Maria has horror stories about as a kid, so I knew working with it would get to her,” Frankel said.

The chefs had a full pantry with items to choose from and the cooking competition was done in front of a live audience. The producers had them do an après ski theme since both chefs were from a ski town.

“Cooking in front of the live audience was the most nerve-wracking thing for me. That added a whole other level of anxiety,” Frankel said. “They asked if we had any guests coming and we’re like, “I don’t know. Can we bring guests?’ So, we scrambled and my parents came and Maria’s mom came to the filming, and my parents were sitting about 10 feet away from where my cutting board was.”

“I’m so used to open kitchens that I thrived in that environment. I didn’t even realize that the audience was there and didn’t feel any sort of social anxiety in that moment,” Busato said.

The competition was judged by two celebrity judges, and .

“They were hardcore. I think that they were very critical of everything that we did in every aspect of plating, creativity, taste, food presentation, everything,” Busato said.

“Chris Oh had also been on the show before. He knew the show from the aspect of being a competitor. And now bringing a judge that has competed on the show, I don’t think that helped us out either,” Frankel said.

After the 30 minutes were up, the judges decided who will go home with $10,000. Another aspect of the show was that the losing judge had to give the winner their prized knife — a piece of culinary equipment that is very personal to chefs.

“I feel like for a chef, your knife is the sword of the samurai. A knife represents something that reminds you of a time and place and inspiration and mentorship. You’ve been through a lot with your personal knife,” Busato said.

Frankel has filmed another episode of the Food Network’s “Alex vs America” that has yet to air and she said it’s come full circle for her to be on the network.

“I would Google all sorts of ingredients I’d see on the Food Network. I was addicted to those shows. I learned so much from them and now I’m a part of it,” Frankel said.

“Here we are on the Food Network together. Who gets to have that chance of being on TV with a person from your small town that worked with you for years?” Busato said. “It’s surreal.”

Who went home with the $10,000, bragging rights and the other chef’s knife? Go to to find out how you can watch “Chef Grudge Match” Season 1 Episode 2 to find out.