Chef Swore Off Competitions, Now Stars on Bobby Flay Show

Ayesha Nurdjaja, executive chef and partner at Shuka and Shukette, has made a surprising return to competitive cooking after vowing to avoid it for 15 years. Her initial experience on Food Network's 'Chopped' in 2009 ended in elimination and significant disappointment, leading her to swear off all competition cooking. However, in 2025, Bobby Flay persuaded her to become a titan on his show 'Bobby's Triple Threat,' a competition where chefs face off against culinary titans for a $25,000 prize.

Flay convinced Nurdjaja by offering personal training, acknowledging that competitive cooking demands a different skill set than her restaurant work. She described the process of thinking on her feet under a tight deadline as 'really difficult.' Nurdjaja trained with Flay, who encouraged her to cook her own style. She admitted to moments of intense pressure, sometimes "blacking out" when faced with unexpected ingredients.

Despite her eventual success and Flay's praise for her "dynamite" food, Nurdjaja shared that filming a Food Network show is a nerve-wracking experience. She described the uncertainty of the cooking challenges as a "whirlwind" that has made her an "anxious person." Looking ahead, Nurdjaja is excited for the upcoming season of 'Triple Threat,' her upcoming cookbook 'Mediterranean All The Way,' and hopes for more Food Network features.