LOCAL CHEF BRIAN CRIPPS TO SHOWCASE CULINARY SKILLS
ON FOOD NETWORK’S ‘BEAT BOBBY FLAY’
The iconic food competition features Cripps’s culinary specialties from Milwaukee’s Tre Rivali restaurant
Who: Brian Cripps was born in Fairfield, California but raised in Jacksonville, Florida. His love of cooking sparked at a young age and although culinary school was the obvious next step to becoming a chef, at the age of 18, he followed his passion for cooking and began his experience at chain restaurants. He says, “Chain restaurants not only gave me the opportunity to do what I love, but it also gave me the agility and efficiency I needed to succeed in a fast-paced industry.” That experience surely paid off when Cripps landed at Atelier Crenn where he worked alongside the only three Michelin-starred women in the world, Dominique Crenn.
His early beginnings in San Francisco also include Laïola, a Spanish restaurant known for its bold Mediterranean flavors that until this day, Cripps applies in his menus. After a year at Laïola, he joined Spruce as chef de partie and was part of the talented team that gained the restaurant’s first Michelin-star. In 2017, Cripps was given the opportunity to be mentored by chef Ludo Lefebvre as chef de partie at Trois Mec. Quickly becoming a rising star, while at Trois Mec, Cripps attended events such as the Cayman Islands Cookout where his dishes were tasted by Anthony Bourdain, Tom Colicchio, and José Andrés. While the months spent at Le Cordon Bleu provided guidance and knowledge, Cripps’ greatest teachers and true culinary school is composed of some of the greatest chefs in the United States: Dominique Crenn, Ludo Lefebvre, and Simon Dolinky, who until this day continue to be an inspiration for all his creations.
Joining Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and the Task Force Program in 2017, Cripps has assisted restaurants across the country. In 2021, he joined The Outsider as the temporary acting chef, fell in love with Milwaukee, and decided to put down roots – with delicious results at Tre Rivali as Executive Chef. Since its opening in 2016, Tre Rivali has offered a Mediterranean-inspired cuisine that Cripps continues to honor and enhance through the use of hyper-local ingredients and unexpected, yet delectable flavors.
What: Get ready for an exciting culinary showdown as Milwaukee chef Brian Cripps takes the spotlight on Food Network’s hit show “Beat Bobby Flay.” Cripps will compete against renowned celebrity chef Bobby Flay in an upcoming episode airing on Thursday, July 20 at 8 PM CT.
In this thrilling cook-off, Chef Brian Cripps will demonstrate his exceptional culinary talents and vie for the ultimate victory against the formidable Bobby Flay. The episode promises to be an intense clash of culinary creativity, where Cripps unique flavors and innovative techniques will be put to the test. Judges include Michael Jenkins, Nasim Alikhani, Michele Ragussis and special guests include supermodel Ashley Graham.
As a well-respected figure in the city’s culinary scene, Chef Brian Cripps has earned a reputation for his expertise in Mediterranean cuisine and fine dining, recently launching an intimate Chef’s Counter experience available only twice a month. With his distinct flair and dedication to showcasing locally sourced ingredients, Cripps is set to impress both the esteemed panel of judges and viewers nationwide.
When: Cripps’s episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” airs on July 20, 2023, at 8:00 PM CT on Food Network.