Former “Below Deck” chef Dave White proved that a painful setback wasn’t enough to stop him from claiming a major victory on Food Network. The British-born chef and Bravo fan-favorite, who has cooked for soccer superstars David Beckham and Lionel Messi, appeared on tonight’s episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” and walked away with a win after defeating Bobby Flay in a dramatic head-to-head battle. The victory was especially impressive because White suffered a painful hand injury during the competition but refused to quit. Check out the details below in our “Beat Bobby Flay” spoilers.
Former ‘Below Deck Med’ Chef Battled Through Painful Injury
In tonight’s showdown, the battle almost came to an abrupt end when White accidentally sliced through his finger while preparing his dish. According to White, the injury took place while he was using a brand-new knife in the middle of the high-pressure cooking challenge.
Despite getting encouragement from production staff and judges to stop, White decided to keep going.
He said, “The competition definitely tested me. I sliced my hand mid-cook using a brand-new knife and kept going one-handed because I knew I still had a shot.”
Viewers then saw White continue to race against the clock while managing the injury. It was already an intense showdown with Flay, so this just added another layer of tension. In the end, his determination paid off.
A British Classic For the Win
For his battle against Bobby Flay, White chose a dish that held special meaning to him: fish and chips. White wanted to showcase a meal that reflected his British roots while also showing the technical skills required to perfect a seemingly simple dish.
White said, “Fish and chips is a simple dish on paper, but technically demanding. You’re chasing that perfect balance of crispiness, seasoning, and nostalgia.”
His winning dish featured beer-battered black cod. He served it with triple-cooked fries, sweet pea purée, and sauce tartare.
As for his opponent, Flay put his own spin on the classic by creating an Indian-inspired fusion version of the dish.
The judges tasted both dishes, and it was White’s traditional approach that came out on top. The judges unanimously selected his fish and chips as the winning dish.
His Second Win of the Night
Before White could take on Flay, he had to survive the episode’s preliminary challenge against Executive Sous Chef Rashida Holmes, a James Beard Award nominee.
During this preliminary round, the chefs were tasked with creating dishes centered around chicken thighs. White impressed the judges with his Asian-spiced crispy chicken thigh served in a tom kha kai-inspired coconut broth with micro-coriander.
Even though he would go on and defeat Bobby Flay, White said he was also intimidated by this initial matchup.
The “Below Deck” alum said, “Facing Chef Rashida, a James Beard nominee with serious credentials, and just a lovely human, I honestly thought I was outmatched.”
Success on Reality TV
While most fans remember White from his time on Bravo’s “Below Deck,” he has competed on other cooking reality TV shows.
He has also competed on “Chopped,” which he says has helped him grow as a competitor.
“Experiences like my time on ‘Chopped,’ now ‘Beat Bobby Flay,’ have shown me I have the skills and technique to compete at a high level,” White said.
His victory on “Beat Bobby Flay” suggests he’s doing more than just competing; he’s winning.
White said, “I’m competitive by nature and really wanted to show up strong. I felt like I was doing this for England.”
