Culinary grad to appear on new episode of Food Network's 'Chopped'

Chef Kristina Wisneski, a 2013 Penn College culinary arts and systems graduate who has been making a name in the Philadelphia culinary scene, is set to appear on the "Wonton Wonder" episode of the Food Network show “Chopped” airing at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12. (Rebroadcasts include 9 p.m. and midnight Thursday, Feb. 21.)

Wisneski is executive chef of Amis Trattoria in Chester County. She began her culinary career under the wing of fellow Penn College graduate and highly regarded Philadelphia-area Chef Andrew Masciangelo, ’97, at Savona in Gulph Mills. (Masciangelo has twice returned to Penn College as part of its Visiting Chef Series.) While at Savona, the Zagat restaurant guide included Wisneski in a roundup of “20 Sous-Chefs to Watch in Philly.”



She went on to join the Zavino Hospitality Group, where she was named Executive Chef of the group’s Enoteca Tredici in Bryn Mawr before taking on her current position. Last year, she cooked with Penn College students on the Culinary Connection stage at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Wisenski is the second Penn College culinary arts graduate to compete on “Chopped.” In Season 3 of the show, Chef Dean Yasharian, ’03, was named winner of an episode titled “When Chefs Collide.”

In all, four Penn College graduates have competed on the Food Network. Chef James Parker, ’91, competed on two episodes of “Food Network Challenge” and appeared on the network’s “Sugar Rush” series, and Chef Kristi Ritchey, ’02, competed in the first episode of “Extreme Chef.”