Longmeadow native to appear on Food Network’s ‘Chopped’

Date: 2/3/2022

LONGMEADOW – Residents of Longmeadow can soon see one of their own show off their culinary prowess on the Food Network’s “Chopped.”

Chef Brooke Baevsky graduated from Longmeadow High School in 2014 and attended Syracuse University for her undergraduate education. She studied product development and marketing, before going on to study at the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education (ICE).

When it comes to cooking, Baevsky focuses on healthy foods, particularly those that are plant-based. She also works to make sure that her food is something everyone can eat, despite any dietary restrictions.

“I grew up in an allergy household,” with both her mother and brother suffering from food allergies, Baevsky said, adding that the family also kept kosher.” She was fascinated by “the science behind food and making meals that everyone can eat.” Her website states that all her recipes are free of gluten, dairy, refined sugar and soy.

Freshly

“The industry is very cutthroat,” Baevsky said. “I didn’t want to go the traditional route of opening a restaurant. I saw this idea of food on the internet when it was just starting.”

After working with the BuzzFeed offshoot company, Tasty, Baevsky moved on to Freshly, a meal delivery service. Freshley was one of the first such services and Baevsky began working at the company when there were just five employees. The company is now owned by Nestle.

“I had the opportunity to work with amazing chefs in the industry,” Baevsky said. “I learned from the best of the best.”

As the program manager for Freshly, Baevsky explained that she creates prototypes for the meals that are sent to subscribers’ doors. The chef works on meals that incorporate ingredients such as cauliflower pasta, vegetable-infused pasta sauce, and other healthy meal alternatives. She said her position is the culmination of everything she has studied.

“Chopped”

In the course of Baevsky’s work, she was able to meet Food Network stars.

“The Food Network is always looking to feature new chefs,” Baevsky said. After going through what she called a “50-step interviewing process,” Baevsky was chosen to be on ‘Chopped.’ “It’s very competitive,” she said.

Baevsky said she is used to presenting her food in front of people, in the form of virtual and in-person demonstrations as well as live baking events. She has demonstrated food and catering options at higher education institutions such as George Washington University, Northeastern University and Cornell University Graduate School.

“The life of a chef is not 9 to 5,” Baevsky said. Beyond creating delicious meals, she said her job involves staying up to date with food trends and curating social media. For Baevsky, it also involves teaching others how to eat healthily.

Teaching

“I really want to change the stigma that healthy food isn’t bright and flavorful,” Baevsky said. She has taken information on healthier foods and how to prepare them to the cities she has lived in and around, beginning in Springfield.

Beginning in high school, Baevsky would teach classes on the importance of making healthy, easy meals on a limited budget. Since then, she has worked with nonprofits to provide these free classes. Baevsky said she tries to instill skills kids can take back to their families.

“There are very affordable ways to get healthy food, maybe not buying organic, but maybe raw vegetables,” Baevsky said. “A food stamp at a farmer’s market goes so much further than a can of Chef Boyardee at the grocery store.” According to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s 2014 Food Security Plan, 3,515 people living in urban areas of Hampden County live in food deserts, areas with limited access to affordable and healthy food.
Baevsky has also taught these classes in New York City, where she currently lives, and plans to continue doing so after her upcoming move to Los Angeles.

She will compete on Food Network’s “Chopped “ Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. For more information on Baevsky, visit https://www.inthekitchenwithbae.com.