Catholic nun wins competition on Food Network's reality cooking show

Sr. Alicia Torres, a member of the Chicago-based Franciscans of the Eucharist competed on the Food Network Show “Chopped” last Monday and won the competition.
The nun’s culinary skills made her a big winner Monday on the Food Network.
Participants on Chopped were given a basket of mystery ingredients, and in a limited amount of time, they were expected to craft a creative, tasty, and stylish dish. There were three rounds — appetizer, entrée, and dessert — with one cook kicked off the show after each round following a tasting by the judges.
The four contestants for the “Thanksgiving Soup-er Stars” episode were chosen because of their work with soup kitchens, and the winner received $10,000 to donate to charity
“I went into the competition with a lot of experience just really playing it creatively with food because everything we receive is providence and a gift,” she said. “You don’t always know what’s coming in. You want to be able to be a good steward.”
While not naming her competition, she said that a common mission permeated the atmosphere.
“Because we all serve the underserved and underprivileged, there was a spirit of unity,” she said. “We were competing for our charities. That was really beautiful.”
The community Sister Torres belongs to is new, founded in 2010 by the Rev. Robert Lombardo at the invitation of the late Cardinal Francis George. Sister Torres entered the community later that year, and she professed her final vows last month.
The community serves the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, located in a poor Chicago neighborhood. Its mission is “to assist the materially poor and to share the treasure of our Catholic Faith,” according to its website.
 
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