Yes, you read that correctly. Eva Dix, chef at the iconic Dixie Truck Stop on historic RT 66, has been keeping a secret.

The FOOD NETWORK just published this tidbit about the 9pm episode airing Tuesday, March 1st, 2016:

Four talented truck stop chefs bring their renowned take on comfort food to the Chopped Kitchen. In the first round, meatloaf mix is a pleasant surprise, but some are not very familiar with fennel. A purple veggie and a sweet drink are two of the mystery ingredients in the second round, and the finalists hope the dessert round will be easy as pie after they discover apple pie in the basket.

Thanks to Larry Carius, and his amazing reporting skills for Bloomington Normal Restaurant Scene,  we have the inside scoop!

Eva says the entire show is taped in one day in NYC. Chopped program officials first contacted Dixie management last August to see if someone at Dixie would want to apply to appear on the show because of Dixie’s iconic status as the oldest truck stop on Rt 66.

The show came to the Dixie for two days to do background bios on her and Dixie for a bio segment on the show. Eva flew to NYC in October for the one-day competition. Eva’s parents (Tom and Elaine Kapatos) purchased the Dixie Truck Stop restaurant in Aug, 2009. Eva says she learned to cook from her mom and dad but especially her dad who is the executive chef at Dixie. She had the least culinary training/experience of the four contestants.

Thanks Larry! If you have any tips or hot food news for BloNo, email Larry Carius [email protected]

Good luck Eva, that guy Alton Brown isn’t easy to impress!

Find The Dixie Truck Stop at 501 S Main St., McLean, IL,