Sioux Falls Chef Wins Food Network's 'Guy's Grocery Games'

UPDATE:

And the winner is...

Not one, but two Sioux Falls chefs competed on Guy's Grocery Games on Food Network, Wednesday, June 7.

Beau Vondra from Look's Marketplace and Ryan Pederson from Urban Chislic competed against each other and two other players on the popular food competition show. Both businesses were featured on Guy Fieri's other Food Network show, 'Diner's Drive-ins and Dives' in 2021.

Pederson was eliminated, but Beau Vondra from Look's Marketplace wowed the judges with his dishes and went on to win $17,999.

Previously posted:

Look's Marketplace via Facebook

Sioux Falls is getting more attention in the national spotlight as Guy Fieri from the Food Network recruits talented chef, Beau Vondra, from Look's Marketplace for an episode of Guy's Grocery Games.

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Guy Fieri met Beau Vondra while Guy was in town filming an episode of Diners, Drive- Ins and Dives. Vondra is co-owner of Look's Marketplace at 500 E. 69th Street in Sioux Falls. Look's was one of five restaurants the show chose to highlight.

On Guy's Grocery Games, according to FoodNetwork.com, "Chefs are forced to improvise and cook within a budget in this competition set in a supermarket."

The episode called "DDD Guilty Pleasures" will air at 8:00 PM central on Wednesday, June 7. According to the description of the episode:

The chefs are tasked to make diner classic with their signature guilty pleasure; and turn Hunter Fieri's favorite snack into a sandwich.

Monk's Ale House in downtown Sioux Falls will be hosting a viewing party on June 7. Monk's will also have a Look's Brewing Co. Tap Takeover that night, featuring Look's Marketplace brews.

Monk's Ale House via Facebook

Come for the viewing party and the beer, and stay for live music from the Josh Cleveland band.

Look's Marketplace via Facebook

The Motor City Detroit-style pizza was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It has a thick crust, three-cheese blend, pepperoni, hot soppressata, house-made Italian sausage, roasted mushrooms, pizza sauce, dollops of ricotta cheese, basil, and olive oil.

There's no word on what Vondra will be making during the show, but our money's on him to win!

Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives in Sioux Falls

In June of 2020, Guy Fieri and his crew from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives came to Sioux Falls and made quite a stir.

In case you've never been lured into an hours-long binge of the show on Food Network, Guy Fieri visits places off the beaten path and tries out their signature dishes and visits with locals.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

The Best Pizzas In South Dakota

Grab a slice and enjoy some of the best pizza in South Dakota

Pizza is one of those things in life that usually everyone can agree on.

Leave it to Best Things South Dakota to uncover South Dakota’s best and favorite local pizzas. From cheese and sausage to pineapple pizza, Best Things South Dakota identified the best traditional and creative pizzas throughout the Mount Rushmore state.

Unfortunately, one pizza establishment on the list, Sioux Falls’ Zaroty closed its doors in the summer of 2020. So, I took the liberty of including one more Sioux Falls pizza place people really like!