Essex County Native, Home Chef Competes On ‘Julia Child … – Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Bloomfield native Christine Fiorentino, a former teacher who says she’ll soon be moving to Montclair, was scheduled to show off her chef skills Monday night on TV’s new cooking show, “The Julia Child Challenge.”

The show premieres at 9 p.m. on Food Network and discovery+.

In the show, inspired by food icon Julia Child, “eight skilled home cooks and Julia Child superfans get the chance to impress head judge Antonia Lofaso and guest judges including Molly Baz, Cliff Crooks and Brooke Williamson to win a grand prize.”

The prize is an all-expense paid three-month cooking course at Le Cordon Bleu.

Fiorentino comes from a long line of talented home cooks, a show spokesperson said, and started helping in the kitchen at age three.

“The dining table is the heart of her home and the place her family connects over homemade meals,” she said. “Christine started her professional life as a teacher, but after ten years decided to follow her heart and pivot to a job in food media. She finds inspiration in Julia Child, who began her food career later in life.”

Fiorentino grew up in Bloomfield, now lives in Hoboken, and says she will soon be relocating to Montclair with her family. She’s a former teacher in Union City.