Agni's Avishar Barua to compete on Food Network's '24 in 24'
Columbus chef Avishar Barua, owner of Joya's in Worthington and Agni in the Brewery District, will appear April 26 on season 3 of the Food Network show "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing."
Described by Food Network as "part culinary marathon and part social experiment," the 24 participating chefs take on 24 culinary challenges in a single 24-hour period, with a $100,000 prize on the line.
Barua, a two-time James Beard Award nominee, announced his participation in a March social media post, where he called the competition "exciting and also a terrible thing to willingly do to yourself." He doubled down on that sentiment recently, telling his Instagram followers "this thing is exactly as unhinged as the title suggests."
Agni chef and owner Avishar Barua
Although unable to answer questions about his experience on the show, he provided some impressions of, and praise for, his fellow competitors alongside a teaser trailer from the show in his post.
Barua has participated in other Food Network competitions, including "Guy's Grocery Games" (with Columbus native Guy Fieri, who also featured Joya's on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"), "Bobby's Triple Threat" and "Beat Bobby Flay" − a feat Barua achieved on the show.
"24 in 24" premieres April 26 at 8 p.m. on Food Network and streams the following day on HBO Max and Discovery+.
Mark your calendars for these Columbus food events
- Kombucha lovers: Ever wanted to make your own fermented soda? Learn how at an Arbor Day workshop at Newark's Dawes Arboretum, hosted by Trevor Ring of Pittsburgh's Community Cultures. Visit the arboretum for its Arbor Day Festival on April 25. Admission is free, and workshop registration is available on-site, with sessions offered at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Rooh and Esther Rum are teaming up for a Day Rave on April 26. Join for DJ music, coffee and/or rum drinks and a taste of Mornings by Rooh's pop-up breakfast cafe. Entry is free for the 18+ event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Columbus Monthly will host its Spring Cocktail Competition on May 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Vitria on the Square. Join to taste unique cocktails from 10 of Columbus' top local bars and restaurants, including VASO, Lindey's and newcomer The Nine. Purchase $40 early bird tickets from Eventbrite through May 7; prices increase to $45 after that date.
