Shreveport’s Chef Niema Beats Bobby Flay on Food Network

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Shreveport’s Chef Niema DiGrazia reigned triumphant; her episode aired last night, and she defeated none other than Food Network Chef Bobby Flay.

Chef Niema, Executive Chef at Abby Singer’s Bistro, held a watch party on May 29 to watch the episode titled “Fight Like a Tiger.” Family, friends, and community members gathered to watch Chef tell the world, ‘I beat Bobby Flay!’

The crowd roared with excitement as she won while representing her Sierra Leonean roots. Chef Niema’s winning dish, ‘Maffé,’ was a West African peanut butter stew made with shrimp.

“This moment means the world to me,” said Chef Niema. “To stand on a national stage and bring my culture, my roots, and my adopted hometown of Shreveport into the spotlight is something I’ll always be proud of. This isn’t just a win for me—it’s a win for every young Black woman, every immigrant, and every Southern chef who’s ever dared to take up space in this industry.”

In the episode’s round 1, Chef Niema went against Chef Solomon Johnson; both contestants’ mission was to highlight mango in their dish. Chef Niema’s mango salad received high praise despite concerns about the mango skin being left on.

Chef Niema advanced to the second and final round against Bobby Flay. Mama Tanya gave Chef Niema’s Maffé the “eeow!” of approval, while Chef Bobby Flay’s did not meet the judges’ expectations.

 In 2024, alongside her husband, Chef de Cuisine Matthew DiGrazia, Abby Singer’s Bistro transformed the restaurant’s menu with a fusion of West African, Caribbean, and Southern influences.

“Chef Niema’s win is not just a personal achievement—it’s a point of pride for the entire Shreveport-Bossier region,” said Wendell Riley, Executive Director of Robinson Film Center. “She embodies everything Abby Singer’s Bistro stands for: delicious and creative food, cultural richness, and heart.”

Abby Singer’s Bistro is located on the second floor of Robinson Film Center in downtown Shreveport. Robinson Film Center is a nonprofit arts organization that brings film education, independent cinema, and culinary culture to Northwest Louisiana.