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Did a Boricua straight from El Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico, just lose an empanada competition to an Irish dude from New York City?

Yes.

But it's very important to notation that the stage for this contest was the flavor finale of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay"—and the victor none other than Food Network big dog himself, Bobby Flay.

After the flour dust settled and in a rather unexpected turnout, Flay beat Puerto Rican chef Frank Maldonado in a Battle of the Beef Empanada, a decision that did not go un-contested past the losing side.

Even though the claiming is all in skilful fun, and even better publicity, conspiracy theories quietly circulated. Some said the judges had their plates confused, others said in that location might have been personal grudges.

Jose Luis Flores, Miami-based pastry chef extraordinaire, and Denise Oller, Puerto Rican-built-in culinary expert and cooking evidence host, were asked to judge the contest. Afterward, the judges both stood (one perhaps more firmly than the other) alongside their choice.

"You accept to be fair when you qualify. It is not about the restaurant or the person, It is most who made the best empanada. Denise was a footling conflicted merely I have been a judge before," said Flores.

Indeed, objectivity was a slight challenge for swain Puerto Rican judge Oller. The Emmy-laurels winning announcer had to remember that this was not nigh brotherhood but about the three categories in which she had to rate the tasty turnovers: actuality, flavor and presentation.

"Information technology was a very tough decision. Flay's empanada was more than complex, it popped in your rima oris. But the other was besides exquisite...I mean, with two cute babies how does i choose?" said Oller.

In the end, most meat lovers would probably agree that the braised, shredded brusk rib (used by Flay) trumps the adept ol' ground beef (used by Maldonado).

Either way, the show marked a milestone for Maldonado. With a blend of decision and good fortune, this kid from apprehensive beginnings had but gone national. Though Maldonado, who began his career in the kitchen of a family unit-endemic seafood eatery, ever knew he was destined for chefdom.

"My summertime campsite was in the kitchen of my mother's restaurant," Maldonado said during his interview on "Throwdown."

Today, Maldonado is the Executive Chef of the upscale Manhattan eatery Sazon (where, full disclosure, the writer is a part-fourth dimension director). Just it was his animated personality and various array of musical talent that caught the Food Network's attention earlier in the year. (He plays the flute, congas, bongos and is working on a book that supposedly links spirituality, food and honey.) As a upshot, the network offered him the adventure to create a pilot called, "Eating en Español." Several meetings and many English lessons after, he was set to take on the three-solar day taping.

On the terminal twenty-four hour period, Maldonado was taping a "studio audience" manner cooking prove at Sazon when— in true "Throwdown" manner—he was surprised by the Iron Chef himself. Maldonado eagerly accepted the challenge and the battle of the empanada ensued.

Maldonado left La Isla del Encanto and most of his firsthand family to pursue his dream of becoming a top notch large city chef. The nighttime the episode aired, he already felt famous. He could think to his elderly female parent on the island and tell her to plough to "Culvert 23 pa' ver el evidence mio."

"I am nowhere near finished, but today I feel happy," he said after the viewing.

As servers passed mini empanadas to the cheering oversupply, Maldonado smiled from ear to ear. He may non have won the boxing, but he was still going subsequently the war.

Erica Lopez is a freelance writer for Fox News Latino.

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