Chef Ype Von Hengst Poised to Get Chopped

Silver Diner co-founder and executive chef Ype Von Hengst is just about ready for his close-up. The farm-to-table evangelist February 14 is scheduled to make his first appearance on Food Network’s Chopped.

The long-running cooking competition challenges chefs to compose enticing three-course meals on the fly, peppering the time-crunched culinarians with mystery ingredients and grueling critiques.

Von Hengst joins a growing community of local chefs who’ve had their mettle tested in the Chopped kitchen. Past participants include: Will Artley, Daniel Giusti, Adam Greenberg, Andrew Markert, Al Nappo, Frederik De Pue, and Demetrio Zavala.

Von Hengst is, naturally, not at liberty to discuss the outcome of the show.

But he’s inviting everyone to join him at his American-style brasserie, Silver in Bethesda (7150 Woodmont Ave.), next Tuesday to watch the drama unfold. A viewing party is scheduled from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. — the show airs at 10 p.m. — and Von Hengst and his family will be on hand to share intel on what actually transpired behind the scenes.