Alexandria’s Amy Decker can’t say exactly what happens in her upcoming appearance on Food Network’s new show “100 Cooks.” Still, she felt comfortable enough to say that she didn’t win the $250,000 final prize but told ALXnow, “I got pretty damn far.”
Decker lives in Old Town with her husband and started cooking in 2020 while working as a staff operations officer for the CIA’s director of operations. She says she learned everything from cookbooks and that same year started Decker Delights, creating how-to videos for people stuck at home during the pandemic. That same year, she applied to be on a Food Network show hosted by Valerie Bertinelli, but it didn’t get picked up.
Decker said she was surprised when Food Network contacted her about appearing on “100 Cooks” and was flown to Los Angeles for several weeks of filming.
“They really put us in a beautiful hotel,” Decker said. “All of this really solidified that I am good at cooking. I enjoy it.”
Food Network’s “100 Cooks” premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday, June 7. The show is hosted by Terry Crews, with contestants chosen by lottery and dishes judged by Nick DiGiovanni and Alex Guarnaschelli,
“Thousands of people applied to compete on “100 Cooks” and along with Terry, Nick and Alex, we were amazed at the passion and skill they brought to the table,” said Food Network president Betsy Ayala in a release.
Decker, who now works for a geospatial intelligence company, describes her run on “100 Cooks” as “really cool,” but also “humbling, surreal, and terrifying.” Decker says she didn’t realize how much she enjoyed the experience and would like to someday host her own show.
“I didn’t realize how much I would shine and how much I freaking loved it,” Decker said. “When you work at the [Central Intelligence] Agency, when you work in intel, when you work at tech, you’re buttoned up.”
Decker said she’s always been good under pressure.
“I’ve always been very calm in high-pressure situations,” she said. “I’m lucky enough where I can control that.”
She also said the show was not only about cooking — it was a personality competition as well.
“One guy I adore who was on the show had a great personality until he ended up being eliminated,” Decker said. “He had the most sour attitude for two days, and I was thinking, ‘We’re just lucky to be on this show, and you made it this far and should be proud of yourself.'”
Decker is hosting a viewing party for the premiere at Cooper Mill (10 Duke Street) at 9 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Tickets for the viewing cost $25.
