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The episode will air on the Food Network on Tuesday, April 19, at 10 p.m.
Baldini won "Chopped" last year in an episode titled "Fake Cake, Real Stakes." She collected a $10,000 prize, which made her eligible for another appearance -- this time as one of 16 winning chefs vying for $50,000 in prize money.
On the April 19 show, Baldini will battle two other previous champions for a chance to make it to the finals and earn the Chopped Grand Champion title and $50,000.
In her round, Baldini will go up against Andre Fowles, who won the "Cooking Caribbean" episode; and Adam Sappington and Jackie Sappington, winners of the "Double Trouble" episode.
There will be four preliminary episodes that will determine who gets a spot in the finale. One chef from among the four finalists will be named the winner.
Baldini is the first woman chef in Connecticut to bring home a victory on the Food Network's "Chopped." After enduring 12 hours of competition, her dessert won.
She made sweet canederli, which is a type of bread dumpling that is served in Northeast Italy as a first course or dessert. The dumplings are made of simple, inexpensive ingredients, including stale bread moistened with milk or cheese bound with eggs and a small amount of flour.
Sweet canederi exemplifies Baldini’s signature “chic and simple comfort” cuisine, a style rooted in making beautiful food to share with loved ones.
The victory was important to Baldini, who left a successful career in advertising to become a chef. She planned to use her $10,000 in winnings to create an educational food program that teaches people to cook and share food based on her philosophy that we enjoy food more when we are well-versed in its origins, culinary history and traditions.
For an earlier Daily Voice story on Baldini, click here.
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