CINCINNATI – Husband and wife Brad and Rachael Bernstein truly are a force to be reckoned with.
On Wednesday, the Bernsteins gathered with about 75 friends and family members at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley to watch the "Guy's Grocery Games" episode "Cookin' Couples" that they not only competed in -- but won on the Food Network.
"It's the most fun we've ever had," said Rachael Bernstein about competing on the show.
The couple owns, and Brad is the executive chef of popular local restaurants Red Feather in Oakley and Postmark in Clifton. The pair taped their episode of the competitive cooking show hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri on Halloween weekend last year in San Francisco.
"It's really hard for me to keep a secret," Rachael said of not spilling the beans about winning for more than three months. "I had to not think about it."
Rachael added the episode she and her husband won was not only special for them but also for the show's format.
A typical episode of "Guy's Grocery Games" pits individual chefs against one another as they create dishes made with limited ingredients that they "shop" for -- all within half-an-hour. A panel of judges then vote on the best dish. The chef of the winning dish is then awarded a cash prize.
Rachael said the Food Network initially contacted Brad about competing on the show after Cincinnati Magazine named Postmark one of the best new restaurants in February, 2018.
Rachael, who handles Red Feather and Postmark's communications and participation in events such as Zoofari, then began to gather background information and other details about her husband that the Food Network requested before his appearance on an episode.
Rachel described herself as the more extroverted person in her marriage, which may have led to a second unexpected phone call from the Food Network.
"Then one day someone from Food Network called us and said, 'Hey, we are doing a couples episode. Would you and your wife like to participate?'" Rachael said.
The special episode pitted the Bernsteins against two other couples. Rachael said they spent about 17 hours in a single day taping various caveats for the show.
The 30-minute time limit for the actual cooking competition though was very real, she added.
"It was true time, 30 minutes," Rachael said. "So, it was super intense. Guy Fieri was super nice the entire time."
Rachael attributes her and Brad's win on the show to their 19-year-long relationship; the time they've spent together opening and operating Red Feather and Postmark; and Brad's family's longtime involvement in the restaurant industry.
"We work together very, very well," Rachael said. "And the Bernsteins have a big history in the restaurant industry, including BB Riverboats in Northern Kentucky."
She said everyone was elated as they watched her and Brad win "Guy's Grocery Games" challenge.
"It was a blast," she said.
