“I will backstab” — Milwaukee chef Adam Pawlak wins Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out with bold strategy

Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out aired its final episode on July 1, 2025, with Milwaukee chef Adam Pawlak winning the competition. The show, hosted by Brian Malarkey, is a spin-off of the original Cutthroat Kitchen. In this cooking contest, chefs not only cook under pressure but can also spend money to make things harder for others.

At the start, each of the four chefs has $25,000. They can keep the money, or they can sabotage their competitors by taking away ingredients or tools. In the final episode Adam faced three other chefs in a tough setting and at the same time winning involved both cooking and strategy.

“I am going to do anything I need to do in that kitchen to win that $25,000. I will backstab. I will spend money. It does not matter,” he said at the beginning of the episode.

The challenge required chefs to prepare their dishes using only a microwave, unless they won the chance to buy additional heat sources through bidding. The episode was filmed nine months earlier, and he kept the outcome a secret until the finale aired.

Microwave challenge puts pressure on all four chefs in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Food Network (@foodnetwork)

Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out finale opened with a twist—contestants were told they had to make their dish using only a microwave. To make things harder, they had to participate in bidding wars to acquire other heat sources. Adam faced sabotage early in the round but said cooking only with a microwave was “one of the craziest experiences.”

Despite the limitations, he managed to keep focus and used his background and creativity to adjust quickly. While other chefs scrambled under the pressure and sabotage attempts, Adam stayed consistent. He spent his money carefully to protect himself and block his competitors when needed.

Adam's round stood out because he believed that winning came down to being smarter than the others. Even after some of his ingredients were sabotaged and none of his equipment was available, he adjusted and went ahead with his plan, using only a microwave to make a dessert.

Adam prepared a mixed berry and brown butter crepe with a hazelnut-peanut crumble and cinnamon cream. The judges felt the flavors were well balanced, despite the challenges he faced. By the end of the round, he was declared the winner and took home $14,500 from his starting amount of $25,000.

Winning plans include supporting his mom post-surgery

After winning Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, Adam shared that a portion of the prize money would go toward his mother’s recovery.

“I’m definitely going to help my mom. She just had knee surgery. Maybe a vacation for her and a friend once she’s fully recovered,” he said.

Adam shared that thinking about ways to help his mom was one of the things that kept him focused throughout his participation in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out. Winning the show was an important moment in his career. He owns and runs Egg & Flour Pasta Bar in the Bay View area of Milwaukee.

He hosted a small, private watch party at his restaurant for close friends and family. Since the episode was filmed nine months earlier, he had to wait a long time for it to air, and he found it hard to keep the outcome a secret during that time.

Now that the finale episode of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out has aired, viewers can stream it on HBO Max and Discovery+. His journey from the first round to the final dish was marked by smart bidding, handling sabotage, and staying focused on the outcome.

Stay tuned for more updates.