Bill Clifton, executive chef and co-owner of The Counting House restaurant in Georgetown, faced off with celebrity chef Bobby Flay on The Food Network Thursday night, getting to the final round before he...

Lost with his signature dish, Corn and Crab Chowder with a Corn Fritter and Chive Oil.  But he did take time to sing the praises of Maryland-Delaware blue crabs on camera.

Clifton's decision to take on Flay with a dish that was clearly in Flay's wheel house ultimately resulted in defeat, despite all three judges praising his dish with phrases like "fun and playful;" "hearty and comforting;" and "a chowder that transports you."

Clifton was working at Henlopen City Oyster House in Rehoboth Beach when he got the call from the Food Network this past winter.  He and his partner, Miguel Batiz, took over the restaurant in Georgetown's historic Brick Hotel last August, renaming it The Counting House, according to sister publication Delaware Today.

We'll be paying a visit to Clifton's home kitchen in our May 14 issue and talk to him about the experience (he couldn't say anything in advance of Thursday night's show).

-- Peter Osborne