Chopped Battle Italiano 17 Photos
Italian enthusiasts like Scott, Alex and Gabe are saying "Ciao!" to 16 chefs who are set to compete in this Italian-themed tournament.
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Episodes
See Episode GuideBattle of the Meats: Beef!
Bring on the beef! Four chefs battle it out with bovine-centric ingredients. In the first round, more than one of the competitors decide to show off their raw talent by serving uncooked meat. The chefs demonstrate their steak skills with the second basket, and some setbacks in the dessert round leave the outcome of the competition up in the air.
Battle of the Meats: Bison!
For this fierce meat battle, the baskets feature a trending lean, mean protein: bison! The first round sees the chefs going in distinct directions with their jelly bean and short rib appetizers. As the competitors get more comfortable with the bison theme in round two, some unusual rice balls and a savory tea complicate the challenge. In the final round, the last two contenders take on bison for dessert with gusto and grace.
Battle Italiano: Puglia
Four chefs get inspired by Italy's "olive oil capital" as they create coastal cuisine from Puglia. In the appetizer round, a chef's mistake causes a big stink in the kitchen -- literally, and an imposing protein takes up a lot of space in the entrée basket. In the dessert round, a tough basket that includes cactus creates a prickly situation for the final two chefs.
Grills On! Game On!
When the ovens and fryers are turned off, four chefs have no choice but to get their grill on! A rare meat hits the heat in round one, and a frozen food favorite in the second basket might not thrill the competitors. The final two grillers must contend with double-smoked bacon in the dessert basket, and each chef tries to smoke the other in this fiery contest.
Military Salute: Navy
On choppy Chopped seas, U.S. Navy chefs can expect anything but smooth sailing. In the appetizer round, they'll have to create spectacular apps using a soup and an aged meat product. Then in the entrée round, the chefs ponder how to make French fries work with pineapple, while the dessert round features a tropical fruit and a patriotic cake. Only one chef can move on to the finale, where $75,000 for a charitable cause will be on the line!
Military Salute: Air Force
Flying high and cooking well, four members of the U.S. Air Force arrive in the Chopped kitchen for the special Military Salute tournament! In the appetizer basket, the chefs find a bowl of something comforting and a crunchy snack. For their entrees, they must use a tangy sauce and a snappy vegetable. Then in an exciting dessert round, the last two Air Force chefs remaining create final dishes that include a wild play on pickles.
Military Salute: Marines
Chopped salutes the U.S. Military and welcomes the few, the proud, the U.S. Marine Corps chefs to the kitchen! In the appetizer round, the chefs must figure out how to make something that's normally "ready to eat" ready for the judges! Then in the entrée round, a breakfast food in the basket will awaken the chefs' creativity. Finally, a savory-sweet mash up in the dessert basket turns the final round into a real head-scratcher for the two Marines still cooking.
Military Salute: Army
Be all you can be in the Chopped kitchen! Four chefs from the U.S. Army have their marching orders to transform a favorite soldier comfort food into an elevated appetizer. Then, an exotic vegetable and a tender meat surprises the chefs in their entrée baskets before a festive drink shakes up the remaining competitors in the dessert round. The champion of this competition wins a spot in the tournament's finale!
Military Salute: Finale
Joining forces for the finale, the four military finalists cook as a team against a mystery Chopped judge in every round! Four-versus-one seems like a clear advantage for the military chefs, but they're teamwork is tested when they disagree about the timing involved for their first round veggie dish. In the second round, everyone is excited to see beautiful steaks in the basket, and the judges are hoping for grilled perfection. Then, hot dogs in the dessert basket are not a pleasant surprise. Whoever reigns supreme in each round will have the chance to win $75,000 for a charitable cause!
Battle Italiano: Tuscany
Four chefs focus on the fabulous food of Tuscany in all its fresh, humble, sensational glory. In the appetizer round, the judges wonder whether the chefs will manage to make good choices while dealing with a super-lean meat in the basket. Then, issues of confidence and competence plague the chefs in round two, and two chefs inspired by an Italian cookie tray -- and their desire to score a spot in the finale -- race to make amazing final plates!
Grilling on the Edge
Grilling is living! Four chefs with a talent for live-fire cooking bring their passion to the Chopped kitchen. Beef in the first basket should be a breeze, but nothing is ever easy on Chopped. Second-guessing in the entree round leaves one chef confused about the best plan for the main protein, and the two grilling gurus who advance to the last round must make final plates that include a dough and a fancy fruit.
Grilling on the Edge
Grilling is living! Four chefs with a talent for live-fire cooking bring their passion to the Chopped kitchen. Beef in the first basket should be a breeze, but nothing is ever easy on Chopped. Second-guessing in the entree round leaves one chef confused about the best plan for the main protein, and the two grilling gurus who advance to the last round must make final plates that include a dough and a fancy fruit.
Battle Italiano: Tuscany
Four chefs focus on the fabulous food of Tuscany in all its fresh, humble, sensational glory. In the appetizer round, the judges wonder whether the chefs will manage to make good choices while dealing with a super-lean meat in the basket. Then, issues of confidence and competence plague the chefs in round two, and two chefs inspired by an Italian cookie tray -- and their desire to score a spot in the finale -- race to make amazing final plates!
Battle Italiano: Tuscany
Four chefs focus on the fabulous food of Tuscany in all its fresh, humble, sensational glory. In the appetizer round, the judges wonder whether the chefs will manage to make good choices while dealing with a super-lean meat in the basket. Then, issues of confidence and competence plague the chefs in round two, and two chefs inspired by an Italian cookie tray -- and their desire to score a spot in the finale -- race to make amazing final plates!
Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef: Battle 1
Three legendary Chopped judges are desperately seeking a sous chef, and they've invited 16 ambitious cooks to the Chopped Kitchen to battle for the opportunity of a lifetime. In the first preliminary battle of this five-part event, four hopeful candidates must tackle an appetizer basket that includes some fish-shaped cakes and some plant-based chicken. Major clock concerns make for some dramatic moments. In the entrée round, a flavorful, carb-y snack and an intimidating piece of poultry challenge the chefs. And as the two remaining contenders fight it out for a spot in the finale, they must make desserts using something Sicilian and something gelatinous.
Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef: Battle 2
With their sights set on joining a Chopped judge's restaurant empire, four new motivated chefs arrive to give everything they've got to land their dream job. Judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos will be watching the competitors' every move and tasting every plate to see which candidate deserves a chance to become one of their sous chefs. In the first round, emotions run high as the clock ticks down. Then, in the entree round, the chefs are challenged to break down whole chickens, and with one of Scott's favorite dessert ingredients in the final basket, it would behoove the chefs to do it justice. The winner will advance to the Desperately Seeking Sous Chef finale, where one champion will score the opportunity of a lifetime.
Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef: Battle 3
Four more enterprising chefs try to ace the most difficult job interview imaginable and score the chance to work for a Chopped judge. In round one, offal is an awfully shocking surprise, and judge Maneet Chauhan will be watching to see who stumbles and who shines. Then, in the entree round, when a cut of meat proves problematic, can the chefs figure out the best approach in time to get dinner on the table for a potential future boss? And in the dessert round, judge Chris Santos is excited to see what the chefs can do with deep-fried champagne. The winner of this battle moves on to the tournament's finale, where one champion will conquer all to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.
Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef: Battle 4
Four chefs are aiming high as they attempt to impress Chopped judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos, who are desperately looking for sous-chefs, but they won't settle for anything less than the perfect candidate. In this fourth preliminary battle of the tournament, the chefs open the appetizer basket and find a special seafood item that Scott knows very well. In the entree round, the chefs gain some confidence as they work with an Asian street food and a sugary soft drink. In the dessert round, Maneet is eager to see how the chefs use one of her favorite ingredients. If they can balance flavors, they might win her favor. The victorious chef from this battle will move on to the tournament's finale.
Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef: Finale
Excitement is in the air as four champions return to the Chopped kitchen on a mission to become a sous-chef for a Chopped judge and start a new chapter in their career. Expectations and tensions are high as the candidates open the appetizer baskets and find a fusion pasta and a delicacy from the sea. A specialty of Naples is the curveball ingredient of a difficult entree basket, and, in the dessert round, a stinky fruit and a spicy ice cream are a part of the challenge. After the final elimination, one chef will win the title of Chopped Grand Champion and the opportunity of a lifetime. Judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos will spell out their respective job offers, and the victorious chef gets to choose which enticing path to take. There has never been a moment like this in Chopped history.
Burgers and Bravado
Competing chefs attempt to prove from the start that they're the one to beat. In the first basket, a big burger with a gluttonous twist gives the chefs a lot of options. Parsley cake is a curve ball in round two, and when the last remaining chefs focus their attention on a dessert basket that includes Cara Cara oranges and a curiously boozy condiment, the judges are impressed by the level of skill they see.
Battle Italiano: Finale
The four winning chefs return for the Battle Italiano finale, where they'll represent their regions and fight to take home the Grande Campione's $25,000 prize! The baskets are anything but standard issue, and the appetizer round features pizza in a tube! Emotions run high in a dramatic entrée round with just three chefs left in the epic tournament. Then, unfamiliar ingredients in the dessert basket promise to keep the two finalists on their toes!
Epic Burgers!
The chefs battle it out to see who can build the most epic burger masterpieces. An awe-inspiring tower kicks off the first round of hamburger hustling. An old-school lunchbox favorite adds a bite of yummy, kitschy fun to the entree round, and a sweet challenge is in store for the two remaining chefs who must make epic burgers suitable for dessert.
Epic Burgers!
The chefs battle it out to see who can build the most epic burger masterpieces. An awe-inspiring tower kicks off the first round of hamburger hustling. An old-school lunchbox favorite adds a bite of yummy, kitschy fun to the entree round, and a sweet challenge is in store for the two remaining chefs who must make epic burgers suitable for dessert.
Battle Italiano: Finale
The four winning chefs return for the Battle Italiano finale, where they'll represent their regions and fight to take home the Grande Campione's $25,000 prize! The baskets are anything but standard issue, and the appetizer round features pizza in a tube! Emotions run high in a dramatic entrée round with just three chefs left in the epic tournament. Then, unfamiliar ingredients in the dessert basket promise to keep the two finalists on their toes!
Just Add Cheese!
Comfort food connoisseurs and gourmands alike know that any dish can benefit from a slice, a melt or a sprinkling of cheese! In this special competition, every basket is filled with cheesy yumminess including an unusual take on a Philadelphia classic in the first round. The chefs must work with a crunchy cringe-worthy surprise in addition to a fancy Spanish cheese in the entree round. And a cheese-tastic tower is one of the building blocks for the finalists' desserts.
Clambake Stakes
The chefs set out to make an unforgettable summer feast after learning each challenge will have a clambake theme. In the first round, a colorful cocktail and a gamey sausage help get the party started. The entree basket includes a strange starch and plenty of gifts from the sea. Finally, the competitors who make it to round three get to work with a juicy fruit and something cute.
