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.
Un-Choppable
Inside the Competition
The Exclusive Look 9 Photos
Get a behind-the-scenes peek into the making of Chopped.
The Best of After Hours 61 Photos
From top moments to crazy mishaps, see what happens.
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Best Reactions 36 Photos
As dramatic battles unfold, the judges can't hold back.
Loving Their Jobs 11 Photos
Each judge reveals a favorite thing about the show.
Chopped Cookbook
Get the book with recipes inspired by the show's mystery basket ingredients.
Episodes
See Episode GuideStar Power: Screen Sensations!
Four famous stars of film and TV light up the fourth and final preliminary competition of the Star Power tournament! In the appetizer round, actors Rick Fox, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Alysia Reiner and Alan Thicke must find a role for bass and ice pops in their dishes. The judges are entertained by one competitor's liberal use of a particular pantry ingredient in round two. Finally, the ice cream machine is a hot commodity for making cold treats in the dessert round.
Star Power: Grand Finale
Four celebrity champions return to try to reap a $50,000 win for their favorite charity in the grand finale of the Star Power tournament! The finale drama revs up after the competitors find a breakfast pastry and a pretty but bland fruit in their appetizer baskets. A pineapple transformed into something extra special is at the center of an exhilarating second round, then the last round of the tournament features a basket with a tower of cookies and a tropical fruit.
Easy Breezy, Mac and Cheesy
Four competitors think they're ready for whatever the Chopped kitchen might throw at them! In a dynamic first round, the chefs have a lot of ideas for their turkey legs and milkshakes, but they struggle to keep pace with the clock. Then in a drama-filled second round, the chefs rush to make steak work with a wacky candied surprise. When the final two chefs open the dessert basket and find a lot of frosting and a freeze-dried fruit, they must wrap their heads around the challenge in time to make terrific final plates.
Fiesta Mexicana
It's a Mexican fiesta in the Chopped kitchen as every basket features foods from our neighbor to the south, and the chefs will be encouraged to dial up the flavor to make extra scrumptious dishes. In the first round, the chefs struggle under the time pressure and hope that their appetizers don't fall flat when it comes to technique. In the second round, the chefs must combine a weird ice cream and a classic Mexican sauce. Then in a neck-and-neck final round, the chefs get creative with some unusual potato chips and a distinctively flavored leafy green.
Taco Brawl
Let's taco 'bout it! Four chefs attempt to prove who deserves to win all the dinero for their all-taco meal. A frantic first round leads to some missteps in the kitchen, and fish tacos are in order for the entree round, when the chefs find red snapper in the baskets. In the dessert round, a festive cocktail is part of the puzzle, but will the judges be toasting the chefs' final plates?
Flamin' Hot
With powerful peppers in every basket, four chefs learn that they'll get chilies increasing in heat on the Scoville scale for every round. In the appetizer round, the chefs fight over the fryer and try to figure out how to properly balance heat with the other flavors in their dishes. Then, the entrée basket has hot and cold components, and the two finalists must use finesse to incorporate one of the hottest peppers in the world into their desserts.
More Cheese, Please!
Please, pile on the cheese! The chefs find cheese in every basket and have to make it the star of every plate. They impress the judges with their talent and speed in the appetizer round, raising expectations for the courses to come, and a wild comfort food hybrid proves challenging in round two. The final two chefs take some risks in the dessert round, but will their sweetly cheesy desserts come together in time?
Wanna Pizza Me?
It's a pizza style showdown as four brilliant pizza pros race the clock in a battle for $10,000. From toothsome toppings to delicious dough, every bite matters when making pizza magic. In the appetizer round, the chefs discover that a notorious pizza topping is a mandatory ingredient! The competitors who make it through to the entrée round are glad that they can continue to proudly rep their particular pizza styles. Finally, pineapple on pizza is a controversial thing, but maybe it won't cause such a fuss in the dessert basket.
Pasta, Pasta, Pasta
Four chefs who are passionate about pasta are ready to show the judges what they've got! The appetizer basket seems like a gift, but ambitious plans leave some of the competitors racing the clock. In round two, the chefs hurry to make spectacular pasta plates that must include a succulent seafood and a strange sweet. Then, the last two chefs bring a ton of heart to the final round, and the judges are eager to try desserts made with cookies and coffee.
Battle Italiano: Emilia-Romagna
Four chefs get to the heart of Italian cuisine as they explore the incredible influence that the robust Emilia-Romagna region has on the culinary world. A slithery surprise and a frozen favorite challenge the chefs in the appetizer round, and those who make it to the entrée round have very different ideas for their veal and mushroom dishes. Then, the two competitors who remain for the dessert round endeavor to represent themselves and their region!
Taco Throwdown
Crunchy or soft, minimalist or filled to the max, it's taco time! The chefs are tasked with making tacos that are worth ten thousand bucks. A beverage is in the first basket, as well as a seafood surprise. Meaty tacos are in the works for the entree round, but can the competitors find a place on their plates for a squirmy shocker? Then, spicy dessert tacos sound delicious in the final round, however, time management issues become a problem after both chefs decide to make tortillas from scratch.
Taco Throwdown
Crunchy or soft, minimalist or filled to the max, it's taco time! The chefs are tasked with making tacos that are worth ten thousand bucks. A beverage is in the first basket, as well as a seafood surprise. Meaty tacos are in the works for the entree round, but can the competitors find a place on their plates for a squirmy shocker? Then, spicy dessert tacos sound delicious in the final round, however, time management issues become a problem after both chefs decide to make tortillas from scratch.
Battle Italiano: Emilia-Romagna
Four chefs get to the heart of Italian cuisine as they explore the incredible influence that the robust Emilia-Romagna region has on the culinary world. A slithery surprise and a frozen favorite challenge the chefs in the appetizer round, and those who make it to the entrée round have very different ideas for their veal and mushroom dishes. Then, the two competitors who remain for the dessert round endeavor to represent themselves and their region!
Battle Italiano: Emilia-Romagna
Four chefs get to the heart of Italian cuisine as they explore the incredible influence that the robust Emilia-Romagna region has on the culinary world. A slithery surprise and a frozen favorite challenge the chefs in the appetizer round, and those who make it to the entrée round have very different ideas for their veal and mushroom dishes. Then, the two competitors who remain for the dessert round endeavor to represent themselves and their region!
Dim Sum Yum
Pop goes the basket as the chefs must make bubblegum-flavored candy balance with hot and sour soup in their appetizer plates. Classic Cantonese dim sum is a yummy surprise in basket two. Then, the competitors who make it to the dessert round wind up working with something out-of-the-ordinary in a can plus a pink paste.
Something Dumpling
Dumplings are the theme for this competition, as the chefs are instructed to make stuffed morsels of dough inspired by any part of the world. A flavorful pork product and a Japanese condiment make up part of the first mystery basket, and nerves and timing take a toll. Meat-and-potato dumpling entrees are in order for round two, and the two chefs left to cook dessert dumplings must marry some spicy chips with a tropical fruit.
Thanks, Mom!
To honor the wonderful women who raised them right, four famous Food Network cooks -- Ted Allen, Jeff Mauro, Jet Tila and Chris Santos -- compete with their moms! In the first round, the mother/son teams strive to manage their time and to carefully crack quail eggs. A large fish and some lovely lemons make up part of the second basket. Then, the final two family duos must find sweet ways to use blood oranges and walnuts.
Dim Sum Yum
Pop goes the basket as the chefs must make bubblegum-flavored candy balance with hot and sour soup in their appetizer plates. Classic Cantonese dim sum is a yummy surprise in basket two. Then, the competitors who make it to the dessert round wind up working with something out-of-the-ordinary in a can plus a pink paste.
Noodle-palooza
Nothing's better than noodles! Four chefs who specialize in all things noodles compete in a delicious battle to see who can take a food that's loved the whole world over and make it out of this world. In the first round, a spicy surprise in the basket means the chefs' noodle appetizers might come with a kick. Something canned and something freeze-dried challenges the chefs in the entrée round, and an extra special coffee makes an appearance in the dessert round.
A Taste of China
Four talented chefs are thrilled to compete in a battle celebrating Chinese cuisine! When an item in the first basket prompts the chefs to make very similar appetizer plates, the cooks scramble to distinguish themselves. In the entrée round, the judges are happy when the chefs take the opportunity to showcase their unique styles, but they must still send someone's salmon plate to the chopping block. In the end, the final two competitors find noodles and a cool candy in the dessert basket.
Battle Italiano: Veneto
In a celebration of foods from the Veneto region of Italy, famous for its hearty yet elegant cuisine, the chefs showcase what they know about making amazing Venetian dishes. A strikingly strange ingredient in the first basket threatens to throw them off their game, while using polenta to best effect in a half-hour entree round is a tremendous task. After two ambitious chefs set out to leave an impression with their pear and cheese desserts, the judges will have to decide who has secured a spot in the Battle Italiano finale!
Too Yacht to Handle
Chefs who usually hit the high seas by cooking on yachts battle on dry land, trading their sea legs for a topsy-turvy experience in the Chopped kitchen! Predictably, the chefs get seafood in the first basket, but proverbial rough waters in the appetizer round make for a rocky start to the competition. Creativity abounds from the chefs as they make entrées, but the judges find some technical issues with the plates. Then, it's a tight race in the dessert round as the chefs seek to make incredible final dishes with a strange butter and a tropical cocktail.
Too Yacht to Handle
Chefs who usually hit the high seas by cooking on yachts battle on dry land, trading their sea legs for a topsy-turvy experience in the Chopped kitchen! Predictably, the chefs get seafood in the first basket, but proverbial rough waters in the appetizer round make for a rocky start to the competition. Creativity abounds from the chefs as they make entrées, but the judges find some technical issues with the plates. Then, it's a tight race in the dessert round as the chefs seek to make incredible final dishes with a strange butter and a tropical cocktail.
Battle Italiano: Veneto
In a celebration of foods from the Veneto region of Italy, famous for its hearty yet elegant cuisine, the chefs showcase what they know about making amazing Venetian dishes. A strikingly strange ingredient in the first basket threatens to throw them off their game, while using polenta to best effect in a half-hour entree round is a tremendous task. After two ambitious chefs set out to leave an impression with their pear and cheese desserts, the judges will have to decide who has secured a spot in the Battle Italiano finale!
Claws Out!
Ready? Set? Crack those claws! In the first round, the chefs hustle to procure enough crab meat to make their appetizers. Then, a strange dip in the second round is a big part of the entrée challenge, and the final round is filled with plenty of fun when the basket includes mocktails and fruit balls.
Battle Italiano: Veneto
In a celebration of foods from the Veneto region of Italy, famous for its hearty yet elegant cuisine, the chefs showcase what they know about making amazing Venetian dishes. A strikingly strange ingredient in the first basket threatens to throw them off their game, while using polenta to best effect in a half-hour entree round is a tremendous task. After two ambitious chefs set out to leave an impression with their pear and cheese desserts, the judges will have to decide who has secured a spot in the Battle Italiano finale!
