When it comes to dishing out culinary evils, no one does it quite like the host of  Cutthroat Kitchen, Alton Brown. Now in its fifth season, Cutthroat is known for no-nonsense sabotages befalling even those contestants already in the thick of kitchen struggles, and on the recent  Halloween-themed episode of Cutthroat Kitchen, the situation turned even scarier with ghostly challenges. FN Dish recently checked in with Alton to learn his candy must-have on Halloween, plus his best idea for next-level pumpkin carvings. Read on below to hear from the host in an exclusive interview, then catch Alton in costume on his  Halloween After-Show.

AB: Actually it was my daughter's costume. She was 3 and went as a bat. She kept telling people she didn't need a flashlight because she had echo location.

What's your best idea for a nontraditional pumpkin carving?

AB: I did my first "vomit" pumpkin when I was in high school. That's where the jack-o'-lantern is puking out his own seeds and stuff. Pretty original at the time.

Chocolate: dark, milk or white? The darker the better.

Candy or caramel apples? Candy, but with a lot of added heat