In this round of the Comfort Food Feud, the chefs try to prove they have what it takes to conquer mac and cheese and move on to the tournament's grand finale. In the appetizer round, the chefs get creative with a cocktail and tiny cheesy morsels. The entree round sees the competitors working with a mac and cheese-inspired brunch item, and the final two chefs hope to turn pancake mix and mac and cheese into a heavenly dessert.
Ina Garten is indulging in incredible recipes starring some of her favorite cheeses. A trio of sharp white cheddar, Monterey Jack and cream cheese takes the lead in Fresh Crab Nachos for a perfect appetizer. Baked Raclette and Green Salad Vinaigrette is Ina's favorite cheesy lunch, and ricotta steals the spotlight in a Fresh Fig and Ricotta Cake. Finally, goat cheese is the key to perfect Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb for a fast and fancy dinner.
In this competition, every round features the food pair with a powerful bond -- macaroni and cheese! The competitors come out strong in the appetizer round with sophisticated mac and cheese dishes that include Swiss chard. Then in the entree round, when one chef leaves cheese out of their dish, will it add up to approval from the judges? And a time-crunch in the dessert round leaves one of the chefs dashing to get all components on the plate.
Chelsey Bawot demonstrates how to make Jalapeño Queso Fundido, the perfect cheese dip to bring as an appetizer for a get-together. This is a good dish for experimenting as a chef with different kinds of cheeses or vegetables.