A lucky batch of junior chefs gets to cook with chocolate in all three rounds to win over the judges: chef Scott Conant, model Ashley Graham and Food Network Star contestant Jernard Wells. It starts with a fancy boxed assortment in the appetizer round, then the kids must figure out how to pair chocolate with a stinky cheese for their entrees. And in the dessert round, the finalists are startled by what they think are chocolate-covered bugs.
Stymied by canned peaches in the appetizer round and fruit punch and rice cakes for the entrée, the chefs struggle to find a fresh approach. Will ambitious plans to amaze the judges pay off? Or,will the contestants run out of time to do their best work? It all comes down to a heated dessert face-off. The last two chefs must combine beets, goat cheese and oatmeal to create a fantastic final course.
The chefs struggle to create perfect Peking duck appetizers, and then are very chatty about their philosophies at the Chopping Block. In the entree round the competitors have some huge problems dealing with a seemingly simple protein, and emotions run high when the second chef is eliminated. Then the finalists try to put the low points of the competition behind them and come up with some inspired desserts made with cheese crackers and an unusual fruit.