Four returning All-Stars champs compete for $50,000 for charitable causes that are very meaningful to them. Two of the surprises in the first basket are a super salty veggie and a super fresh seafood item. Then cheddar-filled pretzels help make it a fun-filled entree round. And the judges cannot wait to taste a couple of creative desserts made from freeze dried grapes and marcona almonds.
What will happen when the tables are turned and four friends and colleagues compete in the Chopped Kitchen? In the first round, the judges-turned-competitors must crack the code of the basket after cracking open diver scallops. Then in the entree round, can the chefs make a beautiful bird fly with canned pizza sauce? And with bragging rights and a shot at making it to the $50,000 finale on the line, the last two chefs bravely tackle the dessert basket.
Four celebrities with different backgrounds, and a shared love of cooking, charge into the Chopped Kitchen. Plain vanilla is something that none of the competitors can relate to, but can they skillfully use vanilla cupcakes to create appetizers as one-of-a-kind as they are? Then something crispy and something jiggly make the main course a study in contrasts. And when two entertaining cooks proceed to the final round, they put on a performance with circus peanuts and curry powder.
Former *NSYNC star Joey Fatone is a natural entertainer, with film, stage and screen appearances. Joey previously competed on Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off and Chopped All-Stars, and he has appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Joey has also served as host of NBC's international series The Singing Bee, and in late 2007 he hosted the Australian version of the successful series. Joey grew up in a family of performers and was always performing, with his first acting gig coming at age 7, starring with Robert De Niro in the feature film Once Upon a Time in America. Other film credits include The Cooler, alongside Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which became the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2002 in North America. In 2004 Joey starred as Seymour in the Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors.
In this second fight of the All-Stars $50,000 tournament, contenders with considerable competitive prowess take each other on in the Chopped Kitchen. The judges are eager to see what the chefs can do with sea bass and cream soda in the first round. Then in the entree round, the competitors must get their tails in gear to make oxtail and labaneh into delicious dishes. And it is no piece of cake for the finalists, figuring out how to transform a classic snack cake into an elegant dessert.