There's romance in the air in the Chopped Kitchen as eight cooking singles are paired up on blind dates! In the first round, the couples get to know each other and the ingredients, which include scallops in the shell and a strange citrus. The six competitors left for round two all decide to grind the protein in the entree basket, and the minimal use of one of the ingredients gives the judges something to discuss. Then, the creme anglaise in the dessert basket seems like a gift for the final two pairs, but neither team makes a dash for the ice cream machine.
Guy Fieri invites three spice experts to Flavortown to prove just how heated things can get, but all the chile peppers are out of stock! In an even bigger twist, the winner of the spicy comfort dish challenge wins an automatic $10,000 and takes on an all-star judge in the ultimate spicy showdown. Chef and judge duke it out in an elegant spicy dinner battle, and the details are dictated by the Flaming Food Wheel. Best of all, there is another automatic $10,000 waiting for the winner.
Jeff Mauro unearths the best chicken recipes from all the hosts and shares what's sure to be a new favorite -- his Alabama White BBQ Chicken Sandwich! Sunny Anderson breaks all records with her 5-Star Glazed Chicken, and Katie Lee Biegel sets sail with Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats. Pitmaster Moe Cason stops by to share his award-winning Memphis-Style Chicken, and Food Network favorite Alex Guarnaschelli brings some comfort with Grandma's Smothered Chicken.
Calling all cooks! The Neelys have a "Blue Plate Special" that's sure to put up the tickets! First, Pat's making his filing Chopped Steak With Mushroom and Onion Gravy. Then, it's creamy, Mashed Cauliflower and Cheese. Finally, a refined dessert you can bake at the drop of a hat, toothsome Chocolate Tartlets. Hurry, this "Blue Plate Special" won't last long!
Chopped is brewing up some serious competition, as all three rounds are devoted to beer. For their appetizers, the four chefs must make sausages work with toasted lager. A tasty tripel ale is the beer in the basket for the entree round. And in the final round, the iconic beer and pretzel combination must be made delicious in dessert form.
It's a special all-American Chopped! Fierce competition is a matter of national and personal pride, as four chefs face off to see who will be the champ. From apple pie in the appetizer basket to bourbon for dessert, the patriotic theme makes for some yummy, original dishes. And 10,000 American dollars will go to the one chef who bests the others.