The final two recruits face their final, ultimate challenge: to take over a bakery and bake for a panel of baking experts. Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale coach their recruits as they are tested on all the skills they have learned over the past six weeks in boot camp. Only one recruit will be named the winner and take home $25,000.
There is not one, but two Stadium Cakes that CCC have to deliver this weekend. The first one is a groom's cake in the shape Camden Yards! The other cake, due the very next day, is a replica of the Raven's Stadium with NCAA Lacrosse players on the field. CCC is going to make a cake for a Birthday boy, Jason. They are making a version of Jason's head, flanked by two zombies eating his brain. This says Elena all the way! Crissy is bringing Jason to the bakery - unbeknownst to him - to reveal the surprise.
It's viewers' choice time again! The chefs are scared when they find out that the ingredients for their battle were chosen by the fans, via social media. The competitors are trepidatious when they see the alarming sandwich in the first basket. In round two, gummy candies are no big deal compared to a meaty shocker, and a gag-inducing soda and a veggie-licious cake are two of the frightening finds in the dessert basket. Through all this battle's ups and downs, one thing is certain: the winner of the $10,000 will have to work extremely hard for it.
Tom Pizzica travels to Philadelphia, PA to check out Jake’s Sandwich Board where they’re makin’ a two foot Philly cheesesteak and servin’ it up alongside Philly classics from Tastykakes to Peanut Chews and two teams will race to pack it all away; He visits Corona’s Mexican Grill in Broomfield Colorado for six pounds of salad; and for dessert, Tom stops by The Pantry in McKinney, TX where they’re attempting to build a five foot chocolate cream pie to serve to local law enforcement and fire fighters.
Ree Drummond is shaking up Italian classics and sharing a taste of the dolce vita, frontier-style, with favorites from the past. Proving a mashup of two great dishes is better than one, she makes a meal kit for Herbed Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza to keep on standby in the fridge. Her Roasted Vegetable Panzanella is a new take on traditional panzanella salad with roasted vegetables, mozzarella and Italian cornbread croutons. Ree also shares quick tricks in her all-in-one Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Supper, and she stocks the freezer with layered Loaf Pan Lasagnas perfectly portioned for two.
To start off the final week in boot camp, the remaining recruits compete in a relay race that tests their speed, knowledge and skill in the kitchen. Then chefs Anne Burrell and Carla Hall teach their final two recruits how to make a three-course, restaurant-quality meal. For the last challenge, the two finalists put all their newly learned culinary skills to the test in order to impress a panel of culinary experts. Judges Adrienne Cheatham, JJ Johnson and George Mendes sample the recruits' dishes in a blind taste test and choose the winner of the $25,000 prize.
Four returning losers -- chefs who made big mistakes in their first competition -- are dead set on not repeating history in the Chopped Kitchen. Having practiced and prepared to do better, the chefs open up the appetizer basket and fight to stay in it: but one pulpo and fava bean appetizer will not be good enough. Then, in the entree round, the chefs have to stay sharp to cook with cactus and manage their time well. And when the two finalists find a classic cookie and a tangy fruit in the dessert basket, make no mistake both of these former losers really want to win it!