For this Chopped tournament event, 16 fearless champions are back to defeat the ultimate competitive-cooking heavy hitter, Chef Bobby Flay! The winner of each preliminary battle will advance to the Beat Bobby Flay finale for a chance to take on Chef Flay for $50,000. In this premiere battle, a strangely sweet sandwich and beautiful seafood await the champs in the first basket. Round two involves an unusual beef jerky product and a twist on hummus, and in the do-or-die dessert round, the remaining chefs have to use a special banana pudding and some fancy bacon.
Chopped is always a gamble, but the Casino Royale tournament takes it to another level. The competitors are given the chance to replace basket ingredients with new ones by the roll of the dice. In this first preliminary battle, something slithery is in the original basket, and a Vegas-themed
item in round two isn't a big hit with the chefs. When a chef runs into some bad luck in round three, he doesn't seem phased, but will his bold moves with the ice cream machine result in good flavor? The winner moves on the tournament's finale!
In the wild conclusion of Alton Brown's Maniacal Baskets Tournament, champions from the first four battles compete for the title of Chopped Grand Champion! Before cooking begins, Alton has a big announcement that's sure to get the chefs fired up. Of course, the finale ingredients are super tough. For the entree round, the chefs open the baskets to discover one of the items staring back at them! A weird wedding cake is part of the dessert round puzzle as the two remaining chefs face off to see who will score major bragging rights and the grand prize.
It's time to relax, go ahead unbutton that top button and slip into the "Comfort Zone!" Step One, Gina's Individual Chicken Pot Pies; these beauties are jam packed with flavor and nutrients. Step Two, Homemade Apple Sauce, Pat's got a new gadget for peeling and slicing apples, get ready to be amazed! Almost there, Step Three, Gina's Oatmeal Cookie Sandwiches! Pat and Gina's daughter, Shelbi, joins them in the kitchen to make these scrumptious cookies, and then they're sandwiched between butter pecan ice-cream and rolled in chopped pecans! You've officially made it; you're now in the "Comfort Zone!"