Three legendary Chopped judges are desperately seeking a sous chef, and they've invited 16 ambitious cooks to the Chopped Kitchen to battle for the opportunity of a lifetime. In the first preliminary battle of this five-part event, four hopeful candidates must tackle an appetizer basket that includes some fish-shaped cakes and some plant-based chicken. Major clock concerns make for some dramatic moments. In the entrée round, a flavorful, carb-y snack and an intimidating piece of poultry challenge the chefs. And as the two remaining contenders fight it out for a spot in the finale, they must make desserts using something Sicilian and something gelatinous.
Four culinary contenders race to make a phenomenal meal under pressure in this exciting Gold Medal Games heat featuring chefs who are speed demons in the kitchen. The chefs are shocked to learn that every round will be five minutes shorter than usual! In the 15-minute appetizer round, the culinary athletes are burdened by some extremely tedious prep work and challenged by a sweet surprise. A wild watermelon and an expensive fish keep things interesting in the entree round. And there's no shortage of nopales in the dessert basket as the final two speedster chefs chase their dream of landing a spot in the $50,000 Grand Finale.
Teenagers are taking over the Chopped Kitchen! Four talented young cooks bravely attempt a challenge that often throws off trained professionals. Watching the first round, featuring fish filets and a sugary frozen treat, the judges are amazed by the level of maturity, poise and skill: And it's a very difficult choice deciding which rising culinary star will not get a chance to move on. There are some fun items in the second round baskets: cotton candy and French-fried onions. Then the two terrific teens who make it to the dessert round, and find movie-theater popcorn in the basket, put on a great show.
Guy Fieri invites four of his favorite Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives seafood chefs to make some waves in Flavortown Market. First, they must make a regional dish using the fish they catch in their fly-fishing net, plus any other ingredients they can cram into the net in a single shop. Then, Guy invites his DDD chefs to prepare a seafood spectacular, but instead of digging for clams, they must dig in the sand for canned seafood to use in a fresh shellfish dish. The chef who sails through both challenges will get to search the store for hidden treasures worth up to $20,000.
Guy Fieri and his family rise at dawn in Corpus Christi, Texas to head out on the Gulf in search of snapper. The fishing's good, so they take their catch to a nearby ranch where Guy and his friends fry up the fish, along with some chicken parmesan, for the evening feast. In New Orleans, Guy searches for the perfect po' boy in the back of an off-the-beaten path grocery store before visiting Johnny Sanchez, where Chef Aaron Sanchez shows Guy how to make ceviche and a soft-shell crab sandwich. Finally, a canoe tour of the bayou ends with a festive crawfish boil in fine Cajun form.
Guy Fieri's seeking out some strange combinations. Chef Tiffany Derry delivers her Creamed Collards with Peanut Butter and Dried Shrimp. Chef Christian Petroni mixes up a remarkable Malted Espresso Martini with Port Zabaglione before luring us in with a Licorice Braised Rabbit with Chiles, Rosemary and Soft Gorgonzola Polenta. Chef Tiffani Faison teases our palates with Brown Butter Toast Ramen with Poached Egg and Chili Crisp before finishing off with some Fish Sauce Caramel with Ice Cream. Chef Eric Greenspan brings us Breast of Squab on Toast with Cherries, Coffee and Olives and takes a victory lap with a Vanilla Butter Poached Lobster with Saffron Fregola and Fennel.
Guy Fieri tracks down some great places that prove fast food can also be great food. In Fairhope, Ala., a where a trained chef is doing fast food the old European way -- pressed panini sandwiches, filled with everything homemade, even the mozzarella; in Austin, Texas, homemade tacos done every which way -- from breakfast, to carne asada, al pastor, fish tacos, and more -- and even the salsa is made from scratch; and in Gilbert, Ariz., a fast food joint right on the farm, where they're growing much of the menu out back, and the burgers and pizzas are made and topped with the freshest ingredients.
The Kitchen hosts are reinventing their favorite childhood comfort dishes and sharing special memories. Geoffrey Zakarian kicks things off with his mother's Shepherd's Pie. Katie Lee and Sunny Anderson give their childhood snacks a grown-up makeover and get Katie's Apple with Almond Butter Yogurt Dip and Sunny's Bugs on a Log. Jeff Mauro makes Italian Unstuffed Shells, a spin on his aunt's signature dish, and Sunny upgrades fish sticks with her Fried Tuna Sticks with Wasabi Mayo Sauce. Then, Katie shares one of the first desserts she ever learned to make, Cherry Pie, and Jeff makes his favorite Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Treat.
The Kitchen is sharing favorite summer recipes with delicious twists! Jeff Mauro fires up the grill for his Boneless Riburger, and Sunny Anderson shares her Easy Grilled Garden State Salad inspired by her favorite New Jersey produce. Geoffrey Zakarian makes his summertime seafood staple, Fish and Chips with Spicy Tartar Sauce. Alex Guarnaschelli and Katie Lee put two twists on watermelon with Alex's Lime Cocktail with Watermelon Ice Cubes and Katie's LA Fruit Stand Fruit Salad. The hosts make cupcakes inspired by classic ice cream truck treats, from Jeff's Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake to Katie's Drumstick Cupcake, and take a look back at The Kitchen's favorite summertime games!
Sandra loves the sights and the smells of lakeside cooking, but doesn't like the hassle. So she takes her favorite waterside ingredients, like fish and tropical fruit, and brings them indoors, to create a chic and lively menu. First on the menu is a crisp and juicy Bacon Grilled Cajun Trout. It's so simple, but it looks gourmet! On the side, it's Grilled Vegetables with Saffron Rice, that is so flavorful and goes perfectly with the trout. For dessert, it's a Santa Fe Peach and Mango Cobbler that's both sweet and spicy. Then it's cocktail time! A Mango Ginger Martini is the perfect drink both indoors and out.