Bobby and Sophie Flay check out the culinary scene in the spectacular beach towns around Los Angeles. From Broad Street Oyster Co. in Malibu to Crudo e Nudo in Venice to Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey, they visit inventive chefs who are taking full advantage of the area's abundance of fresh seafood. To cap off this seaside food tour, Bobby cooks up a beach-inspired meal of grilled oysters, rockfish and prawns broiled in his outdoor oven.
'Tis the season for good times in the Chopped Junior Kitchen! The junior chefs are challenged to make a holiday meal for the judges, chefs Sandra Lee, Marc Murphy and Christian Petroni. The feast begins with duck and veggie appetizers, then stockings and wreaths made from common foods create a festive feel in the entree round. Finally, a lot of whimsy and sugar in the dessert basket keep the last two culinary elves happy and busy.
The junior chefs are asked to create meals that their moms would love that will also impress judges Maneet Chauhan, Cooking Channel's Haylie Duff, and actress Alison Sweeney. In the first round, the young competitors must figure out how to make escargot go with fruit pops. A pricey cut of meat and a gummy candy are two of the entree basket items, then the dessert round promises to be one of the most unusual in Chopped history.
Four chefs prepare for summertime dinners in America using a variety of sunny ingredients including patriotic deviled eggs and star-spangled spaghetti. A clever keg and a new spin on a fair favorite kick off the fun in the first round. Then, the bounty of the second basket includes a cowboy's dream ingredient and some colorful kebobs. And there's a bombshell surprise in the dessert basket -- can the chefs successfully create something delicious to complete the meal?
Four repeat champs are back for the Chopped Champions Grand Finale and the chance to make a $50,000 meal! The appetizer basket challenges the chefs with a seafood delicacy that requires a high degree of thoughtfulness. An in-your-face shocker in the second basket leaves the remaining chefs racing to make bold plates. And with the prize at stake, the two remaining chefs face off in a dessert round with a basket that is fittingly difficult.
The competitors are called upon to rescue foods that would normally be thrown out in a special leftovers competition. Some unfinished Chinese takeout and something remaining from a meal at an Italian restaurant make for some fusion cooking in round one. Half of a sandwich and a bottle of sweet liquid are two of the leftover surprises in the second basket. Then the chefs face a confounding culinary puzzle when they find coffee and grapes in the dessert basket.
The chefs get bountiful breakfast foods in every basket and are asked to stretch the most important meal of the day into three indulgent courses. They even get to work with farm fresh eggs direct from the chicken coops of judge Martha Stewart! A series of mishaps plagues one of the competitors in the second round, and then in the dessert round, French toast and Chinese porridge must find a place in the remaining chefs' final dishes.
Michael Symon and Esther Choi present their toughest task yet -- teamwork. Working with chefs they just met mere hours ago, the competitors have to strategize, collaborate and execute under the critical eyes of guest judges Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. Then, exhaustion becomes palpable as chefs enter hour 13 of their 24-hour competition. Michael and Esther challenge them with the unenviable task of turning microwave meals into works of art before judge Eric Adjepong decides who must clock out.
Bobby Flay creates a brunch menu in the style of Italian trattorias: casual with plenty of family-style dishes! First up, some decadent Cinnamon Mascarpone Pancakes With Warm Morello Cherries and Hazelnuts. He's also making a Frittata With Cherry Tomatoes, Sausage, Arugula and Ricotta and serving it with a side of Rosemary Home Fries With Pancetta, Parmesan and Parsley. And to toast a wonderful meal, he'll pour a citrus and mint cocktail he calls a Citronata.
Bobby Flay pays homage to the birthplace of California barbecue, and grills up a fantastic Santa Maria style BBQ Tri Tip With Santa Maria Pinquito Bean Relish, with fresh Tomato Relish and Grilled French Bread. Just as your taste buds are soaring, he serves up Grilled Artichokes With Green Goddess Dressing from California's "Artichoke Capital of the World." Bobby tops off his meal with Grilled White California Peaches With Almond-Mint Pesto and a dazzling Peach Sparkling Wine Cocktail.