"Holiday Happiness" is all around us, and it's especially noticeable in Big Daddy's kitchen! He's created a unique holiday menu that everyone can enjoy! First, he's making a sinfully scrumptious Spiral Ham With Chipotle-Orange Glaze. Then, not one, not two, but three savory sides; really good Red Bliss Potato Salad, yummy Yam Gratin, and choice Collard Greens! You'll feel as full as a cookie-eating Santa Claus after this gratifying meal loaded with "Holiday Happiness!"
The usual rounds are replaced today by breakfast, lunch and dinner. In round one, the chefs attempt to make a glorious morning meal from coffee cake and cream-filled chocolate eggs. Then in the second round, three young, very energetic chefs race to create delicious fish dishes for lunch. But one competitor's recklessness leads to an emergency situation. And the judges are excited to see what the two finalists can do with a divine dinner basket.
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.
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.
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.
This trip, Guy Fieri's getting a taste of every meal from dawn to dusk. In Long Beach, Calif., the gastropub marrying pork belly with octopus and serving up slam dunk short ribs. In Monterey, Calif., the neighborhood spot keepin' it local and going scratch-made for dishes like apple pancakes and a three-pork porchetta. And in Wilson, Wyo., the log cabin-turned restaurant cooking up a banana bread French toast mash-up and classic beef stroganoff.
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.
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.
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.