Fan favorite judges Gabe Bertaccini, Damaris Phillips and Joe Sasto are hungry to earn their spot in the Judges Takeover Tournament finale. Alex Guarnaschelli challenges the chefs to stake out ingredients for sloppy sandwiches, slurpy noodles and a sickly sweet dish for judges Eric Adjepong and Nilou Motamed.
Michael Symon is roastin' and toastin' as he makes a meal that will leave the crowd begging for more. He prepares smoked pork butt for Pulled Pork Sandwiches along with crispy Fried Zucchini Chips with Parmesan. For something sweet, Liz combines bananas and hazelnut spread to make Campfire Toasties.
Trisha Yearwood and her family volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity build, and Trisha offers to feed the crew out of a food truck. She makes Ham and Pimento Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches, Baked Potato Soup, Taco-Stuffed Potato Skins and Chocolate Fudge Chip Cookies for the crew lunch.
Ree Drummond is headed to the lodge to make a fabulous meat-free Tex Mex Frittata, and she's sharing other epic meat-free meals, too. There's mixed Mushroom Cheesesteak Sandwiches, Cajun Veggies and Grits and a Six Pepper Pasta with tequila cream sauce. Where's the meat? Who cares!
The recruits learn all about flavor combinations by taste-testing some unlikely pairings, then the Skill Drill tests their creativity as they construct unique ice cream sandwiches. The flavor showdown continues when the recruits must create their own unique filling for empanadas, and two recruits fail to deliver.
Valerie Bertinelli has been working nonstop with her book editor, so she makes her a seasonal tea with plenty of afternoon treats. The menu includes Marinated Lamb Chops with Red Wine and Rosemary, Bloody Mary Tea Sandwiches, Baked Brie with Almonds and Apples, and Roasted Asparagus Pesto Dip.