Four chefs get inspired by Italy's "olive oil capital" as they create coastal cuisine from Puglia. In the appetizer round, a chef's mistake causes a big stink in the kitchen -- literally, and an imposing protein takes up a lot of space in the entrée basket. In the dessert round, a tough basket that includes cactus creates a prickly situation for the final two chefs.
Four chefs who specialize in cooking lighter, healthier fare are challenged to make delicious, lean dishes in the Chopped kitchen. Low-calorie chips and some leafy greens inspire creativity in the first round. After opening the entree basket, the chefs are left pondering whether avocado-free guacamole is yucky or yummy. Finally, light desserts are a tall order, and the remaining chefs try to measure up.
In a circus-themed competition, a new bunch of 10- and 11-year olds dare to make appetizers using corn and playful cookies. The entree basket reveals a finger food and some beautiful produce, then in the dessert round, the chefs tackle a baked good and a something covered in caramel. Actor Ryan Guzman joins The Kitchen's Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian on the judging panel.
AB finds himself in a fix when a local cooking club pickets his house protesting the fact that he doesn’t use enough leftovers. Luckily the Mother of Culinary Invention appears to illuminate the way to redemption. The target food: tortillas, and lots of them. A little experimentation later and the kitchen is full of lasagna, masa-tots and a serious platter of nachos.
Cakes that breathe fire, blast water and shoot electricity -- anything goes as Challenge takes on Pokemon cakes. Ian Ziering welcomes four top cake artists to the kitchen, and the three finalists must find a way to shoot thunderbolts, fire razor leaves and ignite flames on their cakes. The cake and artist with the best battle moves will be crowned the Challenge champion and take home $10,000.
Sometimes no occasion is the best occasion! Giada De Laurentiis surprises her daughter, Jade, in the middle of the week with a special menu that includes all her favorite comfort foods. Jade finishes her homework in the kitchen while Giada puts the finishing touches on their meal of Meatball Salad, Creamy Parmesan Baked Shells, Green Bean "Fries" and Chewy Almond and Cherry Thumbprint Cookies.
The toughest Kitchen Stadium battles often involve satisfying the Chairman's demand for both sweet and savory dishes. When the secret ingredient was eggnog, things got even tougher for Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. Add in thousands of pounds of ice blocks that had to be carved into icy serving vessels and all the elements were in place for one of the Chairman's frostiest holiday celebrations.
Robert Irvine heads to the Jalisco Cafe in San Diego and tackles one of the filthiest kitchens of his career. The owner, Maria, has no idea how to run a restaurant and faces endless obstacles, including bad food, complacent staff and decades of grease buildup. With only 48 hours to turn the restaurant around and give Maria the tools to lead -- this challenge might actually be impossible.
In Stone Mountain, Ga., the failing Sweet Potato Cafe is destroying its owners' finances and their 25-year marriage. Karen feels burnout from carrying most of the responsibilities for the business while Darrell takes a back seat. Robert Irvine must convince Darrell to pull his weight in the cafe and help rekindle Karen's passion in the kitchen or else their business and their relationship may not survive.
Four stars who love to cook -- Teri Hatcher, Anthony Anderson, Dawn Wells and Antonio Sabato, Jr. -- compete in the Chopped Kitchen for a favorite charity. The party begins with sparkling cider and doughnuts in the first basket. Wagyu steaks are served up for the entree round. And the final moments of the competition are filled with drama and suspense as the competitors rush to get their plum pudding desserts plated.