'Chopped Castaways': Meet the 12 Chefs Competing in the All-New Series

Chopped is a series synonymous with stress. But Chopped: Castaways is a day at the beach — just kidding. This new show is a spin on the classic with even more stress from the sand. Host Ted Allen welcomes 12 chefs to a remote island where they’ll have to complete physical challenges, plus cook on an open flame, all in the name of a $100,000 grand prize. If your heart rate didn’t just increase reading that, then you might want to give a pep talk to the chefs about to come ashore.

Ahead of the series — which premieres Tuesday, May 12 at 9|8c on Food Network — get to know the chefs who will be forced to use everything they've got, from sharp knives to survival skills, in order to finesse those mystery basket ingredients and come out on top.

Marcus Samuelsson, Gabe Bertaccini and Maneet Chauhan will be the judges on Chopped: Castaways for the entirety of the competition, providing insights into the ingredients and gameplay. These three are well-established chefs on Food Network and in kitchens of their own, so they’ll be the ones to decide who gets to move on after every head-to-head battle. Host Ted will announce who will be leaving the island.

Aidan Barry Owens is the culinary director of Herb & Sea and Herb & Wood in San Diego, California, where he fires up fresh menus based on the area’s local ingredients. This will be Aidan’s first food competition, but since he was raised on a small Australian farm to grow, raise and butcher his own food, he’s prepped and ready.

Ara Zada is a chef and content creator who moves where the flavors take him. He's appeared on PBS’ No Passport Required and Magnolia Network’s Recipe Lost and Found.

Carrie Baird is the executive chef and owner of Fox and the Hen in Denver, Colorado, but she might look familiar from her appearances as a competitor and judge across multiple seasons of Top Chef. Carrie has also duked it out on Beat Bobby Flay, where she did just that.

Cate Meade is a private chef in Chicago, Illinois, and her business, Wild Wood Chef, is distinguishable for showing people how to grow, harvest and hunt for their own food before turning it into a delicious meal. Cate has appeared in the final four of MasterChef Season 8, as well as MasterChef All-Stars.

Dwight Hudgins goes by the name of the “Dreaded Fisherman,” so you know he’s comfortable in the surf and sand. As the caterer behind a business with the same moniker in Largo, Florida, Dwight is gearing up for his first food competition — and he’s eager to dive right in.

Hannah Flora hails from Boynton Beach, Florida, and when she’s not working as a private chef, she’s writing as a columnist for Golf Kitchen. You might recognize Hannah from Season 23 of Hell’s Kitchen, where she was a runner-up.

James Peck is the owner of restaurants Ember and the Four Pears in Northampton, England, where steady flames are part of the culinary experience. While Chopped: Castaways is his first food competition on this side of the pond, James has appeared on the BBC's Chef’s Brigade.

Jean-Paul Bourgeois is a wild-game chef who calls Thibodeaux, Louisiana, home, and you might recognize him from Beat Bobby Flay. He’s been on three episodes and has judged the competition. Jean-Paul was also an executive producer of Duck Camp Dinners on the Outdoor Channel.

Logan Sandoval is the chef and owner of Zef BBQ in Simi Valley, California, but you might also know him for stirring up the competition on a range of cooking shows. He’s appeared on BBQ Brawl, Raid the Fridge and Supermarket Stakeout on Food Network, and was a runner-up on Netflix’s BBQ Showdown.

Paulette Tejada is a celebrity private chef in New York City, where she cooks up international cuisine in high-pressure environments. Chopped: Castaways is her first food competition, but she’s more than adept at working on the fly, improvising when needed and making it all come together seamlessly — all part of her day job.

Stephen Kina, otherwise known as Chef Steph, owns 406 BBQ in Kalispell, Montana, where he serves up Hawaiian and Asian fusion with a side of flames. This is his first-ever cooking competition, and he’s primed to make a big impression.