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Top Moments of Chopped After Hours: Carnival

Episode: Wild Ride

Judges Maneet Chauhan and Scott Conant, along with host Ted Allen, take on the entree round of the Wild Ride episode.

Ted Allen, Maneet Chauhan, Geoffrey Zakarian, and Scott Conant on a webisode with a carnival theme, as seen on Food Networkâ s Chopped, season 24.

Photo: Todd Plitt ©

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A Trip to the Carnival

"I'm really happy to be cooking with you today," Scott tells Ted. "And if you have any questions, don't ask Geoffrey," Scott adds. "[He'll] steer you in the wrong direction." The judges agree that the basket ingredients — hot beef sundae, fried spiced ham, fried cheese ravioli and fresh asparagus — pose a difficult challenge, so much so that even Scott toys with Ted's idea of throwing it all in a food processor.

Geoffrey Zakarian and Ted Allen, during a carnival theme webisode cooking with hot beef sundae,
deep fried ravioli, asparagus, and deep fried canned ham, as seen on Food Networkâ s Chopped, season 24.

Photo: Todd Plitt ©

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Ask Questions Later

"Would you like some help?" Geoffrey asks, offering Ted his services. "You want to cut up an onion?" Ted asks while he drains canned tomatoes to make the base for his chili. Toying with the fill-in host, Ted turns on the blender to drown out Geoffrey's questions. "Wait till you taste my chili," he says as he runs to the sink.

Maneet Chauhan during a carnival theme webisode cooking with hot beef sundae,
deep fried ravioli, asparagus, and deep fried canned ham, as seen on Food Networkâ s Chopped, season 24.

Photo: Todd Plitt ©

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Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Geoffrey tries to offer Maneet his help, but after she explains her beef pot pie direction with puff pastry tops, she tells him in her polite but blunt way, "Back off." Basically she's putting everything from the basket into her stew, except for the asparagus, which will be a shaved salad.

Scott Conant during a carnival theme webisode cooking with hot beef sundae,
deep fried ravioli, asparagus, and deep fried canned ham, as seen on Food Networkâ s Chopped, season 24.

Photo: Todd Plitt ©

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Clever Manipulations

Scott decides to use just the mashed potatoes from the beef sundae to make gnocchi, topped with spiced ham, ravioli and asparagus sauce. "Once you add cheese it should see no more fire," Scott explains. That's "how a real chef thinks," Geoffrey points out. "Sometimes I even impress myself," Scott says.

Maneet Chauhan, Geoffrey Zakarian, Ted Allen and Scott Conant during a carnival theme webisode cooking with hot beef sundae,
deep fried ravioli, asparagus, and deep fried canned ham, as seen on Food Networkâ s Chopped, season 24.

Photo: Todd Plitt ©

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Genius at Work

While Ted's using the blender to puree his ancho chiles, a blast of steam erupts from the blender, alarming the host. "Do you need some help from me?" asks Maneet. "I am in so much trouble," he hollers. So everyone surrounds Ted to lend support just as time winds down. "Come on, Ted," they all chant.

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There's No Such Thing As Too Many Components

"It's so remarkable" for being so light, Ted comments on Scott's airy gnocchi. Geoffrey calls it a "three-star dish." Scott's amazed by the flavors that Ted developed in his chili. "All the different components are balancing each other," Maneet adds. Scott calls Maneet's pot pie "a very convincing dish" that's great for dinner. Everyone toasts to a fun and successful judges' round.