Chopped All-Stars, Season 4: Part 3 in Review

Chef Cat Cora working on her appetizer that must include: Mojama, baby zucchini, macron almonds and coconut macaroons for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Cool, Calm and Competitive

"The Chopped kitchen is actually calmer than my house ... with my four boys," says famed Iron Chef Cat, who's turning the appetizer ingredients of baby zucchini and mojama into a quesadilla. On the side she's making chimichurri with the macaroons and Marcona almonds, the other two basket ingredients.

Chef Marcel Vigneron working on his appetizer that must include: Mojama, baby zucchini, macron almonds and coconut macaroons for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Clearing the Cooking Clutter

"There's just so many bowls everywhere," says Marcel, who, inspired by the zucchini to make a salad, dresses all his components separately. Although a smart decision, it has actually scattered his mind. "I'm looking at my station; it's a war zone," he says, just as Alex yells at him to get his plates.

Chef Michael Psilakis working on his appetizer that must include: Mojama, baby zucchini, macron almonds and coconut macaroons for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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It's All Greek, All the Time

"I am, and live, the My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie," says Michael, who cooks by fusing his "Greek heritage and culture and [his] American upbringing." He's made fresh pasta, makaronia, to show his rustic side. He realizes at the last minute he forgot to use the macaroons, so he grates some over the pasta.

Chef Antonia Lofaso working on her appetizer that must include: Mojama, baby zucchini, macron almonds and coconut macaroons for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Winning At All Costs

"I'm that person who literally does not let my daughter win at Scrabble," says Antonia, who's competed in and judged countless cooking competitions. The mojama, a cured tuna, inspires her to make a nicoise salad with perfectly boiled eggs, which she thinks "definitely shows some skill."

Chefs: Marcel Vigneron, Cat Cora, Michael Psilakis and Antonia Lofaso stand in front of host Ted Allen and judges: Geoffrey Zakarian, Alex Guarnaschelli and Aaron Sanchez to defend their appetizers that must have included: Mojama, baby zucchini, macron almonds and coconut macaroons for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Unbalanced Ratios vs. Unrealized Potential

"It breaks down to a ratio thing," says Aarón of Cat's dish, which ended up having more chimichurri than quesadilla because she burned so many tortillas. "I think it's highly, highly creative," says Geoffrey of Marcel's salad, "but it's more of a garnish than a first course." In the end the judges decide to chop Marcel.

Chef Antonia Lofaso works on her entree that must include: lamb ribs, kumquats, white radicchio and spoon fruit for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Great Minds Think Alike

"I need to cook this protein so that it's soft and moist and delicious," says Antonia of the lamb ribs in the entree basket, which also has kumquats, variegated radicchio and cherry spoon fruit. "The only way that's going to happen is if I grind this meat and make a ragu." However, she sees Michael doing the same.

Chef Michael Psilakis works on his entree that must include: lamb ribs, kumquats, white radicchio and spoon fruit for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Making the Lamb the Star

"Lamb is the chicken of Greece," says Michael, who remembers cooking lamb with his dad. Like Antonia, he's making a ragu, but he's taking it one step further, roasting the bones for more flavor, and he'll plate it over a risotto. "Look at that jus he just made," says Alex, excited to see Michael's dish coming together.

Chef Cat Cora works on her entree that must include: lamb ribs, kumquats, white radicchio and spoon fruit for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Not Playing It Safe

"In my opinion you cannot have too much sauce on a rib," says Cat, who is the only chef grilling her lamb, which she glazes with a sauce made from the cherry spoon fruit. Noticing the ribs are still undercooked, she throws them in the fryer. Although the judges love the sauce, Cat is chopped for the lamb.

Chopped host Ted Allen checks in on chef Antonia Lofaso as she works on her dessert that must include: ghee, m'smen, whole walnuts and orange flavored water for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

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Technically Focused

"My strategy in the dessert round is to really show off some technique," says Antonia. Inspired by the orange-flavored water, she decides to turn it into a gelato. She also starts making a pie dough, but she has to figure out what to make with the ghee, m'smen and walnuts, the remaining basket ingredients.

Chefs Antonia Lofaso and Michael Psilakis work on their desserts that must include: ghee, m'smen, whole walnuts and orange flavored water for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

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A Dish Best Served Cold

"It's a little bit of a payback time," says Michael, who has a history with Antonia. The walnuts inspire him to make baklava, but a modern version, layered with phyllo, the m'smen and a semifreddo made on the anti-griddle. "I appreciate the pastry chef, but I'm not that guy," he says of his inexperience with desserts.

Watch the Highlight

Chefs Antonia Lofaso and Michael Psilakis stand before host Ted Allen and judges: Geoffrey Zakarian, Alex Guarnaschelli and Aaron Sanchez to defend their desserts that must have included: ghee, m'smen, whole walnuts and orange flavored water for Chopped All-Stars $75,000 charity competition, as seen on Food Network's Chopped, Season 24.

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Nearly Undecided Desserts

The judges find both desserts had faults, so it's down to what Alex calls "a photo finish." Antonia's dish is chopped, which means Michael has earned a spot in the finale. "Now go home and look up some dessert recipes," Alex advises him. "This is important beyond just me," says Michael of competing for charity.