Barbecuers Tom Spaulding, Leslie Roark Scott, Donna Fong and Harry Soo are taking on Grill Masters for a chance at winning $50,000 in the finale. But first they'll have to make it through the appetizer round of this third preliminary round. The basket contains Spanish red shrimp, feta cheese, asparagus and brisket ice cream.
Flavor for the Fighting Chance
"We are always trying to outdo each other," says Harry of the fact that he's cooking alongside his fiancee, Donna, who he often competes with in barbecue circuits. "Unfortunately for me, most of the teams bet on Donna to kick my butt," he jokes. "I'm here to create flavors from all around the world," he explains of his curry direction.
"I always want to beat Harry," Donna says, determined to one-up her fiance in flavor. "I'm adding the shrimp heads and the shrimp shells to the boiling water to impart flavor to the asparagus," she says, deciding to only finish the vegetables on the grill. But the twice-cooked process might not have been the best choice.
Misdirected Attention
"All I can think is, this time is going to run out on me," says Leslie, who's been steadily deveining shrimp for most of the round. "I am freaking out." She ends up rushing through her other ingredients, but the brisket ice cream gets the least attention, as she just melts it down to "coast on its own." Scott Conant calls that move "the glaring flaw."
Classic Doesn't Always Cut It
"I've never heard of Spanish red shrimp," says Tom, who, unlike the others, is grilling the shellfish directly on the charcoals. Because "butter and garlic are classic seafood accompaniments," he says, he decides to incorporate both ingredients into his brisket ice cream sauce. But Alex Guarnaschelli finds it "does not belong here."
The Tale of Two Asparaguses
"Even if you just took the time to peel it or cut the ends off," Scott says, calling out Tom for not prepping the asparagus properly before cooking them. Similarly, Tim Love finds flaws with Donna's cooking method, and Alex agrees: "By poaching those asparagus, it leaves me just kind of picking through it for that one charred note." In the end the judges decide to chop Donna.
Chance at a Comeback
"I've never touched a live lobster," says Leslie, taken aback by the entree basket ingredient. To keep her options open, she boils some and grills the others. She uses the carrot ketchup in her comeback sauce, which she explains to Ted Allen is like a Russian dressing. Alex and Scott love the lobster, but Tim doesn't: "I think I may have gotten the lobster that was boiled first."
Saucing It Up
"Who can turn down a live lobster?" asks Harry, who smokes and grills the shellfish, topping the meat with a bearnaise sauce made from the carrot ketchup. The judges appreciate the unique technique, but they find his dish's identity jumbled. "If I were the bouncer at this party, I'd throw a few people out," a metaphorical Alex says of the number of ingredients.
Crustacean Misgivings
"I'm slightly surprised to see seafood again," Tom says, initially unsure of the lobsters. He decides to first grill them on low, then finish them on high. Although the judges love his salad made from the dandelion greens and the cheese and jalapeno sausage, both basket ingredients, it's the undercooked lobster that leads to his chopping.
Dessert Showdown
"Although I'm aware of Leslie's tradition and reputation, I'm not at all intimidated," says Harry of going into the dessert round against Leslie. "He is a force, but I can hold my own with any competitor," Leslie retorts. They'll have to utilize the basket ingredients of fruit skewers, quick pan popcorn, amaretto and panettone.
Wavering Focus
"My adrenaline is pumping," Leslie says. But she adds that she's "going to have to focus and keep things simple." She goes with her gut, putting together a bread pudding she'll bake on the gas grill. "This is going to be a little tough," she admits. "Leslie hasn't touched her fruit or her amaretto," Scott says, worried she's losing focus.
Poppin' Up in Flames
"I'm not so familiar in grilling desserts, but I want to show that I cooked everything on my grill," says Harry, putting the skewered fruit right onto the grill. As he starts to prepare his creme anglaise, his popcorn goes up in flames on the grill. "I feel like I'm under attack," he says as kernels shoot out everywhere.
The Burning Question
"It's a touch on the burned side," Alex says of Harry's grilled panettone. But Tim disagrees, calling it "genius." And Alex commends Leslie for baking on the grill and says, "I think you were brave." Scott, however, finds some of the bread pudding burned. Alex poses the question: "Who did the right work to really bring this home?" The judges decide to chop Harry.
Round 3 Champion
"You proved that you are indeed masterful at a cookout," Ted tells Leslie, who earns the third spot in the Grill Masters grand finale for a chance to go home with $50,000 in cash. "I just won Chopped. I'm in shock," says Leslie. "This was one of the greatest wins in my life."
More Grill Masters
Browse photos of the competition, read interviews with the winners of each round and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the set.
