For Marc it's difficult to pinpoint just one moment in the 30 seasons of the show, because there are so many great memories, but for him, he says, nothing compares to the "camaraderie that we've built among us." Ted and the judges have become family for him.
Aarón remembers the time when he, Amanda, Maneet and Geoffrey competed in the judges round in Chopped All-Stars, Season 1. Finding themselves on the other side of the judges' table for the first time was a big change. Aarón says, "To cook gives you such a different perspective, and it helps me be a better judge." He ended up making it to the finale, where he came in second place.
Among the countless episodes with heartfelt wins, the Momumental episode, which had four moms competing for $10,000, holds a special place in Maneet's memory. " I was a new mom at that time," she says. "It resonated with me a lot more."
On Season 2 of Chopped Champions, during the last round, Alex had a realization that the show was much bigger than she had ever thought: "It was the moment where I realized how this show can change lives and give great confidence to people who work very hard to get it." Chef Madison (left) ended up winning, but having witnessed Chef Jason's journey, Alex was brought to tears when he was chopped.
Over the years, it hasn't always been chefs or amateur home cooks competing on Chopped: Day-to-day heroes have shown they can cook among the best of them, including firefighters. Even though he didn't judge the firefighters episode, it's one of Geoffrey's most memorable. "There are a lot of good people who do a lot of great stuff" who have been on the show, he says.
In the Chopped Grill Masters finale, the race was so tight that literally the use of one single ingredient, sardines, separated the final two, Chef Kent (pictured) and Chef Ernest. In the end Chef Ernest won, but it was Chef Kent who made a lasting impression on Amanda: "I really fell in love with cowboy Kent Rollins," whom she saw compete in all five rounds. "He really made an impact on me."
It was Chris' turn to be on the other side of the judging table in Chopped All-Stars, Season 2. In the judges round, he competed alongside Alex, Marc and Marcus, but he was chopped after the first round. He'll never forget that feeling, but he says what stays with him most is "understanding what all the other chefs that come on this show go through" upon opening that first basket.
In a first for the show, four school chefs entered the Chopped kitchen in the episode Class Acts. Ted says that during the emotional taping, he and the judges, including guest judge White House Chef Sam Kass, all learned about the passion and care these ladies have for getting children fed. "It was thrilling and touching and a lot of tears," he says. "All four of them ended up becoming celebrities in their business."
For Marcus, there are a lot of great memories on the show, including his winning Season 2 of All-Stars, but what tops his list is the fun that he and his fellow judges have in both capacities. He says, "What I love about it, for me, is both being a judge and a competitor." Even after a day of shooting Chopped, there's still After Hours: "It's a long day, but we have a lot of fun."
Scott's most-memorable moment from the show is hands down winning Season 3 of All-Stars. It was a grueling competition, but cooking was just half of the experience: "It was surprising how much emotion that brought up," he says. "I wasn't expecting that." What's more, after he won, he was surprised by his pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter, which made the moment even more unforgettable.
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