Chopped Battle Italiano 17 Photos
Italian enthusiasts like Scott, Alex and Gabe are saying "Ciao!" to 16 chefs who are set to compete in this Italian-themed tournament.
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See Episode GuideBreakfast Baskets!
Inspired by hash browns and energized by eggs, four chefs wake up the judges' palates using baskets packed with breakfast foods. Time constraints in the super short first round have the chefs working frantically to get their plates done, and two chefs battle with breakfast sandwiches in the entrée round. In the dessert round, the competitors face a challenge that includes a strange coffee and a regional meat dish.
Gargantuan Surprises
In addition to the three mandatory ingredients in each basket, the competing chefs have to share a colossal fourth ingredient in every round. It's a shockingly big surprise that takes some getting used to, and in the first round, one competitor feels the pressure and their emotions get the better of them. In the entree round, the giant fourth ingredient is an Italian-American classic. In the dessert round, everyone is in awe of the huge sweet, shared surprise, but will the chefs' final dishes leave a big impression on the judges?
Trash into Treasure
The Chopped competitors take on ingredients that would usually be thrown away in hopes of turning edible trash into culinary treasures. In the appetizer round, all four chefs have zero reservations about the zero-waste theme, and they have big plans for the shrimp-centric basket. Then, a leftover dish and ignored vegetable tops create a culinary puzzle in the entrée round, and the two finalists make wise use of expired milk before time expires in the dessert round.
Trash into Treasure
The Chopped competitors take on ingredients that would usually be thrown away in hopes of turning edible trash into culinary treasures. In the appetizer round, all four chefs have zero reservations about the zero-waste theme, and they have big plans for the shrimp-centric basket. Then, a leftover dish and ignored vegetable tops create a culinary puzzle in the entrée round, and the two finalists make wise use of expired milk before time expires in the dessert round.
Spin It to Win It: Battle 1
It's the biggest Chopped shake up ever as a wheel of chance determines which of the sixteen chefs will compete, how the tournament jackpot will go and what randomly selected ingredients will be added to the challenge. In the first battle, four talented and ambitious chefs get a tough appetizer basket that includes a glorious seafood product. In the entrée round, the chefs must combine an acai bowl with an amphibious delicacy. Then, a spin of the wheel gives the chefs a strange beverage they must include in their desserts.
Spin It to Win It: Battle 2
With twelve chefs left in the pool of potential competitors, only three will be selected by the wheel to attempt to topple a fierce returning champion! In a dramatic appetizer round, the chefs must work with a funny cake and an unusual canned item. Then, the chefs have differing opinions in the entrée round about whether the randomly selected fourth ingredient is a cinch or a problem, while the dessert round has both chefs running into issues trying to make delicious final plates from a weird pie and a nostalgic candy.
Spin It to Win It: Battle 3
From a pool of nine, the wheel determines which three chefs will be selected to topple a fierce returning champion for a chance at an ever-rising jackpot. In a wild first round, prepping an ingredient eats up time for one chef, which worries the judges. Then, the chefs find ostrich meat in the entrée basket, which seems easy compared to the nightmare ingredient the wheel deals out. The two chefs left give it their all with spicy and sweet desserts in hopes of continuing on to battle four!
Spin It to Win It: Battle 4
With six chefs left in the pool, three who've been impatiently sidelined finally get their chance at the stoves! In the appetizer round, everyone is unfamiliar with the ingredient that was randomly selected by the wheel, while the protein in the entrée round causes problems. Then, it's a nail-biter of a dessert round as the chefs race to prove who can make the better sweet plate from a breakfast pastry and an Asian spice. Winner will move on to the decisive battle five!
Spin It to Win It: Final Battle!
Everybody is spinning with excitement for the highly anticipated battle five fight! The three remaining chefs from the pool finally get to cook against the reigning champion, and the already astronomical jackpot is destined to go higher. Upon opening the appetizer basket, the chefs come face-to-face with an intimidating ingredient. In the entrée round, the chefs are shocked at the dollar value of the ingredient from the wheel, and they must tame one of the most bitter ingredients in Chopped history. After the final two contenders discover a giant sweet surprise in the dessert basket, they frantically stir, blend and bake their hearts out in an effort to emerge as the one and only Spin It to Win It grand champion!
Abalone Absurdities
Just add sea snails! Most of the chefs are shocked and confused when abalone appears in their appetizer baskets. Then, a fusion soup and a colorful veggie are in the mix in the entrée basket, and an unwelcome egg in the dessert basket challenges the competitors to accept their fates and create innovative final plates.
B.L.D.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!
The chefs set out to make a whole day's worth of amazing food when the cooking rounds are changed to breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eggs are not in the breakfast basket but the chefs still race to grab them in the fridge. In the second round, the competitors must make terrific mid-day meals with something salty and something reminiscent of a typical American childhood. And the judges hope the chefs who make it to the final round will be able to make lamb dinners to remember.
B.L.D.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!
The chefs set out to make a whole day's worth of amazing food when the cooking rounds are changed to breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eggs are not in the breakfast basket but the chefs still race to grab them in the fridge. In the second round, the competitors must make terrific mid-day meals with something salty and something reminiscent of a typical American childhood. And the judges hope the chefs who make it to the final round will be able to make lamb dinners to remember.
Abalone Absurdities
Just add sea snails! Most of the chefs are shocked and confused when abalone appears in their appetizer baskets. Then, a fusion soup and a colorful veggie are in the mix in the entrée basket, and an unwelcome egg in the dessert basket challenges the competitors to accept their fates and create innovative final plates.
Waffles for the Win
The judges have a pressing matter to discuss with four lucky chefs: waffles! The competitors prove waffles are no longer just for breakfast by making them the star of every plate and every round. First, the chefs bring some heat to their waffle appetizers by seasoning them with chiles de arbol. A thick Belgian waffle dough hits the irons in round two, then waffles take the form of cookies in the dessert round.
Abalone Absurdities
Just add sea snails! Most of the chefs are shocked and confused when abalone appears in their appetizer baskets. Then, a fusion soup and a colorful veggie are in the mix in the entrée basket, and an unwelcome egg in the dessert basket challenges the competitors to accept their fates and create innovative final plates.
Chopped Champions: Battle 1, Best of the Best
Returning winners, daunting baskets, killer pressure -- it must be Chopped Champions! The five-part tournament kicks off with a stellar group of defending champs, who must first rock a basket that includes pig ears. In the second round, the chefs must navigate the complicated relationship between fish and cheese; then, both the chefs and judges agree that artichokes are a cruel draw for dessert.
Chopped Champions: Battle 2, Fighting Shape
A lively group of returning winners are revved up for more Chopped Champions drama and excitement, but when the first basket features deceptively simple sausage and cabbage, will they choke or shine? An organ meat plays the starring role in the second basket, and the final, extremely challenging basket will take some champion swagger and skill to crack.
Chopped Champions: Battle 3, Chefs in Control
Four returning champs are ready to give it all they've got, and in the appetizer round, they must endure a hard-to-melt candy and a difficult-to-prep veggie. In the entree round, the champs suffer some surprising execution errors with a seemingly cheffy protein. Then, will the finalists think it was jerky to put bison jerky in the dessert basket?
Chopped Champions: Battle 4, Kitchen Storm
Geared up for killer cooking and serious drama, a husband and wife are among the returning champs for the fourth round of Chopped Champions. Crab claws and vanilla frosting are two of the surprises in the first basket, then the champs must confront a wild boar for their entrees. In the dessert round, a savory mousse causes the competitors some alarm.
Chopped Champions: Conclusion, $50,000 Pay Day
It's the $50,000 grand finale and one of the returning champs is destined to win the grand prize and considerable bragging rights! Some unusual clams and a decadent meat are part of the culinary riddle to be solved in the first round. In the entree round, the protein almost takes up the entire basket. Then, when the last two chefs face each other in the dessert round, will the onions in the basket make them cry?
Meat and Taters!
Hearty, wholesome meat and potatoes! The baskets for this battle all feature the classic comfort-food combo, and the judges hope to get dishes that take the theme in surprising new directions. In the first round, the chefs are challenged to make appropriately sized appetizers out of a basket that has mighty and meaty portions. When the competitors dig into the entrée basket and see a bizarre savory cake, they all decide to take it in a similar direction. Then, it's anybody's guess what's in store for the final two chefs in a meat-and-taters dessert round!
Easy Breezy, Mac and Cheesy
Four competitors think they're ready for whatever the Chopped kitchen might throw at them! In a dynamic first round, the chefs have a lot of ideas for their turkey legs and milkshakes, but they struggle to keep pace with the clock. Then in a drama-filled second round, the chefs rush to make steak work with a wacky candied surprise. When the final two chefs open the dessert basket and find a lot of frosting and a freeze-dried fruit, they must wrap their heads around the challenge in time to make terrific final plates.
Thrill of the Grill
The chefs learn that they must grill something in each round of this competition. For their appetizers, the chefs discover watermelon and wine coolers in the basket. A beautiful cut of beef and tedious-to-prep beans await the chefs who make it to the second round. A cone of sugar and a pitcher of lemonade are two of the fun items found in the dessert basket.
Thrill of the Grill
The chefs learn that they must grill something in each round of this competition. For their appetizers, the chefs discover watermelon and wine coolers in the basket. A beautiful cut of beef and tedious-to-prep beans await the chefs who make it to the second round. A cone of sugar and a pitcher of lemonade are two of the fun items found in the dessert basket.
Easy Breezy, Mac and Cheesy
Four competitors think they're ready for whatever the Chopped kitchen might throw at them! In a dynamic first round, the chefs have a lot of ideas for their turkey legs and milkshakes, but they struggle to keep pace with the clock. Then in a drama-filled second round, the chefs rush to make steak work with a wacky candied surprise. When the final two chefs open the dessert basket and find a lot of frosting and a freeze-dried fruit, they must wrap their heads around the challenge in time to make terrific final plates.
Star Power: The Last Laugh!
Four funny actors engage in a rowdy display of cooking improv in the third competition of Chopped's Star Power tournament, including Illeana Douglas, Ron Funches, Jonathan Sadowski and Julie White. In a frenzied first round, a South American flatbread and a beautiful seafood product take the spotlight. Taming the sweet factor becomes important in an entree round with marshmallows in the basket. Then, premade dough seems to give the final two cooks a head start in the dessert round, but will they know what to do with it?
