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List of Chopped episodesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, searchThis is the list of episodes for the Food Network competition reality series Chopped. New episodes are broadcast on Tuesday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
Contents [hide] 1 Series overview2 Season 1 (2009)3 Season 2 (2009)4 Season 3 (2009–10)5 Season 4 (2010)6 Season 5 (2010)7 Season 6 (2011)8 Season 7 (2011)9 Season 8 (2011)10 Season 9 (2011)11 Season 10 (2011–12)12 Season 11 (2012)13 Season 12 (2012)14 Season 13 (2012–13)15 Season 14 (2013)16 Season 15 (2013)17 Season 16 (2013)18 Season 17 (2013)19 References
20 External links
Series overview[edit]
Season Episodes Premiere Finale
1 13 January 13, 2009 April 7, 2009
2 13 June 16, 2009 September 29, 2009
3 13 October 13, 2009 March 9, 2010
4 13 April 6, 2010 July 13, 2010
5 13 July 20, 2010 November 28, 2010
6 12 January 4, 2011 April 26, 2011
7 10 May 3, 2011 July 5, 2011
8 6 July 12, 2011 August 16, 2011
9 16 August 30, 2011 December 13, 2011
10 6 December 20, 2011 January 30, 2012
11 16 February 7, 2012 May 8, 2012
12 17 May 29, 2012 August 21, 2012
13 15 September 4, 2012 January 1, 2013
14 13 January 6, 2013 May 5, 2013
15 13 April 2, 2013 July 23, 2013
16 TBA June 2, 2013 TBA
17 TBA August 13, 2013 TBA
Season 1 (2009)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
1 1 "Octopus, Duck, Animal Crackers" January 13, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: baby octopus, bok choy, oyster sauce, smoked paprika• Entrée: duck breast, green onions, ginger, honey• Dessert: prunes, animal crackers, cream cheese
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Summer Kriegshauser, Private Chef and Nutrition Coach, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Perry Pollaci, Private Chef and Sous chef, Bar Blanc, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Katie Rosenhouse, Pastry Chef, Olana Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Sandy Davis, Catering Chef, Showstoppers Catering at Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY (winner)
2 2 "Tofu, Blueberries, Oysters" January 20, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: firm tofu, tomato paste, prosciutto• Entrée: daikon, pork loin, Napa cabbage, Thai chiles, Blue Point oysters• Dessert: phyllo dough, gorgonzola cheese, pineapple rings, blueberries
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Raymond Jackson, Private Caterer and Culinary Instructor, Westchester County, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Klaus Kronsteiner, Chef de cuisine, Liberty National Golf Course, Jersey City, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Christopher Jackson, Executive Chef and Owner, Ted and Honey, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Pippa Calland, Owner and Chef, Chef for Hire LLC, Newville, PA (winner)
3 3 "Avocado, Tahini, Bran Flakes" January 27, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lump crab meat, dried shiitake mushrooms, pink grapefruit, bran cereal• Entrée: ground beef, cannellini beans, tahini paste, grape jelly• Dessert: brioche, cantaloupe, pecans, avocados
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Margaritte Malfy, Executive Chef and Co-owner, La Palapa, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Rachelle Rodwell, Chef de cuisine, SoHo Grand Hotel, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Chris Burke, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Andre Marrero, Chef tournant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, New York, NY (winner)
4 4 "Banana, Collard Greens, Grits" February 3, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ground beef, wonton wrappers, cream of mushroom soup, bananas• Entrée: scallops, collard greens, anchovies, sour cream• Dessert: maple syrup, black plums, almond butter, walnuts, quick grits
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Sean Chudoba, Executive Chef, Ayza Wine Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kyle Shadix, Chef, Registered Dietician and Culinary Consultant, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Luis Gonzalez, Executive Chef, Knickerbocker Bar & Grill, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Einat Admony, Chef and Owner, Taïm, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: In the appetizer round, Chef Chuboda refused to use bananas in his dish, leading to his elimination. In the dessert round, Chef Gonzalez accidentally used salt instead of sugar in his dish, asserting that this resulted in his elimination.
5 5 "Yucca, Watermelon, Tortillas" February 10, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: watermelon, canned sardines, pepper jack cheese, zucchini
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian
• Entrée: beef shoulder, yucca, raisins, ancho chiles, dill pickles• Dessert: flour tortillas, prosecco, Canadian bacon, roasted chestnuts
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• John Keller, Personal Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Andrea Bergquist, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Ed Witt, Executive Chef / Wine Director, Bloomingdale Road and Wine Directory, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Josh Emett, Chef de cuisine, Gordon Ramsay at The London, New York, NY (winner)
6 6 "Canned Peaches, Rice Cakes, Beets" February 17, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: asparagus, chorizo, button mushrooms, canned peaches• Entrée: rice cakes, chicken thighs, plantains, fruit punch, cocktail onions• Dessert: beets, goat cheese, quick cook oatmeal, crystallized ginger
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Cindi Avila, Catering Manager and Chef, Crisp, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lucas Manteca, Chef/Restaurateur, Sea Salt and Quahog's Restaurants, Stone Harbor, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Robert Burmeister, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Chow Gourmet Kitchen, Staten Island, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Chris Coleman, Private Executive Chef, Long Island, NY (winner)
7 7 "Quail, Arctic Char, Beer" February 24, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: endive, frozen peas, quail, red seedless grapes• Entrée: watercress, tamarind paste, creamed corn, Arctic char• Dessert: pitted dates, frozen pie crust, caramel candy, stout beer
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Melinda Dorn, Sous chef and Instructor, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Ralph Battista Jr., Executive Chef, Butterfield 8, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Lior Lev Sercarz, Chef and Entrepreneur, La Boîte à Biscuits and La Boîte à Epices, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Abe Lopez, Chef de cuisine, Pacifico, Center Valley, PA (winner)
8 8 "Coconut, Calamari, Donuts" March 3, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: turbot, nori sheets, pistachios, coconut• Entrée: rainbow chard, papaya, granola, parsnips, calamari• Dessert: plain donuts, smoked gouda, white chocolate, dried apricots
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Gwen LePape, Executive Chef, Frederick's Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Francesco Peluso, Executive Chef, Peluso's Italian Specialties, Clifton, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• David Ogren, Executive Chef, Almos Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Mina Newman, Executive Chef, Christos Steakhouse, Astoria, NY (winner)Episode notes: In the appetizer round, Chef LePape failed to get any food onto his plates. The judges allowed him to bring the pan from the oven to the tasting table to allow the judges to taste the fish he had prepared after the other competitors were asked for their permission to do so. Despite this, Chef LePape was eliminated.
9 9 "Mac & Cheese, Cola, Bacon" March 10, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: boxed macaroni and cheese, artichokes, tilapia• Entrée: eggplant, ground pork, poblano chiles, avocados, cola• Dessert: oranges, grapefruit, semi-sweet chocolate chips, bacon
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• David Goldwhite, Private Personal Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Gypsy Gifford, Executive Chef, Cafe Pinot, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• William Lustberg, Sous chef / saucier, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
• James Briscione, Chef Instructor, Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY (winner)
10 10 "String Cheese, Jicama, Gingersnaps" March 17, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken wings, soba noodles, celery, string cheese• Entrée: striped bass, pimento peppers, jicama, mangoes, brie cheese• Dessert: ginger snaps, crème fraîche, instant coffee, carrots
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Jonathan Jernigan, Executive Chef, Catering by Jonathan, Willingboro, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• King Phojanakong, Executive Chef, Kuma Inn, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Soulayphet Schwader, Executive Chef, Talay Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Darius Peacock, Executive Chef, Exceptional Taste Catering, Trenton, NJ (winner)
11 11 "Jumbo Shrimp, Pepperoncini, Cereal" March 24, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: peanut butter, Granny Smith apples, jumbo shrimp• Entrée: kielbasa, pepperoncini, fingerling potatoes, tarragon• Dessert: marshmallow spread, chocolate puff cereal, semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried strawberries
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Alina Eisenhauer, Pastry Chef, Sweet, Woodstock, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Todd Miller, Executive Chef, STK, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Giletto, Executive Chef, Cherry Valley Country Club, Skillman, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Jackie Lee, Private Chef, New York, NY (winner)
12 12 "Chocolate, Mussels and Figs" March 31, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: beef tenderloin, cucumber, Asian pears, bittersweet chocolate
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez
• Entrée: mussels, canned tomatoes, pita bread, celery root• Dessert: black mission figs, slivered almonds, lemons
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Michael Selicious, Executive Chef, Wickets Inn, Onset, MA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Nigel Spence, Owner and Executive Chef, Ripe Kitchen and Bar, Mt. Vernon, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Melissa Levy, Executive Chef, IBM, Newburgh, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Gavin Mills, Executive Chef, Broadway East, New York, NY (winner)
13 13 "Strawberries, Turkey and Gummi Bears" April 7, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: salmon, radicchio, ginger, strawberries• Entrée: turkey breast, baby turnips, pearl onions, coconut flakes• Dessert: blackberries, kiwi, wonton wrappers, gummy bears
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Scott Conant
Contestants:
• Victor Cabezas, Chef and Owner, Misaví, Totowa, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jonathan Contes, Chef and Part Owner, Eat Mosaic, St. James, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Amy Roth, Chef and Owner, Amy Kate Catering, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Carrino, Chef and Owner, Restaurant Passionné, Montclair, NJ (winner)
Season 2 (2009)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
14 1 "Salty Veggies & Heated Battles" June 16, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sea beans, ginger ale, pork tenderloin
Judges:
• Chris Santos
• Entrée: baby artichokes, cashew butter, monkfish, Thai chiles• Dessert: jicama, pepitas, blueberries
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Fritz Knipschildt, Chef and Chocolatier, Knipschildt Chocolatier, Norwalk, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Cheryl Perry, Chef and Culinary Instructor, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• David Rotter, Executive Chef, Campo, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Jason Zukas, Chef Consultant, Bocca Fina, Queens, NY (winner)
15 2 "High Hopes" Jun 23, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: calamari, Brussels sprouts, Asian pears• Entrée: bison, dried mango, leeks, Belgian-style ale• Dessert: ancho chiles, semi-sweet chocolate, black plums
Judges:
• Scott Conant• [[Amanda Freitag]]• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Nicole Puzio, Executive Chef, Ox Restaurant, Jersey City, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• David Kirschner, Sous chef, W Hotel, Hoboken, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Ferraro, Executive Chef, Delicatessen, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• John Lawson, Sous chef, Gordon Ramsay at The London, New York, NY (winner)
16 3 "Floundering Around" June 30, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: beef shoulder, fish sauce, canned pumpkin• Entrée: flounder, yellow plantains, baby bok choy, mini watermelon• Dessert: tomatillos, crème fraîche, plain donuts
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Massimo Felici, Executive Chef, Ristorante DeGrezia, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Christine Campbell, Butcher and Private Chef, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Julio Lazzarini, Executive Chef and Owner, Orillas Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Wilmington, DE (eliminated after the dessert)• Marc Spooner, Production Chef, Great Performances Catering, New York, NY (winner)
17 4 "Pride on the Plate" July 7, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: duck breast, polenta, sharon fruit• Entrée: rainbow trout, baby turnips, tamarind concentrate, serrano ham• Dessert: sliced almonds, Okinawan sweet potatoes, brioche, sambuca
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Shaya Klechevsky, Personal Chef and Instructor, At Your Palate, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Pasquale Frola, Executive Sous Chef, Naples 45, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Giuliano Matarese, Executive Chef, Arte Café, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Roshni Mansukhani, Executive Sous chef and Private Chef, Boston, MA (winner)Episode notes: During each of the three rounds, Chef Matarese failed to complete plating his dishes.
18 5 "Pretty Please with a Pepper on Top" July 14, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ground turkey, piquillo peppers, gooseberries• Entrée: top round of lamb, coconut flakes, snap peas, quick grits• Dessert: celery, blood oranges, frozen pie crust, jaggery
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Barbara Sibley, Executive Chef and Owner, La Palapa Cocina Mexicana, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Christopher Nguyen, Chef Consultant, Keo Asian Restaurant, York, PA (eliminated after the entrée)• Paul Viggiano, Chef de cuisine, Docs Steakhouse, Sparta, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Tyler Anderson, Executive Chef, The Copper Beech Inn, Essex, CT (winner)
19 6 "A Prickly Situation" July 21, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: brioche, fennel, sea urchin• Entrée: blackstrap molasses, red snapper, parsley root, dried cranberries• Dessert: bulgur wheat, pomegranate juice, pineapple, green papaya
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Peter Klein, Executive Chef and Part Owner, Chow Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ross Gill, Executive Chef and General Manager, Home Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Yvan Lemoine, Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Natalia Machado, Junior Executive Chef, Industria Argentina, New York, NY (winner)
20 7 "Pods, Grills and Sticky Fingers" July 28, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: jumbo shrimp, edamame, golden raisins• Entrée: flank steak, grape juice, goat cheese, lemongrass• Dessert: coffee liqueur, avocados, boiled ginkgo nuts, honeycomb
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Moha Orchid, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Maristella Innocenti, Owner and Chef, Matilda, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Matthew Zappoli, Owner and Executive Chef, Tre Amici, Long Branch, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Joe Bayley, Sous chef, Cobblestone Foods, New York, NY (winner)
21 8 "A Wish Upon A Starfruit" August 11, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: red currant jam, merguez sausage, broccoli• Entrée: chicken breast, dandelion greens, starfruit, cherry liqueur
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Dessert: grape leaves, sesame seeds, honeydew melon, pickled ginger • Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Ming Lu, Line Cook, Le Cirque, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Pedro Diáz, Sous chef, Fresh Direct, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Lisa Schoen, Executive Chef and Food Stylist, Mad River Post and In Your Kitchen, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Cody Utzman, Chef and Restaurateur, Brooklyn Standard, New York, NY (winner)
22 9 "Buckwheat Blunders and Twists of Fate" August 25, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: olive oil packed tuna, English cucumbers, buckwheat flour• Entrée: knockwurst, pretzels, ramps, mangosteen• Dessert: biscuit dough, pistachios, dried hibiscus flowers, black olives
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Simon Lange, Chef and Restaurateur, Apartment 138, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Rory O'Farrell, Executive Chef, Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Mor Amitzur, Executive Chef, The View at the Marriott Marquis, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Diane DiMeo, Private Chef, Red Box Bistro, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Amitzur cut his finger in the appetizer round. The judges told the producer who then told Amitzur to bandage the wound and redo his dish. Amitzur also double-dipped in the entrée and dessert rounds, which the judges felt was a health hazard.
23 10 "Chopped Champions Event, Round One: The Ultimate Face-off" September 8, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: crayfish, red seedless grapes, fiddlehead ferns• Entrée: quail, guava nectar, udon noodles, dinosaur kale• Dessert: baby kiwi, Israeli couscous, rice paper, saffron
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Michael Carrino, Chef and Owner, Restaurant Passionné, Montclair, NJ (Episode 1.13 – "Strawberries, Turkey and Gummi Bears") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sandy Davis, Catering Chef, Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY (Episode 1.1 – "Octopus, Duck, Animal Crackers") (eliminated after the entrée)• Natalia Machado, Junior Executive Chef, Industria Argentina, New York, NY (Episode 2.6 – "A Prickly Situation") (eliminated after the dessert)• James Briscione, Chef Instructor, Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY (Episode 1.9 – "Mac & Cheese, Cola, Bacon") (advances to next episode) (winner)Episode notes: This is the first "Chopped Champions" event, featuring winners of past episodes. The winner of the episode won a cash prize and competed in the next episode against three new champions.
24 11 "Chopped Champions Event, Round Two: Best of the Best" September 15, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: cockles, kohlrabi, pita bread• Entrée: ground chicken, green tea leaves, mustard oil, braeburn apples• Dessert: chocolate wafers, manchego cheese, passionfruit, goji berries
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Jody Williams• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Pippa Calland, Owner and Chef, Chef for Hire LLC, Newville, Pennsylvania (Episode 1.2 – "Tofu, Blueberries, Oysters") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Gavin Mills, Executive Chef, Broadway East, New York, NY (Episode 1.12 – "Chocolate, Mussels and Figs") (eliminated after the entrée)• James Briscione (returning champion) (eliminated after the dessert)• Einat Admony, Chef and Owner, Taïm, New York, NY (Episode 1.4 – "Banana, Collard Greens, Grits") (advances to next episode) (winner)
25 12 "Chopped Champions Event, Round Three: All-Stars Showdown" September 22, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lavash bread, preserved lemons, squab• Entrée: bluefish, papaya, ginger snaps, beef jerky• Dessert: butter crackers, grapefruit, feta cheese, gin
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Geoffrey Zakarian• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Jackie Lee, Private Chef, New York, NY (Episode 1.11 – "Jumbo Shrimp, Pepperoni, Cereal") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Einat Admony (returning champion) (eliminated after the entrée)
• Andre Marrero, Chef tournant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, New York, NY (Episode 1.3 – "Avocado, Tahini, Bran Flakes") (eliminated after the dessert)• Cody Utzman, Chef and Restaurateur, Brooklyn Standard, New York, NY (Episode 2.8 – "A Wish Upon a Starfruit") (advances to next episode) (winner)Episode notes: This is the first episode to feature an all-male panel of judges.
26 13 "Chopped Champions Event, Round Four: Bring It!" September 29, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lobster, bananas, endive• Entrée: pork loin, watercress, galia melon, taro root• Dessert: matzo, pomegranate molasses, roasted chestnuts, baby fennel
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Cody Utzman (returning champion) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Diane DiMeo, Private Chef, Red Box Bistro, New York, NY (Episode 2.9 – "Buckwheat Blunders and Twists of Fate") (eliminated after the entrée)• John Lawson, Sous chef, Gordon Ramsay at The London, New York, NY (Episode 2.2 – "High Hopes") (eliminated after the dessert)• Darius Peacock, Executive Chef, Exceptional Taste Catering, Trenton, NJ (Episode 1.10 – "String Cheese, Jicama, Gingersnaps") (winner)
Season 3 (2009–10)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
27 1 "When Chefs Collide" October 13, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Manila clams, kumquats, croissants• Entrée: ground pork, camembert, sweet vermouth, haricots verts• Dessert: carrots, goat cheese, quick grits, pomelo
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Scott Conant• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Peter Giannakas, Chef and Restaurateur, Ovelia Psistaria Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Angie Shaghaghi, Chef Instructor, Creative Cooks, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Cisse Elhadji, Chef and Restaurateur, Ponty Bistro, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Dean Yasharian, Executive Sous chef, Bar Boulud, New York, NY (winner)
28 2 "Oh My Goshy, Umeboshi" October 20, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: peas, peaches, eel• Entrée: shrimp, oatmeal, butternut squash, umeboshi• Dessert: parsnips, limoncello, soda crackers, sharp cheddar cheese
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Jody Williams• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Jeffrey Baruch, Executive Chef, London Lennie's Seafood Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Barbara Esmonde, Executive Chef, Mediterranean Catering, Wynnewood, PA (eliminated after the entrée)• Peter Karapanagiotis, Executive Chef, Privé Mediterranean Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Jeremy Duclut, Executive Chef, Georges' Bar and Restaurant, Wayne, PA (winner)Episode notes: Chef Esmonde cut herself during the entrée round. After attempting to put on a glove that did not fit, she took it off and tossed her salad with her hands despite her open wound. As a result, the judges did not eat the salad and chopped her for her poor sanitation, rather than on the full merits of her food. Chef Baruch is a sous chef for Chopped judge Sue Torres.
29 3 "Judge Knows Best" October 27, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: hamachi, quail eggs, dried cherries• Entrée: beef tenderloin, mango, gruyère cheese, kochujang• Dessert: ripened plantains, prosecco, crystallized ginger, bacon
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Scott Conant• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Fabian Ludwig, Executive Chef, Gramercy Park Hotel, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ayesha Nurdjaja, Executive Chef, Il Bordello, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
• Joshua Whigham, Sous chef, Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Joe Dobias, Chef and Restaurateur, Joe Doe Restaurant, New York, NY (winner)
30 4 "A Nori Story" November 3, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: beef tenderloin, nori, maple syrup• Entrée: broccoli rabe, crystallized ginger, five year aged gouda, mahi-mahi• Dessert: cherries, pumpernickel bread, curry powder, yuzu juice
Judges:
• Josh Capon• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Adele DiBiasi, Chef and Restaurateur, Bona Vita Osteria, Summit, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Malik Fall, Chef and Restaurateur, Boucarou Lounge, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Bicocchi, Executive Chef, Flex Mussels, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• PJ Calapa, Sous chef, Nobu Fifty Seven, New York, NY (winner)
31 5 "Sticking To It" November 10, 2009
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: turkey breast, Kirby cucumbers, graham crackers• Entrée: black cod, puffed rice cereal, pineapple, chorizo• Dessert: mangoes, puff pastry, coffee beans, rose water
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Melinda Beaulieu, Private Chef and Nutritionist, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• David Amorelli, Executive Chef, Coffee Shop, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Dominick Feragola, Sous chef, Broadway East, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Luisa Fernandes, Executive Chef, Georgia's Cafe and Bakery, New York, NY (winner)
32 6 "Season's Choppings" December 8, 2009
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: venison tenderloin, quince, eggnog• Entrée: kale, rutabaga, marshmallows, turkey• Dessert: garnet yams, brie, sparkling wine, cranberries
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Megan Fells, Chef and Restaurateur, The Artist's Palate, Poughkeepsie, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jason Tilmann, Executive Chef, NYY Steak, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Keith Geter, Chef, Artisinal, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Jon Bignelli, Sous chef, wd~50, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: The chefs were given 45 minutes in the entrée round rather than the normal 30 to allow time to properly cook the turkey.
33 7 "Flower Power" January 5, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken breast, kiwi, zucchini blossoms• Entrée: scallops, cranberry juice, artichokes, burdock root• Dessert: blackberries, apple cider, shredded phyllo dough, fresh chickpeas
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Sue Torres• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Bill Feldman, Chef and Entrepreneur, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Keith Jodway, Consulting Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Lola Garand, Consulting Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Tommy Lee, Executive Chef, Battery Gardens, New York, NY (winner)
34 8 "Sweet Redemption" January 12, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: littleneck clams, Yukon Gold potatoes, rhubarb• Entrée: striped bass, corn tortillas, applesauce, okra• Dessert: carrot juice, white chocolate chips, baby beets, hominy
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Scott Conant• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Michael Giletto, Executive Chef, Cherry Valley Country Club, Skillman, NJ (Episode 1.12 – "Jumbo Shrimp, Pepperoni, Cereal") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Katie Rosenhouse, Pastry Chef, Olana Restaurant, New York, NY (Episode 1.1 – "Octopus, Duck, Animal Crackers") (eliminated after the entrée)• Chris Burke, Private Chef, New York, NY (Episode 1.3 – "Avocado, Tahini, Bran Flakes") (eliminated after the dessert)• Amy Roth, Chef and Owner, Amy Kate Catering, New York, NY (Episode 1.13 – "Strawberries, Turkey and Gummi Bears") (winner)Episode notes: This was the first episode to feature four past runners-up.
35 9 "Winging It" January 19, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sake, green seedless grapes, chicken wings• Entrée: horseradish, catfish, treviso, Japanese eggplant• Dessert: cherry tomatoes, silken tofu, ginger snaps, cocoa nibs
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Sue Torres• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Linda Laestadius, Pastry Chef, The Bear Cafe, Woodstock, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lizzie Singh-Brar, Executive Chef, Fanny, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• John Sierp, Executive Chef, White Cloud Catering, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Justin Gaines, Executive Sous chef, Zanaro's Italian Restaurant, White Plains, NY (winner)
36 10 "In A Pinch" January 26, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: red cherry peppers, mortadella, soft shell crabs• Entrée: baby bananas, black-eyed peas, poblano chiles, ostrich steak• Dessert: lychees, phyllo dough, Canadian bacon, candy canes
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Damien Brassel, Executive Chef, Knife + Fork, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lonnie Dyner, Executive Chef, Le Petit Marché, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
• Susan Crocker, Catering Chef, Holberts Catering and Backyard Bistro, Montgomery, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Pnina Peled, Chef de cuisine, The New York Helmsley Hotel, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was the first episode in which two female competitors faced each other in the final round.
37 11 "Raw Enthusiasm" February 16, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: apricots, macadamia nuts, oysters• Entrée: cucumber, buttermilk, pork loin, canned jackfruit• Dessert: sugar cookie dough, bittersweet chocolate, figs, yellow miso paste
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Mark Twersky, Cullinary Instructor, The French Culinary Institute, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Deborah Gorman, Catering Chef, The Good Knife, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Arvin Dhansew, Catering Chef, Relish Caterers, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Martin Brock, Executive Chef, Atria, New York, NY (winner)
38 12 "Against the Tide" March 2, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: habanero chiles, bittersweet chocolate, fresh sardines• Entrée: strawberries, celery root, lamb loin chops, Swiss cheese• Dessert: corn tortillas, dried chipotle peppers, blueberries, violet mustard
Judges:
• Mark Bittman• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Michael Madigan, Chef and Restaurateur, Snails and Quails / Farm 2 Bistro, New York, NY / Nutley, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Andres Barrera, Executive Chef, City Winery, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Laurielle Clark, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Erik Weatherspool, Chef and Restaurateur, Bistro 44, Toms River, NJ (winner)Episode notes: This was the first episode to feature an ingredient, violet mustard, that the judges were not familiar with.
39 13 "Chopped Liver" March 9, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: raspberries, asparagus, chicken livers• Entrée: arugula, pickled daikon, fresh pasta, mackerel• Dessert: Greek yogurt, sugar cane, cactus pears, popcorn kernels
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• John-Michael Hamlet, Chef and Restaurateur, John-Michael's Restaurant, North Salem, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Hannah Hopkins, Chef and Restaurateur, Dish, Mahopac, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Bradley Boyle, Chef and Restaurateur, Salt Gastro Pub, Byram, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Marc Pavlovic, Culinary Instructor, The French Culinary Institute, New York, NY (winner)
Season 4 (2010)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
40 1 "Rattle & Roll" April 6, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Asian pears, croissants, haricots verts, rattlesnake meat• Entrée: tapioca pearls, carrots, fruit leather, rabbit• Dessert: yucca, calimyrna figs, hoisin sauce, red jalapeños
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Siggy Sollitto, Executive Chef / Owner, Siggy's Good Food, Brooklyn Heights, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Eric Paraskevas, Executive Chef, Terra Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the entrée)• Chris Coombs, Executive Chef, Dbar, Boston, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Mackenzie Hilton, Executive Chef, Mercato Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA (winner)
41 2 "My Froggy Clementine" April 13, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: bourbon whiskey, anchovies, dates, frog legs• Entrée: hamachi, beets, tortilla chips, Malta• Dessert: clementine oranges, scotch whiskey, basil, toasted oats cereal
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Sunshine Best, Special Diets Chef, Your Safe Kitchen, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Warren Schierenbeck, Chef and Restaurateur, DoSi Cafe, Staten Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Erica Wides, Chef Instructor, Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Mario Tolentino, Private Chef, Can Cook Personal Chef Services, New York, NY (winner)
42 3 "Jitters & Giant Eggs" April 20, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ground turkey, black garlic, raspberries, pickled watermelon rind• Entrée: fresh horseradish, goat chops, oatmeal, snap peas• Dessert: canned peaches, cherry tomatoes, pretzel sticks, emu eggs
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Jody Williams• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Rory MacDonald, Head Pastry Chef, Tocqueville, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Brian Kevorkian, Line Cook, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Maurice "Mo" Hurley, Executive Chef, Valbella, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Jessica Mogardo, Pastry Chef, New York, NY (winner)
43 4 "Dr. Deckle & Mr. Fried" April 27, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: collard greens, jumbo shrimp, corn chips, olive loaf• Entrée: broccoli rabe, deckle of beef, hibiscus flowers in syrup, black-eyed peas
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag
• Dessert: avocadoes, oyster sauce, tofu skins, star fruit • Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Abigail Hitchcock, Chef and Restaurateur, Camaje Bistro, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Shanna Pacifico, Chef de cuisine, Back Forty, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• John P. Greco, Chef and Restaurateur, Philip Marie, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Siry, Corporate Executive Chef, Big Daddy's Diner, Duke's, and City Crab, New York, NY (winner)
44 5 "Mussels Mastery & Cotton Candy Can-Do" May 4, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: mussels, asparagus, cactus pear, kidney beans• Entrée: sharp cheddar cheese, watermelon radish, squab, frozen waffles• Dessert: saltine crackers, green papaya, dried mangoes, cotton candy
Judges:
• Marcus Samuelsson• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Sean Mell, Omakase Chef, Nobu, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Berthsy Ayide, Chef and Caterer, The Kitchen Sink, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeremy Hanlon, Private Chef, My Fresh Chef, Lantana, FL (eliminated after the dessert)• Christian Petroni, Chef and Restaurateur, Barcelona, Greenwich, CT (winner)
45 6 "First Things Worst" May 11, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: gooseberries, Darjeeling tea, ricotta salata, calf's liver• Entrée: cuttlefish, long beans, sweet piquanté peppers, bittersweet chocolate• Dessert: baby bananas, coconut flakes, pumpernickel rye, soy sauce
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Nadege Fleurimond, Caterer, Fleurimond Catering, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Paul Ripley, Food and Beverage Manager, Raritan Valley Country Club, Bridgewater, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)
• Ryan DePersio, Chef and Restaurateur, Fascino, Montclair, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Rebecca Weitzman, Chef de cuisine, Inoteca, New York, NY (winner)
46 7 "Fired Up!" June 1, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: striped sea bass, strawberries, baby fennel, marshmallows• Entrée: country pork ribs, kale, butternut squash, popcorn on the cob• Dessert: polenta, lambic beer, pineapple, hot dogs
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Mary Beth Johnson, Executive Chef, Maritime, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kristen Davis, Personal Chef, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Adam Goldgell, Chef, Sugo Café, Long Beach, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Jenkins, Chef, Butter, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a grilling-themed episode. The stove tops were outfitted with grill sheets and two other burners, and the ovens were off-limits throughout the competition. Chef Jenkins is a chef at Butter, which is co-owned by Alex Guarnaschelli.
47 8 "Quahog Quandaries and Pickle Puzzles" June 8, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: quahog clams, rhubarb, almond butter cookies• Entrée: venison tenderloin, cinnamon swirl bread, sharon fruit, cornichons• Dessert: matzo, salty peanuts, dried strawberries, cocoa nibs
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag• Alex Guarnaschelli• Jody Williams
Contestants:
• Melissa Muller, Executive Chef, Organika, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ricardo Cardona, Executive Chef, Sofrito, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Kat Ploszaj, Executive Chef, Petit Oven, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Marc Anthony Bynum, Executive Chef, Venúe 56, Hauppauge, NY (winner)
Episode notes: This is the first episode to feature an all-female panel of judges.
48 9 "Turbot Powered" June 15, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken thighs, bitter melon, cream cheese, papadum• Entrée: turbot, wasabi peas, purple cauliflower, satsuma mikan• Dessert: brie, rutabaga, frozen cranberries, English muffins
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Anthony Locastro, Executive Chef, Downtown Association, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Mark McMann, Sous chef, Kefi, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Jennifer Meadows, Chef and Restaurateur, Fishbar, Montauk, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Ed Harris, Junior Sous chef, Buddakan, New York, NY (winner)
49 10 "Keep On Cook'n On" June 22, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: serrano ham, fresh pasta, membrillo, half-sour pickles• Entrée: beef tenderloin, taro root, Japanese eggplant, cherry pie filling• Dessert: white bread, unsalted pistachios, buckwheat honey, zucchini
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Scott Conant
Contestants:
• Carrie Weiss, Instructor and Writer, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sachem "Son" Allison, Executive Chef, SavorNY, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Chris Jaeckle, Sous chef, Morimoto, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Paul "Poppy" Yeaple, Chef and Restaurateur, Poppy's Burgers and Fries, Beacon, NY (winner)
50 11 "Green Apps and Lamb" June 29, 2010
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: Rainier cherries, walnuts, crème de menthe, canned salmon• Entrée: lamb top round, golden raisins, Stilton cheese, edamame• Dessert: buttermilk, braeburn apples, kiwis, amaranth grain
• Chris Santos• Scott Conant• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Melissa Rebholz, Executive Chef, Garden of Eve Organic Farm, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Adam Sternberg, Executive Chef, 36 Main, New Paltz, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Guillaume Thivet, Executive Chef, Bouley Bakery and Market, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Joshua Stokes, Private Chef, Grill a Chef, New York, NY (winner)
51 12 "Crunch Time" July 6, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: watermelon, sweet potatoes, knockwurst, almond butter• Entrée: skate, English cucumbers, prunes, shredded wheat crackers• Dessert: oranges, red miso paste, cottage cheese, kettle-cooked potato chips
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Steven Tempel, Chef and Restaurateur, Logan's Bar and Grill, Speculator, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Michele Ragussis, Chef and Restaurateur, Stuft Catering / Beast, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Lance Nitahara, Executive Chef, Camp-of-the-Woods, Speculator, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Madison Cowan, Chef and Caterer, Avenue Inc, New York, NY (winner)
52 13 "Rowdy With a Chance of Meatballs" July 13, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: red carrots, Chinese okra, potato knishes, ocean perch• Entrée: ground pork, sorghum molasses, cheese crackers, mustard greens• Dessert: puffed rice cereal, cognac, butterscotch candy, pancetta
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Jacques Gautier, Executive Chef and Restaurateur, Palo Santo, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Deborah Bicknese, Executive Chef and Restaurateur, Beast, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Jodi Burnhard, Chef de cuisine, Longwood Events, Boston, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Anthony Paris, Executive Chef, Crosby Street Hotel, New York, NY (winner)
Season 5 (2010)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
53 1 ""Dream'n of Redeem'n"" July 20, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: rump roast, rainbow chard, vegetable yeast spread• Entrée: branzino, piquillo peppers, jicama, chocolate sandwich cookies• Dessert: vodka, crescent roll dough, sesame seeds, blueberry jelly beans
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Paul Viggiano, Cooking Instructor (Episode 2.5 – "Pretty Please With a Pepper on Top") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lola Garand, Freelance Consulting Chef, New York, NY (Episode 3.7 – "Flower Power") (eliminated after the entrée)• Dominick Feragola, Sous chef, Broadway East, New York, NY (Episode 3.5 – "Sticking To It") (eliminated after the dessert)• Matthew Zappoli, Owner and Executive Chef, Tre Amici, Long Branch, NJ (Episode 2.7 – "Pods, Grills and Sticky Fingers") (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four past runners-up.
54 2 "Wok This Way" July 27, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: rainbow trout, Napa cabbage, smoked paprika, white chocolate chips• Entrée: quail, escarole, chocolate-covered raisins, coconut• Dessert: papaya, rice crackers, sake, jura erguel
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Adam Idris, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Charlene Johnson, Executive Chef, 202, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Matt Gibson, Sous chef, Spice Market Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Ric Orlando, Chef and Restaurateur, New World Home Cooking, Saugerties, NY (winner)
55 3 "Squashed" August 10, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: banana chips, rice paper, kabocha squash, sardines• Entrée: beef shoulder, baby artichokes, blood oranges, cashew butter• Dessert: celery root, cinnamon candies, blackberries, marshmallow spread
Judges:
• Marcus Samuelsson• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Jessica Wilson, Sous chef, A Voce Columbus, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jasmine Shimoda, Apprenticing Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Yoanne Magris, Chef and Restaurateur, Yo In Yo Out, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Rebecca Newell, Executive Chef, The Beehive, Boston, MA (winner)Episode notes: This is the first episode to feature four female chefs
56 4 "$50,000 Tournament: Round One" August 31, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: tomatillos, horned melon, wonton skins, Rocky Mountain oysters• Entrée: dorade, baby beets, beef jerky, coffee liqueur• Dessert: Yukon Gold potatoes, condensed milk, pomegranates, peanut butter taffy
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Jessica Mogardo, Executive Pastry Chef, New York, NY (Episode 4.3 – "Jitters & Giant Eggs") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Mackenzie Hilton, Executive Chef, Mercato Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA (Episode 4.1 – "Rattle & Roll") (eliminated after the entrée)
• Paul "Poppy" Yeaple, Chef and Restaurateur, Poppy's Burgers and Fries, Beacon, NY (Episode 4.10 – "Keep On Cook'n On") (eliminated after the dessert)• Madison Cowan, Chef and Caterer, Avenue Inc, New York, NY (Episode 4.12 – "Crunch Time") (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes, where sixteen past champions competed. The winner of each preliminary round advanced to the finale, where they competed for $50,000.
57 5 "$50,000 Tournament: Round Two" September 7, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: dandelion greens, Greek yogurt, liverwurst, catfish• Entrée: ginger beer, pickled daikon, okra, alligator tenderloin• Dessert: key lime juice, pepitas, halloumi cheese, hot dog buns
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag]• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Michael Jenkins, Chef de cuisine, Butter, New York, NY (Episode 4.7 – "Fired Up!") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jon Bignelli, Chef de cuisine, wd~50, New York, NY (Episode 3.6 – "Season's Choppings") (eliminated after the entrée)• Pnina Peled, Executive Chef, The New York Helmsley Hotel, New York, NY (Episode 3.10 – "In a Pinch") (eliminated after the dessert)• Marc Anthony Bynum, Executive Chef, Venúe 56, Hauppauge, NY (Episode 4.8 – "Quahog Quandaries and Pickle Puzzles") (advances to final round) (winner)
58 6 "$50,000 Tournament: Round Three" September 14, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: dried persimmon, phyllo dough, pepper jack cheese, sweetbreads• Entrée: chicken breast, blue corn tortillas, Tuscan kale, sea urchin• Dessert: blueberries, bread & butter pickles, saffron, fruit ring cereal
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Joe Dobias, Chef and Restaurateur, Joe Doe Restaurant, New York, NY (Episode 3.3 – "Judge Knows Best") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Luisa Fernandes, Executive Chef, Georgia's Cafe and Bakery, New York, NY (Episode 3.5 – "Sticking To It") (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Siry, Corporate Executive Chef, Big Daddy's Diner, Duke's, and City Crab, New York, NY (Episode 4.4 – "Dr. Deckle & Mr. Fried") (eliminated after the dessert)• Jason Zukas, Executive Chef, New York, NY (Episode 2.1 – "Salty Veggies & Heated Battles") (advances to final round) (winner)
59 7 "$50,000 Tournament: Round Four" September 21, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: cold-smoked kippers, water chestnuts, leeks, lemon-lime soda• Entrée: caperberries, parsley root, chocolate-hazelnut spread, elk tenderloin• Dessert: taco shells, Bosc pears, crema, red curry paste
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Christian Petroni, Chef and Restaurateur, Barcelona, Greenwich, CT (Episode 4.5 – "Mussels Mastery & Cotton Candy Can-Do") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Rebecca Newell, Executive Chef, The Beehive, Boston, MA (Episode 5.3 – "Squashed") (eliminated after the entrée)• Mario Tolentino, Private Chef, Can Cook Personal Chef Services, New York, NY (Episode 4.2 – "My Froggy Clementine") (eliminated after the dessert)• Ric Orlando, Chef and Restaurateur, New World Home Cooking, Saugerties, NY (Episode 5.2 – "Wok This Way") (advances to final round) (winner)
60 8 "$50,000 Tournament: Grand Finale" September 28, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: geoduck, Buddha's hand, black radishes, waffle cones• Entrée: smelt, dried red currants, cheese curls, rack of wild boar• Dessert: champagne, dragon fruit, tahini, cake flour
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Marc Anthony Bynum, Executive Chef, Venúe 56, Hauppauge, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ric Orlando, Chef and Restaurateur, New World Home Cooking, Saugerties, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Jason Zukas, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Madison Cowan, Chef and Caterer, Avenue Inc, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: The chefs were given 50 minutes in the dessert round rather than the normal 30 to allow adequate time to bake.
61 9 "Spouting Off" October 5, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: barramundi, apricot paste, poblano peppers, abbey style beer
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag
• Entrée: bratwurst, scallops, plums, red quinoa• Dessert: Israeli couscous, cherimoya, guanciale, Irish whiskey
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Sung Uni Lee, Culinary Instructor, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Janine Gray, Chef and Restaurateur, The Inn at Osborne Hill, Fishkill, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Bryce Shuman, Sous chef, Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Joe Raiola, Executive Chef, Morton's Steakhouse, Brooklyn, NY (winner)
62 10 "When Octopuses Attack" October 12, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lotus root, treviso, guava nectar, octopus• Entrée: flank steak, chicory, pepino melon, granola bars• Dessert: shiso leaves, pita bread, feta, adzuki beans
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Anthony "Anton" Testino, Head Chef, Tony's Touch of Italy, Wayne, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Merlin Tlapa, Executive Chef, Nino's 208, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Mona James, Executive Sous chef, Palm Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Cory Comeau, Executive Chef, Stephanie's on Newbury, Boston, MA (winner)
63 11 "Fright Bites" October 19, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: canned pumpkin, malted chocolate balls, pie crust, lamb heart• Entrée: gummy teeth, flour tortillas, huitlacoche, black chicken• Dessert: kumquats, cheddar pennies, chipotle chiles, grasshoppers
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Mike Solyn, Freelance Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Marja Samsom, Chef and Restaurateur, The Kitchen Club, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Tess Middlebrook, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Vignola, Executive Chef, Michael Jordan's Steak House, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a Halloween-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course. In the entrée round, Chef Samsom rolled her tortillas on a cutting board that was cross-contaminated. The judges did not taste her dish as a result, and Chef Samsom was eliminated.
64 12 "Cornuchopia" November 16, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: baked ham, cranberry sauce, baby turnips, port wine cheese• Entrée: pheasant, Brussels sprouts, candy apples, sparkling cider• Dessert: puff pastry, enoki mushrooms, seedless red grapes, plum sauce
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Sue Torres• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Harold Moore, Chef and Restaurateur, Commerce, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Izzy Sarto, Executive Chef, Tremont 647, Boston, MA (eliminated after the entrée)• Robin Moore, Private Chef and Instructor, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Milton Enriquez, Executive Chef, Compass, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a Thanksgiving-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course.
65 13 "Yes, Virginia, There is a Chopping Block" November 28, 2010
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: oysters, pomegranate juice, red chard, gingerbread cookie dough• Entrée: goose, Irish cream liqueur, maraschino cherries, blue cheese• Dessert: pasilla chiles, peppermint patties, sour cream, boniatos
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Kenneth Collins, Executive Chef, Gospel Uptown, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Patricio Sandoval, Chef and Restaurateur, Mercadito, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
• Laura Simpson, Chef de cuisine, The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Wade Burch, Executive Chef, South West NY, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a holiday-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course. The chefs were given 40 minutes in the entrée round rather than the normal 30 in order to allow time to properly cook the goose.
Season 6 (2011)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
66 1 "Victory on the Brain" January 4, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: tamarind soda, cocktail nuts, haricots verts, goat brains• Entrée: cream of coconut, baby turnips, wakame seaweed, fish heads• Dessert: peanut brittle, marsala wine, wonton wrappers, durian
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Colin Kruzic, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Samantha Buyskes, Chef and Restaurateur, Simply Red Bistro, Ithaca, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Sammy Davis Jr., Executive Chef, CR Lounge, Baltimore, MD (eliminated after the dessert)• Alejandra Padilla, Line Cook, La Fonda del Sol, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: The fish heads used in the entrée round were from northeastern cod.
67 2 "Prove it on the Plate" January 11, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: New Zealand mussels, Bosc pears, marula liqueur, frozen waffles• Entrée: root beer schnapps, lap cheong, squash blossoms, ostrich tenderloin• Dessert: puffed rice cereal, horned melon, cashew butter, gummy worms
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chauhan• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Andrea Glick, Private Chef and Instructor, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lisa Beels, Executive Chef and Entrepreneur, Haute Palate and Petite Palate, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Nick Grosz, Executive Chef, Norwood Club, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Eric Levine, Executive Chef, Encore Catering, East Hanover, NJ (winner)
68 3 "Marrowly We Roll Along" January 18, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: speck, toybox squash, fontina cheese, marrow bones• Entrée: yuzu marmalade, chicory, dried blueberries, Dungeness crab• Dessert: pineapple, sunflower seeds, red curry paste, Neapolitan ice cream
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Carmine DiGiovanni, Chef de cuisine, Picholine, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sean Telo, Chef de cuisine, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the entrée)• Andrew Markert, Executive Sous chef, PS7, Washington, DC (eliminated after the dessert)• Laura Henry-Zoubir, Culinary Director, Dramshop Hospitality, Boston, MA (winner)
69 4 "Doughs and Don'ts" January 25, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: saba, garlic chutes, Canadian bacon, trout• Entrée: dehydrated okra, parsnips, espresso soda, deckle of beef• Dessert: coquitos, turmeric, empanada wrappers, corn on the cob
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Rob Runn, Food Service Specialist, USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB-109), Bayonne, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Monica Byrne, Chef and Restaurateur, Home/Made, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Anna Maria Santorelli, Chef and Restaurateur, Anna Maria's, Larchmont, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
• James Gillespie, Culinary Instructor, New York, NY (winner)
70 5 "Step Right Up!" February 1, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: catfish, tomatillos, marshmallows, rutabagas• Entrée: country pork ribs, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, fresh garbanzo beans• Dessert: plum tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, crema, malanga coco
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• James Kilberg, Executive Chef, Il Poggiolo, Chicago, IL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Gillian Clark, Chef and Restaurateur, The General Store, Silver Spring, MD (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeffrey Gardner, Sous chef, South City Kitchen Midtown, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Marcellus Coleman, Executive Sous chef, Abe and Arthur's, New York, NY (winner)
71 6 "All-Stars Tournament: Round One – Competitors from The Next Food Network Star" March 6, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: calf's liver, mango, bottarga, pound cake• Entrée: karela, blueberries, fregola, Scottish red leg partridge• Dessert: red carrots, goat's butter, paneer, potato crisps
Judges:
• Marcus Samuelsson• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Lisa Garza (TNFNS season 4 runner-up) (charity: Vogel Alcove – Dallas, TX) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Debbie Lee (TNFNS season 5 third place) (charity: Medici Foundation – Irvine, CA) (eliminated after the entrée)• Brad Sorenson (TNFNS season 6 fifth place) (charity: American Cancer Society – Atlanta, GA) (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Proietti (TNFNS season 5 fifth place) (charity: The Jed Foundation – New York, NY) (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes in which categorical groups of celebrity chefs competed for charity.
72 7 "All-Stars Tournament: Round Two – Food Network Personalities" March 13, 2011
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: teething biscuits, Hungarian hot peppers, raspberries, canned haggis• Entrée: rack of venison, dulse, gooseberry preserves, fruit ring cereal• Dessert: ladyfingers, baby fennel, almond paste, root beer jelly beans
• Marcus Samuelsson• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes, notable competitor on Food Network Challenge) (charity: Lower Eastside Girls Club – New York, NY) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Claire Robinson (5 Ingredient Fix, Food Network Challenge) (charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Memphis, TN) (eliminated after the entrée)• Robert Irvine (Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant: Impossible) (charity: World Outreach Ministries – Marietta, GA) (eliminated after the dessert)• Anne Burrell (Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Worst Cooks in America) (charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – New York, NY) (advances to final round) (winner)
73 8 "All-Stars Tournament: Round Three – Notable Chefs" March 20, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: fresh pasta, dried papaya, bluefoot mushrooms, chorizo• Entrée: cobia, salmon jerky, Chinese spinach, animal crackers• Dessert: granola bars, heirloom cherry tomatoes, Chinese five spice, piloncillo
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Jacques Torres (charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Memphis, TN) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Beau MacMillan (charity: Space Coast Early Intervention Center – Melbourne, FL) (eliminated after the entrée)• Anita Lo (charity: SHARE – New York, NY) (eliminated after the dessert)• Nate Appleman (charity: Kawasaki Disease Foundation – Ipswich, MA) (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: In the appetizer round, Chef Torres used (cocoa nibs) that he brought with him, which were not available in the pantry. The judges felt that this was contrary to the rules and cited it as the reason for his elimination.
74 9 "All-Stars Tournament: Round Four – Chopped Judges" March 27, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: papadum, baby romanesco, smoked lake chub, powdered strawberry milk
Judges:
• Chris Santos
• Entrée: taralli, natto, radicchio, whole duck• Dessert: green plantains, Chinese bacon, peanut butter puff cereal, frozen lemonade
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Maneet Chauhan (charity: Clinton Global Initiative – New York, NY) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Amanda Freitag (charity: God's Love We Deliver – New York, NY) (eliminated after the entrée)• Geoffrey Zakarian (charity: The Kimmins Foundation – Tampa, FL) (eliminated after the dessert)• Aarón Sánchez (charity: Greater New Orleans Foundation – New Orleans, LA) (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: The chefs were given 40 minutes in the entrée round rather than the normal 30 to allow time to properly cook the duck.
75 10 "All-Stars Tournament: Grand Finale" April 3, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: rabbit kidneys, baby beets, merguez, salt and vinegar potato chips• Entrée: goat leg, dried hibiscus flower, pattypan squash, trail mix• Dessert: sesame candies, ruby red grapefruit, chayotes, chickpeas
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Michael Proietti (charity: The Jed Foundation – New York, NY) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Anne Burrell (charity: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – New York, NY) (eliminated after the entrée)• Aarón Sánchez (charity: Greater New Orleans Foundation – New Orleans, LA) (eliminated after the dessert)• Nate Appleman (charity: Kawasaki Disease Foundation – Ipswich, MA) (winner)
76 11 "A Cornish Mess" April 10, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: graffiti eggplant, cape gooseberries, biscuit dough, Peking duck• Entrée: Cornish hens, Concord grapes, gruyère cheese, banana leather• Dessert: Italian orange liqueur, cheese crackers, cherimoya, Jordan almonds
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chauhan• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Gillie Holme, Caterer, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ondre'a Duverney, Caterer, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• David Greco, Chef and Restaurateur, Arthur Avenue Trattoria and Mike's Deli, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Lauren Gerrie, Caterer, Big Little Get Together, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: In the entrée round, Chef Duverney committed cross-contamination by cutting her cooked hens on the same board where the hens were placed when they were still raw. Chef Greco served raw hens due to the time constraints. The judges allowed the both of them to bring over the other components of the dish from their stations.
77 12 "Chefs on a Mission" April 26, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: firm tofu, scotch whisky, dragon fruit, pickled herring• Entrée: rump roast, violet mustard, asparagus, sugar coated fennel seeds• Dessert: mission figs, robiola cheese, shelled pistachios, taco shells
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Ulli Stachl, Food Stylist, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Joel Javier, Sous chef, Telepan, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Steven Brand, Executive Chef, Upstairs on the Square, Cambridge, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Jamie Bissonnette, Chef and Restaurateur, Toro and Coppa, Boston, MA (winner)
Season 7 (2011)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
78 1 "The Icing on the Steak" May 3, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: smoked turkey legs, ramen noodles, cherry bomb peppers, endive• Entrée: celery root, rainbow chard, flat iron steak, chocolate frosting
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag
• Dessert: bananas, pomegranate juice, phyllo dough, white miso • Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Crystal Fox, Chef, Sisters Night Club, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Marco Suarez, Executive Chef, Ledge Kitchen and Drinks, Dorchester, MA (eliminated after the entrée)• Tryg Siverson, Chef and Restaurateur, Friedman's Lunch, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Shehu Fitzgerald, Garde manger Chef, Marriott New York Marquis, New York, NY (winner)
79 2 "Canned Cheese, Please!" May 10, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: andouille sausage, lychees in syrup, jalepeño peppers, canned cheese• Entrée: buckwheat groats, jews mallow, hard cider, elk tenderloin• Dessert: strawberry popsicles, blue corn tortilla chips, condensed milk, celery
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Billy Brigtsen, Chef, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Monica Langowski, Private Chef, A Table For Two Private Chef Service, Chicago, IL (eliminated after the entrée)• Kyle Ricks, Executive Sous chef, Landmarc Tribeca, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Danielle Saunders, Private Chef, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Ricks is a chef at Landmarc, a restaurant of frequent Chopped judge, Marc Murphy.
80 3 "Saying Sayonara" May 17, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: oysters, clementine oranges, Chinese okra, French dressing• Entrée: duck breasts, green tea, adzuki beans, Brussels sprouts• Dessert: Meyer lemons, cottage cheese, passionfruit, soba noodles
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Rosalind Balducci, Personal Chef / Caterer, That Personal Touch Cuisine, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Shawn Dickensheets, Culinary Student, Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Adam Powers, Chef and Restaurateur, Fetch, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Wayne Lyons, Chef and Restaurateur, Soul Flavors, Jersey City, NJ (winner)
81 4 "Have a Heart" May 24, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: bay scallops, braeburn apples, sorrel, duck hearts• Entrée: fideos, broccoli rabe, mezcal, eel• Dessert: crumpets, cream cheese, aloe vera juice, orange slice candy
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Ken Oringer
Contestants:
• John Ramirez, Executive Sous chef, Castle on the Hudson, Tarrytown, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Remy Ayesh, Culinary Instructor, French Culinary Institute, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Judson Branch, Senior Sous chef, Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Justin Burdett, Chef de cuisine, Miller Union, Atlanta, GA (winner)
82 5 "Gotta Grill!" May 31, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: coho salmon, baby eggplant, mustard• Entrée: rack of wild boar, artichokes, ketchup, sauerkraut• Dessert: mayonnaise, bananas, prickly pear cactus, pre-cooked pizza crust
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Vucic "Vulé" Dabetic, Executive Chef, Arcane, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Tom McEachern, Executive Chef, Ray's on the River, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the entrée)• Phyllis Kaplowitz, Executive Chef, Bakers' Best Catering, Boston, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Alan Harding, Chef and Restaurateur, The Food Truck @ Hot Bird, Brooklyn, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a grilling-themed episode. The stovetops were outfitted with grill sheets and two other burners and the ovens were off-limits throughout the competition. The chefs
were also given pre-soaked cedar planks that they could use if they wished.
83 6 "Get it Together" June 7, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: corn nuts, fruit cocktail, black garlic, Uni• Entrée: watermelon, dried shrimp, dried porcini mushrooms, Hawaiian snapper• Dessert: challah, almond butter, tamarind pods, delicata squash
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Matthew Marchese, Personal Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Mark Barrett, Chef, Henry's, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Wei Wen, Executive Chef, Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen, Radnor, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Heather Priest, Personal Chef, Greenwich, CT (winner)
84 7 "Bite Your Pickled Beef Tongue" June 14, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: flour tortillas, English cucumbers, fresh fava beans, pickled beef tongue• Entrée: pork rinds, galangal, purple kohlrabi, rabbit legs and thighs• Dessert: labne, chickpea flour, Asian pears, rose water syrup
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Maneet Chauhan• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Amy Goffio-Mahabir, Sous chef, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chris Scott, Chef and Restaurateur, Brooklyn Commune, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Sean Olnowich, Chef and Restaurateur, The House, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Joe Landa, Executive Chef, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY (winner)
85 8 "Go For It!" June 21, 2011
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: gorgonzola cheese, green papaya, sour lemon candies, duck livers• Entrée: tequila, epazote, puff pastry, cuttlefish• Dessert: cocoa nibs, blackberries, corn tortillas, ginger
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Emily Sims, Executive Chef, Ici, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jonathan Doar, Sous chef, Fishtail by David Burke, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Stephen Hartigan, Private Chef, The Field, Bridgeport, CT (eliminated after the dessert)• Olivier Desaintmartin, Chef and Restaurateur, Caribou Café, Philadelphia, PA (winner)
86 9 "Thyme Flies" June 28, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Korean-style short ribs, lemon thyme, zucchini, gefilte fish• Entrée: hen of the woods mushrooms, white anchovies, lamb top round, salsa con queso• Dessert: dried apricots, gingerbread cookie dough, elderflower liqueur, halva
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Marc Matsumoto, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• James Lee, Chef and Restaurateur, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• April Stamm, Chef Team Leader, Prepared foods at Whole Foods Market, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Marie-Claude Mendy, Executive Chef/Owner, Teranga, Boston, MA (winner)Episode notes: Chef Lee cut himself during the entrée round. Despite putting on several layers of gloves, his bleeding did not stop. Chef Lee insisted on continuing to cook and touching the ingredients with his hands. The judges considered this unsanitary, so they did not taste his entrée. This resulted in Chef Lee being eliminated.
87 10 "Nopales, No Problem" July 5, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: quahog clams, fuyu persimmons, Italian bitters, nopales• Entrée: halibut, purple cauliflower, salted duck egg yolks, pork skin• Dessert: Mexican chocolate, mostarda, soft tofu, pretzel rods
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Chris Rendell, Chef de cuisine, Double Crown, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ronaldo Linares, Chef and Restaurateur, Martino's Cuban Restaurant, Somerville, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Denise Baron, Executive Chef, Burtons Grill, Boston, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Miguel Aguilar, Executive Chef, Piquant, New York, NY (winner)
Season 8 (2011)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
88 1 "Easy Peasy?" July 12, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: buffalo hot dogs, carrots, edamame, butterscotch candy• Entrée: pork loin, crunchy cheese curls, escarole, chia seeds• Dessert: grape flavored gelatin, lemon verbena, brie, shortbread cookies
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Tristan Welch, Chef Patron, Launceston Place, Kensington, London, England (eliminated after the appetizer)• Andy Bates, Pastry Chef, Eat My Pies Street Market, East London, England (eliminated after the entrée)• Lotte Duncan, Chef and Culinary Instructor, English Country Cookery School, Buckinghamshire, England (eliminated after the dessert)• Jun Tanaka, Executive Chef, Pearl Restaurant, London, England (winner)Episode notes: This is the first episode to feature four British chefs.
89 2 "Ladies First!" July 19, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: brown bread in a can, dried figs, frozen peas, duck white kidneys
Judges:
• Zakary Pelaccio
• Entrée: quail, Pedro Ximénez sherry, crosnes, cabbage• Dessert: crescent roll dough, dried currants, key lime juice, creamed corn
• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Katherine See, Executive Chef, Kingfish Hall, Boston, MA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Deirdre Henderson, Executive Chef, BarOnA, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Cara Thompson, Executive Chef, The Bayou, Bellmore, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Suzanne Vizethann, Chef and Restaurateur, The Hungry Peach, Atlanta, GA (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four female chefs.
90 3 "Sweet Second Chance!" July 26, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pancake mix, guava nectar, Aleppo peppers, Asian style beef jerky• Entrée: fresh wasabi root, crab apples, collard greens, lamb hearts• Dessert: duck eggs, Russet potatoes, farmer's cheese, honey herb cough drops
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Chris Coombs, Chef and Restaurateur, Dbar, Boston, MA (Episode 4.1 – "Rattle & Roll") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Siggy Sollitto, Chef and Restaurateur, Siggy's Good Food, Brooklyn Heights, NY (Episode 4.1 – "Rattle & Roll") (eliminated after the entrée)• Yoanne Magris, Chef and Restaurateur, Yo In Yo Out, New York, NY (Episode 5.3 – "Squashed") (eliminated after the dessert)• Lance Nitahara, Executive Chef, Camp-of-the-Woods, Speculator, NY (Episode 4.12 – "Crunch Time") (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four past non-winners. This was the first "redemption" episode to feature a non-runner-up as well as the first to feature two chefs from the same previous episode. Chef Magris slipped and fell during the entrée round. She spilled boiling water on herself, causing second-degree burns on both her legs. The judges gave Chef Magris the option to bow out of the competition before the judging in that round, but she elected to continue. Although Chef Nitahara won, he gave the $10,000 prize to Chef Magris so she could visit her ill grandmother in France.
91 4 "Chard & True" August 2, 2011
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: lime pickle, red chard, baby octopus, Tokyo scallions• Entrée: gingersnaps, sweet potatoes, farina, turbot• Dessert: cactus pear, soft pretzels, farmhouse cheddar, wheat beer
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Ben Sargent, Seafood Chef, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jay Jones, Caterer, Chateau Noir Catering, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Tina Aleandri, Executive Chef, Noche Tequila and Tapas Bar, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Elisabeth Weinberg, Caterer, Miss Elisabeth's Catering, New York, NY (winner)
92 5 "My Way" August 9, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: smoked oysters, starfruit, jicama, whole calamari• Entrée: jumbo shrimp, crème de cassis, black quinoa, pastrami• Dessert: matzo, Lady Gala apples, walnuts, borscht
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Geoffrey Zakarian• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Daniel Moreno, Sous chef, BLT Steak, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jason Marcus, Chef and Restaurateur, Traif, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Kelvin Fernandez, Chef de cuisine, Strand Hotel, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Jennifer Cole, Executive Chef, Taberna, New York, NY (winner)
93 6 "A is for Apple. U is for Udon" August 16, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: udon noodles, watermelon radish, razor clams, pickled eggplant• Entrée: sweet vermouth, leeks, French fingerling potatoes, live diver scallops• Dessert: Thai basil, marinated cippolini onions, Black Oxford apples, rolled oats
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Denis Weekes, Executive Chef, World Yacht, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Debra Whiting, Chef and Restaurateur, Red Newt Cellars Winery and Bistro, Hector, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Raffaele Spadavecchia, Executive Chef, Scottadito Osteria Toscana, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Christopher Thames, Caterer, Distinctive Fare Catering, Philadelphia, PA (winner)Episode notes: This episode was dedicated to the memory of Debra Whiting, who was killed in a car accident June 30, 2011.
Season 9 (2011)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
94 1 "Champions' Tournament: Part 1" August 30, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Chinese celery, fresh chickpeas, preserved lemons, country style pâté• Entrée: rack of antelope, stinging nettles, jicama, port wine cheese• Dessert: nopales, sweet potatoes, pie crust, mezcal
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Wayne Lyons, Chef and Restaurateur, Soul Flavors, Jersey City, NJ (Episode 7.3 – "Saying Sayonara") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Heather Priest, Personal Chef, Greenwich, CT (Episode 7.6 – "Get It Together") (eliminated after the entrée)• James Gillespie, Culinary Instructor, New York, NY (Episode 6.4 – "Doughs and Don'ts") (eliminated after the dessert)• Wade Burch, Executive Chef, South West NY, New York, NY (Episode 5.13 – "Yes, Virginia, There is a Chopping Block") (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes, where sixteen past champions competed. The winner of each preliminary round advanced to the finale, where they competed for $50,000.
95 2 "Champions' Tournament: Part 2" September 6, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: frosted wheat cereal, baby red romaine lettuce, black garlic, quahog clams
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian
• Entrée: tuna belly, lemon curd, purple cauliflower, dried cuttlefish snack• Dessert: cacao beans, masa, pisco, gorgonzola dolce
• Maneet Chauhan• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Shehu Fitzgerald, Chef, Ritz Carlton, New York, NY (Episode 7.1 – "The Icing on the Steak") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Alejandra Padilla, Sous chef, La Fonda del Sol, New York, NY (Episode 6.1 – "Victory on the Brain") (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Vignola, Executive Chef, Michael Jordan's Steak House, New York, NY (Episode 5.11 – "Fright Bites") (eliminated after the dessert)• Danielle Saunders, Private Chef, New York, NY (Episode 7.2 – "Canned Cheese, Please!") (advances to final round) (winner)
96 3 "Champions' Tournament: Part 3" September 13, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Alaskan king crab legs, star fruit, bonito flakes, Mexican chorizo• Entrée: tilefish, fig cookies, caperberries, squid ink• Dessert: vanilla cognac, guava paste, barley flour, duck fat
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Susan Feniger
Contestants:
• Miguel Aguilar, Executive Chef, Piquant, New York, NY (Episode 7.10 – "Nopales, No Problem") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Laura Henry-Zoubir, Culinary Director, Dramshop Hospitality, Boston, MA (Episode 6.3 – "Marrowly We Roll Along") (eliminated after the entrée)• Jamie Bissonnette, Chef and Restaurateur, Toro and Coppa, Boston, MA (Episode 6.12 – "Chefs on a Mission") (eliminated after the dessert)• Lauren Gerrie, Caterer, Big Little Get Together, New York, NY (Episode 6.11 – "A Cornish Mess") (advances to final round) (winner)
97 4 "Champions' Tournament: Part 4" September 20, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lamb fries, ras el hanout, blood orange syrup, hot cross buns• Entrée: wreck fish, sabudana poha, green tomatoes, huitlacoche• Dessert: macaroni and cheese, apples, raw cashews, cane syrup
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Justin Burdett, Chef de cuisine, Miller Union, Atlanta, GA (Episode 7.4 – "Have A Heart") (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Eric Levine, Executive Chef, Encore Catering, East Hanover, NJ (Episode 6.2 – "Prove it on the Plate") (eliminated after the entrée)• Marie-Claude Mendy, Chef and Restaurateur, Teranga, Boston, MA (Episode 7.9 -"Thyme Flies") (eliminated after the dessert)• Alan Harding, Chef, The Food Truck @ Hot Bird, Brooklyn, NY (Episode 7.5 – "Gotta Grill!") (advances to final round) (winner)
98 5 "Champions' Tournament: Grand Finale" September 27, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: catfish, daikon radish, cherry soda, boiled peanuts• Entrée: kettle corn, chayotes, apple sauce, roasted suckling pig• Dessert: araucana eggs, bread flour, turbinado sugar, goat's milk
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Alan Harding, Chef, The Food Truck @ Hot Bird, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Wade Burch, Executive Chef, South West NY, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Lauren Gerrie, Caterer, Big Little Get Together, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Danielle Saunders, Private Chef, New York, NY (winner)
99 6 "Time & Space" October 4, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: izote flowers, smoked butter, rhubarb, chicken in a can• Entrée: yellow miso, pork shoulder, mountain yam, astronaut ice cream• Dessert: margarita mix, quick cook grits, marionberry preserves, vanilla yogurt
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Van Dao, Chef and Restaurateur, Biscuit Bender, San Francisco, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Ryan Goergen, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Ronnie Vincent, Executive Sous chef, Joe's Stone Crab, Miami, FL (eliminated after the dessert)• Helen Park, Executive Chef, New York, NY (winner)
100 7 "Everything's Rosy" October 11, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: British piccalilli, biscuit dough, watercress, soft-shell crabs• Entrée: rack of wild boar, shishito peppers, posole, organic roses• Dessert: falooda glass noodles, oranges, graham crackers, Armenian string cheese
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chauhan• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Michael Maroni, Chef and Restaurateur, Maroni Cuisine, Northport, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Gina Rodriguez, Executive Chef, Kokopelli Restaurant and Tequila Bar, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the entrée)• Justin Bazdarich, Chef and Restaurateur, Speedy Romeo, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Rob Evans, Chef and Restaurateur, Hugo's, Portland, ME (winner)
101 8 "Trick or Treat, Chicken Feet!" October 16, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pre-cooked chicken feet, poblano peppers, black radishes, fruit-flavored candy• Entrée: blood sausage, frog legs, sea beans, Halloween candy• Dessert: ossa dei morti, apple cider, ricotta salata, black licorice
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Rodney Henry, Pie Maker, Dangerously Delicious Pies, Baltimore, MD / Washington, DC (eliminated after the appetizer)• Cris Spezial, Caterer, Nyack Gourmet, Nyack, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Michelle Firlit-Garcia, Pastry Chef, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Chicago, IL (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael DiIonno, Chef and Restaurateur, Avenue Bistro Pub, Verona, NJ (winner)Episode notes: This was a Halloween-themed episode. The Halloween candy provided in the entrée round was a mixture of traditional Halloween candies, such as candy corn.
102 9 "Make A Splash!" October 25, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: broccoflower, unsweetened cranberry juice, madeleines, sea urchin• Entrée: canned mandarin oranges, red pearl onions, chicken thighs, pork hock
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag
• Dessert: gingerbread cookie dough, goat cheese, garam masala, strawberry syrup • Seamus Mullen
Contestants:
• Kayne Raymond, Private Chef, Palo Alto, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Wayne Cafariella, Sous chef, Tellers Chop House, Islip, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Adrianne Calvo, Chef and Restaurateur, Chef Adrianne's, Miami, FL (eliminated after the dessert)• Lish Steiling, Assistant Food Stylist, Today, New York, NY (winner)
103 10 "One in a Hundred" November 1, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: duck prosciutto, purple asparagus, Korean melon, Greek Easter bread• Entrée: barramundi, ramps, sun-dried tomatoes, unripened green almonds• Dessert: Kirby cucumbers, beignet mix, lemon-lime soda, nata de coco
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Maneet Chauhan• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Tiffany Jeffries, Caterer, Sunday Dinner Catering Service, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jackie Baldassari, Roundsman, Olde York Country Club, Chesterfield, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Dave Cusato, Sous chef, X2O Xaviars on the Hudson, Yonkers, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Matt Lambert, Chef de cuisine, Musket Room, New York, NY (winner)
104 11 "Blood Orange Sorbet, Sweat, & Tears" November 8, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: breakfast sausage, cantaloupe, potato rolls, coconut flakes• Entrée: fiddlehead ferns, sablefish, vadouvan, blood orange sorbet• Dessert: sour beer, cherimoya, raspberries, brown bread in a can
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Shawn Fralin, Private Chef, Miami, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Arthur Saks, Executive Chef, Marina Cafe, Staten Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
• Sonia El-Nawal, Chef Consultant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Charles Lopez, Sous chef, Tastings Catering Company, New York, NY (winner)
105 12 "Give It Your All" November 15, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pomegranates, polenta log, maple syrup, seafood sausage• Entrée: turducken, sugar pumpkin, Concord grape wine, Indian corn• Dessert: pumpkin beer, fresh cranberries, pecans, instant potatoes
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Allison Sosna, Executive Chef, DC Central Kitchen, Washington, DC (eliminated after the appetizer)• Steve Jackson, Personal Chef, Chicago Bulls, Chicago, IL (eliminated after the entrée)• Arlene Stewart, Personal Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Daniel Bojorquez, Chef de cuisine, Sel de la Terre, Boston, MA (winner)Episode notes: This was a Thanksgiving-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course.
106 13 "Class Acts" November 22, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: canned tuna fish, wonton wrappers, spinach, dill pickles• Entrée: collard greens, chicken breasts, anchovies, quinoa• Dessert: sunflower seeds, grapes, cream cheese, canned pineapple
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Sam Kass
Contestants:
• Rhonda Deloach, Head Chef / Food Service Director, Common Ground High School, New Haven, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Arlene Leggio, Cook Manager, Islip High School, Islip, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Dianne Houlihan, Assistant Cook Manager, Great Neck Elementary School, Waterford, CT (eliminated after the dessert)• Cheryl Barbara, Head Cook, High School in the Community, New Haven, CT (winner)Episode notes: Each of the chefs in this episode is a chef in a school cafeteria.[1] Judge Sam Kass is an assistant chef in the White House as well a senior policy advisor on healthy food
initiatives.[1] This episode was part of a Food Network initiative with Share Our Strength to promote children's nutrition and to combat hunger in children.[2]
107 14 "Yakety Yak, Yak, Yak" November 29, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: wax beans, mandarinquats, sardines, rice cakes• Entrée: mangosteens, mustard greens, dried shrimp, yak strip steaks• Dessert: black pepper crackers, plums, kefir, chamomile flowers
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Jill Nicolson, Caterer and Entrepreneur, Cuisine with Jill Nicolson, Torrington, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Nicholas Porcelli, Executive Chef, Shhh, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Kate Squibb, Sous chef, 158 Café, South Portland, ME (eliminated after the dessert)• Vinson Petrillo, Executive Sous chef, Caviar Russe, New York, NY (winner)
108 15 "Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Lobster!" December 6, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lobster, harissa, candy cane beets, gingerbread house• Entrée: rack of lamb, ruby port, brussels sprouts, white chocolate chips• Dessert: plums, candy canes, fruitcake, hot cocoa mix
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Bun Lai, Chef and Restaurateur, Miya's Sushi, New Haven, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Renita Mendonca, Culinary Instructor, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Cambridge, MA (eliminated after the entrée)• Rachel Klein, Executive Chef, Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA (eliminated after the dessert)• Jonny Giordani, Executive Chef, BOOM, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This episode was a holiday-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course. Chef Lai cut his palm during the appetizer round, but did not tend to the wound because he thought the blood on the plate was a smudge of harissa; the judges did not taste his dish as a result.
109 16 "Duck for Dinner" December 13, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: duck confit, red cherry peppers, frozen naan, vanilla beans• Entrée: duck breast, champagne mango, morel mushrooms, ranch dressing• Dessert: chocolate chips, chestnuts, dried strawberries, duck eggs
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Zakary Pelaccio
Contestants:
• Larry Baldwin, Executive Chef, David Burke Fromagerie, Rumson, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Megan Johnson, Executive Chef, Elsewhere / Casellula Cheese & Wine Café, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Al Nappo, Executive Chef, Founding Farmers, Georgetown, DC (eliminated after the dessert)• Neela Paniz, Chef and Restaurateur, Neela's, Napa, CA (winner)Episode notes: Each basket included an ingredient from a duck.
Season 10 (2011–12)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
110 1 "The Big Scoop" December 20, 2011
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: boudin blanc, chanterelle mushrooms, baby artichokes, orange marmalade• Entrée: rainbow chard, tonic water, malanga coco, rabbit• Dessert: fino sherry, granola, dried persimmon, vanilla ice cream
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Joseph Arcarola, Chef, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jeremy Spector, Chef and Restaurateur, The Brindle Room, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Holly Sheppard, Chef de cuisine, Silkstone Catering Events, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Walter D'Rozario, Chef de cuisine, Junoon, New York, NY (winner)
111 2 "Chop on Through" January 3, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: wasabi root, blueberries, cocktail blinis, guanciale• Entrée: Bloody Mary mix, green seedless grapes, cashews, chicken steak• Dessert: cinnamon toast cereal, Asian pears, chocolate covered raisins, camembert
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Dave Ward, Executive Chef, Thomas Preti Catering, Long Island, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Johnny McLaughlin, Chef and Restaurateur, Heartbreaking Dawns, Rosendale, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• David Nichols, Executive Sous chef, Landmarc Time Warner Center, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Elise Kornack, Sous chef, Aquavit, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Nichols is a chef at Landmarc, owned by Chopped judge Marc Murphy.
112 3 "Far Far Out!" January 10, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Canadian bacon, roasted piquillo peppers, tomatillos, instant noodle soup• Entrée: cactus pears, squab, frozen lima beans, far far• Dessert: corn flakes cereal, sweet chili sauce, golden raspberries, labne
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• David Seigal, Executive Chef, The Tangled Vine, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Faye Hess, Cooking Teacher and Blogger, "FayeFood" food blog, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Joe Simon, Executive Sous chef, David Burke Fromagerie, Rumson, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Giorgio Rapicavoli, Executive Chef, 660 at the Angler's, Miami Beach, FL (winner)
113 4 "Frozen Fries with That?" January 17, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: cube steak, salsa, queso fresco, frozen french fries
Judges:
• Chris Santos
• Entrée: blue foot chicken, broccolini, tequila, dried limes• Dessert: white balsamic vinegar, chocolate covered peanuts, dried cranberries, masa harina
• Amanda Freitag• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Ian Friedman, Executive Chef, Rainwater Grill, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Clark Barlowe, Sous chef, Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge, Rockville, MD (eliminated after the entrée)• Dan Giusti, Executive Chef, 1789 Restaurant, Washington, DC (eliminated after the dessert)• Adrienne Grenier, Sous chef, 1501 Chop House , Charlotte, NC (winner)
114 5 "Redemption Competition" January 24, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sweetbreads, dried dates, red malabar spinach, strawberry popsicles• Entrée: leg of lamb, kochujang, rainbow carrots, root beer schnapps• Dessert: fresh pasta sheets, plum tomatoes, basil, white chocolate
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Anna Maria Santorelli, Chef and Restaurateur, Anna Maria's, Larchmont, NY (Episode 6.4 – "Doughs and Don'ts) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Michelle Firlit-Garcia, Pastry Chef, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Chicago, IL (Episode 9.8 – "Trick or Treat, Chicken Feet!") (eliminated after the entrée)• Tryg Siverson, Chef and Restaurateur, Friedman's Lunch, New York, NY (Episode 7.1 – " The Icing on the Steak") (eliminated after the dessert)• Sammy Davis Jr., Executive Chef, CR Lounge, Baltimore, MD (Episode 6.1 – "Victory on the Brain") (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four past runners-up.
115 6 "On the Line" January 31, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: mahi-mahi, candy cane beets, verjus, olive loaf• Entrée: red mullet, peach palm fruit, haricots verts, licorice candy• Dessert: clove candies, loquats, kaiser rolls, cheese wedges
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Missy Robbins• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Marcus Lepke, Personal Chef, European Epicurean, Voorhees, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Dewey Losasso, Executive Chef, The Forge, Miami Beach, FL (eliminated after the entrée)• Ronit Penso, Private Chef and Author, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Sylvain Harribey, Executive Chef, Sofitel New York, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This is the first episode to feature four chefs who are natives of different countries.
Season 11 (2012)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
116 1 "I'm Your Huckleberry" February 7, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: huckleberries, black beans, green plantains, octopus• Entrée: champagne, skirt steak, yuca, coconut• Dessert: chicha morada, Cotija cheese, mangoes, shoestring potato sticks
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chauhan• Seamus Mullen
Contestants:
• Jeff O'Neill, Executive Chef, The Villa by Barton G, Miami Beach, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Frederik De Pue, Executive Chef, Smith Commons and 42˚ Catering, Washington, DC (eliminated after the entrée)• Chai Trivedi, Sous chef, Buddakan, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Reggie Anderson, Executive Pastry Chef, Landmarc Restaurants, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: During the entrée round, the chefs were given a hammer to open the coconut. Chef Anderson works at Landmarc, which is owned by Chopped judge Marc Murphy.
117 2 "Chewing the Caul Fat" February 14, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sea scallops, guaje beans, aged cheddar, pickle juice
Judges:
• Scott Conant
• Entrée: black bass, raspberry lavender risotto, savoy cabbage, caul fat• Dessert: cosmopolitan mix, dried apples, biscotti, edible flowers
• Marcus Samuelsson• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Nancy Caballes, Private Chef, Montclair, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• René Stein, Sous chef, Seasonal, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Danni Bleil, Food Stylist, Ottsville, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Lester Walker, Executive Chef, Copia, New York, NY (winner)
118 3 "Good Chop, Bad Chop?" February 21, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: quail eggs, white asparagus, hibiscus flowers in syrup, canned spiced ham• Entrée: lake perch, tomatoes on the vine, avocados, rolled oats• Dessert: sour cherries, croissants, clotted cream, lemongrass
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Zakary Pelaccio• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Angela Karegeannes, Caterer, A Fork Full of Earth Organic Catering, Fairfax, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Vaughn Crenshaw, Executive Sous chef, Khloe Bistrot, Fort Lee, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Noureddine Elgheur, Caterer, Sweet Savories Catering, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Justin Werner, Executive Sous chef, Colicchio & Sons, New York, NY (winner)
119 4 "Leftovers Extravaganza!" March 6, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: leftover pizza, leftover beer, graffiti eggplant, dried plums• Entrée: leftover pot roast, leftover steamed rice, escarole, 1/2 bottle of white wine• Dessert: leftover vanilla milkshake, leftover refried beans, butter crackers, kiwi
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Ryan McLaughlin, Chef de cuisine, The Vanderbilt, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Lee Farrington, Chef and Restrauteur, Figa, Portland, ME (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeff Eng, Executive Chef, Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge, Rockville, MD (eliminated after the dessert)• Natalie Jacocks, Line Chef, Fette Sau, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a leftovers competition. The white wine used in the entrée round was Chardonnay.
120 5 "Plenty of Fish" March 13, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: amber ale, salmon fillets, frisée, kantola• Entrée: lutefisk, hazelnuts, pinot noir, dried lobster mushrooms• Dessert: baby eggplants, gooseberries, eggroll skins, lapchang
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Michael Jacobs, Food Consultant and Caterer, Miami Heat, Miami, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Shanna Horner O’Hea, Chef and Innkeeper, The Kennebunk Inn / Academe Brasserie and Tavern, Kennebunk, ME (eliminated after the entrée)• Anthony Ricco, Chef de cuisine, Spice Market Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Corwin Kave, Executive Chef, Fatty Crab / Fatty 'Cue, New York, NY / St. John, VI (winner)Episode notes: Chef Kave works at Fatty Crab and Fatty 'Cue, restaurants of Chopped judge Zakary Pelaccio.
121 6 "Sound the Alarm!" March 20, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: smoked mozzarella, fresh pasta sheets, rainier cherries, hot dogs• Entrée: fire roasted tomatoes, bison sirloin steaks, spinach, Italian hot peppers• Dessert: cinnamon-flavored candy coal, crescent roll dough, sour cream, hot chocolate mix
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Robert Painter, Sous Chef, Biagio's Osteria, Stratford, CT/ Engine 63, F.D.N.Y., New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Walter Lewis, Chef / Engine 35, F.D.N.Y., New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Dan Gardner, Chef / Engine 15, F.D.N.Y., New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
• Paul Rut, Chef / Engine 262, F.D.N.Y., New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four F.D.N.Y firefighters.
122 7 "Viewers' Choice!" April 3, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: artichoke hearts, truffle honey, corn nuts, scrapple• Entrée: fenugreek, new potatoes, bison short ribs, cheese spread in a jar• Dessert: dried black licorice root, pork rinds, macadamia nuts, limoncello
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Amy Johnson, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Virginia Monaco, Chef, The Vanderbilt, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Ian Muntzert, Chef de cuisine, Commonwealth, San Francisco, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Ivan Dorvil, Private Chef, Miami, FL (winner)Episode notes: The basket items were determined via a viewer poll.
123 8 "All-Stars: Iron Chefs Do Battle" April 8, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: crawfish, lemon cucumber, purple wax beans, pre-cooked beef tendon• Entrée: octopus, dandelion greens, aged gouda, sour trahana• Dessert: plums, coconut rum, black beans, queso fresco
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Jose Garces (Charity: St. Christopher Foundation for Children – Philadelphia, PA) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Cat Cora (Charity: Chefs for Humanity – New York, NY) (eliminated after the entrée)• Marc Forgione (Charity: Feeding America – Chicago, IL) (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Symon (Charity: Autism Speaks – New York, NY) (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes in which categorical groups of celebrity chefs competed for charity.
124 9 "Ready, Set, Escargot!" April 10, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Asian long beans, red jalapeño peppers, calvados, escargots• Entrée: ground lamb, Stilton cheese, Chinese eggplant, birch syrup• Dessert: coconut water, garnet yams, Thai basil, roasted noodles
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Zakary Pelaccio• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• John Deatcher, Caterer, Foodini's Catering, Neptune, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• David Guas, Chef and Restaurateur, Bayou Bakery, Arlington, VA (eliminated after the entrée)• Frank Whittaker, Executive Sous chef, Fishtail by David Burke, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Missy Corey, Kitchen Manager, Duckfat, Portland, ME (winner)
125 10 "All-Stars: Prime Time vs. Day Time" April 15, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pancake mix, strawberry papaya, blue foot mushrooms, pre-cooked chicken feet• Entrée: maraschino cherries, peas in the pod, parsley root, tripe• Dessert: ostrich eggs, plantains, dried strawberries, galangal
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Keegan Gerhard (Food Network Challenge) (Charity: Make-A-Wish Foundation – Phoenix, AZ) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Aarti Sequeira (Aarti Party, The Next Food Network Star (Season 6)) (Charity: Harvest Home – Santa Monica, CA) (eliminated after the entrée)• Marcela Valladolid (Mexican Made Easy) (Charity: Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad, A. C.- Tijuana, Mexico) (eliminated after the dessert)• Jeffrey Saad (United Tastes of America, The Next Food Network Star (Season 5)) (Charity: Alexandria House – Los Angeles, CA) (advances to final round) (winner)
126 11 "Own It!" April 17, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: injera, hearts of palm, mâche, rabbit escabeche• Entrée: goat chops, dragon's tongue beans, cinnamon schnapps, dark chocolate
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Dessert: hollandaise sauce, strawberries, walnuts, blue corn tortilla chips • Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Nelly Godfrey, Chef and Restaurateur, Lima's Taste, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Miguel Escobedo, Chef and Restaurateur, Papalote Mexican Grill, San Francisco, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Vito Facciabene, Chef and Restaurateur, Vibano's Trattoria, Bronx, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Kris Wessel, Chef and Restaurateur, Red Light, Miami, FL (winner)
127 12 "All-Stars: Food Network Star Contestants" April 22, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: razor clams, breakfast radishes, green grape tomatoes, shrimp paste• Entrée: culotte steak, Okinawa sweet potatoes, turnips, strawberry leather• Dessert: mango chutney, white apricots, blue cornmeal, bacon bits
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Chris Nirschel (TNFNS season 7 eighth place) (Charity: The Initiative to Educate Afghan Women) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Justin Balmes (TNFNS season 7 eleventh place) (Charity: SafePath Children's Advocacy Center – Marietta, GA) (eliminated after the entrée)• Vic "Vegas" Moea (TNFNS season 7 third place) (Charity: St. Jude's Ranch for Children – Boulder City, NV) (eliminated after the dessert)• Penny Davidi (TNFNS season 7 seventh place) (Charity: PATH Gramercy (People Assissting the Homeless) – Los Angeles, CA) (advances to final round) (winner)
128 13 "All-Stars: Judge Remix" April 29, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: potato pancakes, purple kohlrabi, Korean melon, goat brains• Entrée: rack of Berkshire pork, kusa, grape molasses, preserved duck eggs• Dessert: cake flour, farmer's cheese, baby beets, cola
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Chris Santos (Charity: Rett Syndrome Research Trust – Trumbull, CT) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Marc Murphy (Charity: City Harvest – New York, NY) (eliminated after the entrée)
• Alex Guarnaschelli (Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Memphis, TN) (eliminated after the dessert)• Marcus Samuelsson (Charity: C-Cap (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) – New York, NY) (advances to final round) (winner)
129 14 "Yuzu Never Know" May 1, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sturgeon filets, cucumber, yuzu juice, black mission figs• Entrée: mutton chops, baby leeks, banana potatoes, orange gelatin• Dessert: pasilla chiles, pineapple, Israeli couscous, Mexican chocolate
Judges:
• Seamus Mullen• Amanda Freitag• Missy Robbins
Contestants:
• Prasad Chirnomula, Executive Chef, Thali, New Haven, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)• Fany Gerson, Pastry Chef, La Newyorkina, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Zaina Dellaquila, Executive Chef, Condé Nast Cafe, New York NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Kenneth Johnson, Executive Chef, Pescatore, New York, NY (winner)
130 15 "All-Stars: Grand Finale" May 6, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: galia melon, Chinese okra, pistachios, beef heart• Entrée: rainbow chard, bonito, hard cider, couscous• Dessert: panforte, pancetta, pink currants, crème fraîche
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos• Anne Burrell
Contestants:
• Michael Symon (Charity: Autism Speaks – New York, NY) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Penny Davidi (Charity: PATH Gramercy (People Assissting the Homeless) – Los Angeles, CA) (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeffrey Saad (Charity: Alexandria House – Los Angeles, CA) (eliminated after the dessert)• Marcus Samuelsson (Charity: C-Cap (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) – New York, NY) (winner)
131 16 "Reversal of Fortune" May 8, 2012
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: chicken livers, California raisins, heirloom tomatoes, green goddess dressing• Entrée: branzino, baby bok choy, celery soda, fortune cookies• Dessert: sourdough bread, dried figs, baby fennel, coffee beans
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Chris Santos• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Jessica North, Line Cook, St. Francis Fountain, San Francisco, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• William Bunn III, Caterer, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Dimitri Voutsinas, Executive Sous chef, Water's Edge, Long Island City, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Jean-Louis Gerin, Chef and Restaurateur, Restaurant Jean-Louis, Greenwich, CT (winner)
Season 12 (2012)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
132 1 "Grilltastic!" May 29, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sweet tea vodka, Asian steamed buns, baby romanesco, extra-firm tofu• Entrée: wagyu rib-eye steaks, baby corn, watermelon, coleslaw dressing• Dessert: stout beer, empanada wrappers, peaches, marshmallow spread
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Elizabeth Karmel• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Sean Brasel, Executive Chef, Meat Market, Miami, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Melissa Cookston, Professional Barbecue Competitor, Nesbit, MS (eliminated after the entrée)• Richard Park, Chef and Entrepreneur, Cat Heads BBQ, San Francisco, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Jay Lippin, Executive Chef, Southern Hospitality BBQ, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a grilling-themed episode. The stovetops were outfitted with grill sheets and two other burners. In contrast to the previous two grilling-themed episodes, the ovens were kept on and the chefs were allowed to use them.
133 2 "Sunny Side Apps" June 5, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: corned beef, gummy fried eggs, black olives, baby corn• Entrée: striped bass, sour lemon candy, Jerusalem artichokes, cream of mushroom soup• Dessert: spearmint leaf candy, knodel, almond flour, raisins on the vine
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Jesse Kramer, Chef and Restaurateur, Brooklyn Taco Co., New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Brian Howard, Executive Chef, Comme Ça, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Tony Kang, Sous chef, Brookville Country Club, Upper Brookville, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Cory Bahr, Chef and Restaurateur, Cotton, Monroe, LA (winner)Episode notes: Each basket included a type of candy.
134 3 "A Guts Reaction" June 12, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken intestines, red miso, Savoy cabbage, clementine oranges• Entrée: duck breast, red malabar spinach, cherry cola, olive loaf• Dessert: kombucha, rambutan, egg white powder, candied nuts
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Kerenza Napoles, Sous chef, Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Robert Magsalin, Chef and Entrepreneur, Fükü Burger, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Steve Luttrell, Chef de cuisine, La Silhouette, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Fatima Ali, Sous chef, Café Centro, New York, NY (winner)
135 4 "Chocolate Challenge" June 19, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: button mushrooms, dried dates, duck hearts, chocolate covered cherries
Judges:
• Marc Murphy
• Entrée: chateaubriand, rainbow carrots, escarole, chocolate wine• Dessert: marzipan, membrillo, ladyfingers, chocolate lips
• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Taryn Mumpower, Baker, Pick Your Poison Bake Shop, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Richard Ingraham, Personal Chef, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the entrée)• Zach Meloy, Chef and Restaurateur, Push Start Kitchen, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Christina Olivarez, Executive Chef, Diego, Las Vegas, NV (winner)Episode notes: Each basket included a chocolate ingredient.
136 5 "Pride of New Orleans" June 26, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: razor clams, andouille sausage, lime pickles, cajun chips• Entrée: catfish, chard, fig preserves, chai tea powder• Dessert: gin liqueur, huckleberries, beignet mix, chicory coffee
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Richard Bond, Chef and Culinary Instructor, Mardi Gras School of Cooking, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Justin Kennedy, Chef, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the entrée)• Cody Monfra, Sous chef, Palace Cafe, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the dessert)• Linda Green, Caterer, Ms. Linda's Soul Food Catering, New Orleans, LA (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four chefs from New Orleans. The basket ingredients were also inspired by the New Orleans theme.
137 6 "All-American Competition" July 3, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: fried chicken, American cheese, spinach, apple pie• Entrée: Maine lobster, hot dogs, frozen lemonade, potato chips• Dessert: peaches, breakfast toaster pastries, bourbon whiskey, corn on the cob
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Elizabeth Karmel
Contestants:
• Kimberly Parris, Personal Chef and Caterer, K. Parris Catering & Personal Chef Service, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Mary Rusch, Chef and Restaurateur, Hash House, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Steve Overlay, Chef and Executive Pitmaster, Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Mike Gowland, Chef and Firefighter, Manning's Eat-Drink-Cheer, New Orleans, LA (winner)Episode notes: Each basket contained American staple-themed ingredients.
138 7 "Orzo It Seemed" July 17, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pink grapefruit, seafood sausage, wasabi peas, cream of coconut• Entrée: clove liqueur, bistec norteno, butternut squash, orzo• Dessert: red jalapeños, shortbread cookies, sharon fruit, cream cheese frosting
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Alex Friedman, Chef and Restaurateur, P'cheen International Bistro and Pub, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Brigeth Brookins, Sous chef, Banquets Department at the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Willie Box, Executive Chef, 793 Juniper, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Joe Rego, Executive Chef, Club Opera, Atlanta, GA (winner)
139 8 "Food Network Stars!" July 22, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: smoked kippers, hard boiled eggs, treviso, sparkling cider• Entrée: black chicken, escarole, cream of coconut, guava• Dessert: fenugreek, cinnamon toast cereal, Japanese mayonnaise, frozen peas
Judges:
• Alton Brown• Giada De Laurentiis• Bobby Flay
Contestants:
• Jeff Mauro (TNFNS season 7 winner) (Sandwich King (Charity: Opportunity Knocks – River Forest, IL) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Amy Finley (TNFNS season 3 winner) (The Gourmet Next Door) (Charity: The Lois Merrill Foundation – San Diego, CA) (eliminated after the entrée)
• Melissa d'Arabian (TNFNS season 5 winner) (Ten Dollar Dinners) (Charity: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – New York, NY) (eliminated after the dessert)• Aarti Sequeira (TNFNS season 6 winner) (Aarti Party) (Charity: Central City Community Outreach – Los Angeles, CA) (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four contestants that were previous winners of The Next Food Network Star that were competing for $10,000 for the charity of their choice. The judges were the mentors for Season 8 of The Next Food Network Star
140 9 "Grill Masters: Part One" July 22, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: yak steaks, mesquite syrup, peanut butter sandwich cookies, Tuscan kale• Entrée: California halibut, sauerkraut, frozen french fries, Mexican chorizo• Dessert: oil-cured black olives, peaches, piloncillo, chocolate graham cracker pies
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Jennifer Duncan, Caterer and Competitive Barbecue Champion, Whiskey Ranch BBQ/Pitmaster, Smoked To The Bone BBQ Team, Gilbert, AZ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Tommy Duncan, Caterer and Competitive Barbecue Champion, Whiskey Ranch BBQ, Gilbert, AZ (eliminated after the entrée)• Galen Zamarra, Chef and Restaurateur, Mas (Farmhouse), New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe, Competitive Barbecue Champion, St. Petersburg, FL (advances to final round) (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes, where sixteen "pro" grillers competed. The winner of each preliminary round advanced to the finale, where they competed for $50,000. The "Grill Masters" episodes were taped outdoors at Old Tucson Studios near Tucson, AZ.
141 10 "Grill Masters: Part Two" July 29, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Hawaiian blue prawns, tomatillos, chayotes, hatch chile taffy• Entrée: rack of wild boar, cactus flower buds, spoon fruit, portabella mushrooms• Dessert: cactus pears, Italian wafer cookies, goat's milk ricotta, single malt whiskey
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Carey Bringle, Owner and Barbecue Pitmaster, Peg Leg Porker, Nashville, TN (eliminated after the appetizer)• Dushyant Singh, Executive Sous chef, Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa, Phoenix, AZ (eliminated after the entrée)
• Nicole Davenport, Chef and Restaurateur, Sugar and Smoke, Fredericksburg, TX (eliminated after the dessert)• Sam Choy, Chef and Restaurateur, Kawaii, HI (advances to final round) (winner)
142 11 "Belly Dance!" July 31, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: tuna belly, dandelion greens, canned chickpeas, dates• Entrée: lamb top round, rutabagas, carrot jam, grenadine• Dessert: arak, canned pumpkin, amaretti cookies, cayenne pepper
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Maneet Chauhan• Claudia Fleming
Contestants:
• Michael Chen, Executive Sous chef, Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Danushka Lysek, Private Chef and Model, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Ryan Bartlow, Chef de cuisine, Frankies 570, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Matt Murphy, Executive Chef, The Irish House, New Orleans, LA (winner)
143 12 "Grill Masters: Part Three" August 5, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: oysters, hearts of palm, creamed spinach, duck bacon• Entrée: rabbit, eggplant, pineapple, puff pastry dough• Dessert: Meyer lemons, marshmallows, charcoal biscuits, zucchini
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Robyn Lindars, Chef and Blogger, "Grill Grrrl" food blog, Miami, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Timothy Grandinetti, Chef and Restaurateur, Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar, Winston-Salem, NC (eliminated after the entrée)• Doug Keiles, Competitive Barbecue Champion and Pitmaster, Ribs Within BBQ Team, Hillsbourough, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Ernest Servantes, Executive Chef, Texas Lutheran University/Barbecue Pitmaster, Burnt Bean Co., New Braunfels, TX (advances to final round) (winner)
144 13 "Cake Walk?" August 7, 2012
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: carrot cake, baby fennel, kumquats, kosher shrimp• Entrée: cardoons, chanterelle mushrooms, pickled green beans, turkey burgers• Dessert: caramel popcorn, red plums, prosecco, udon noodles
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Chris Santos• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Monique Barrow, Sous chef, Murphy's, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Beni Velazquez, Chef and Restaurateur, Bar and Bistro, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Carla Contreras, Private Chef and Owner, Red Clog Kitchen, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Zeb Stevenson, Executive Chef, Livingston Restaurant and Bar, Atlanta, GA (winner)
145 14 "Grill Masters: Part Four" August 12, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: short ribs, watermelon, speculoos, fennel• Entrée: pork butt, baked beans, clams, strawberry fruit leather• Dessert: tofu, green plantains, maple-bacon ale, mangoes
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Chad Ward, Competitive Barbecue Champion, Whiskey Bent BBQ, Lakeland, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Corinne Trang, Chef and Educator, Westport, CT (eliminated after the entrée)• Rick Browne, Chef and Author, Seattle, WA (eliminated after the dessert)• Kent Rollins, Cook and Chuckwagon Owner, Red River Ranch Chuck Wagon, Byers, TX (advances to final round) (winner)
146 15 "Oui, Oui, Confit" August 14, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: duck confit, unripe mangoes, couscous, red carrots• Entrée: peanut butter, pork tenderloin, okra, canned shrimp• Dessert: grape jelly beans, buttermilk, wonton wrappers, sweet potatoes
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Bryon Peck, Chef and Restaurateur, Elizabeth's Restaurant, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Maria Velez, Chef and Restaurateur, Mojito Cuban Cuisine, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• John Simmons, Chef and Restaurateur, Firefly Tapas Kitchen and Bar, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Franco Barrio, Chef and Restaurateur, Caliu, New York, NY (winner)
147 16 "Grill Masters: Finale" August 19, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sardines, corn on the cob, xtabentun, canned sloppy joe filling• Entrée: standing rib roast, guava paste, smoked mozzarella, bok choy• Dessert: quail eggs, pound cake, whole coconut, strawberry cream tequila
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe, Competitive Barbecue Champion, St. Petersburg, FL (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sam Choy, Chef and Restaurateur, Kawaii, HI (eliminated after the entrée)• Kent Rollins, Cook and Chuckwagon Owner, Red River Ranch Chuck Wagon, Byers, TX (eliminated after the dessert)• Ernest Servantes, Executive Chef, Texas Lutheran University/Barbecue Pitmaster, Burnt Bean Co., New Braunfels, TX (winner)
148 17 "Drawing a Flank" August 21, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: black licorice, arctic char, mangos, caperberries• Entrée: flank steak, sour cherries, espresso powder, crosnes• Dessert: polenta, Pedro Ximénez sherry, beets, whipped topping
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Maneet Chauhan• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Jude Huval, Executive Chef, Pat's Fisherman's Wharf, Henderson, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Frances Tariga, Private Chef, United Nations, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Rick Giffen, Executive Chef, Stratosphere Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Quentin Donnaud, Executive Chef, Coast Seafood & Raw Bar, Atlanta, GA (winner)
Season 13 (2012–13)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
149 1 "Stacking Up" September 4, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: jumbo shrimp, yellowfoot chanterelle mushrooms, lapchang, gingerbread syrup• Entrée: slipper shells, taro root, Asian long beans, quail• Dessert: frozen pancakes, tamarind paste, farmer's cheese, orange sherbet
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Sheridan Su, Chef and Restaurateur, Great Bao Café, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sung Kim, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Vincent Contreras, Chef de cuisine, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Gianfranco Franzese, Chef and Restaurateur, Pasticceria Bruno, Staten Island, NY (winner)
150 2 "A Bunny Thing Happened" September 11, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: conch, sugared marshmallow candies, peas in the pod, prepared horseradish• Entrée: chocolate bunny, lamb breast, aleppo pepper, spring garlic• Dessert: babka, rhubarb, baby bananas, Beaumes de Venise
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Chuck Subra, Executive Chef, JW Marriott New Orleans, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Mihoko Obunai, Freelance Chef, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the entrée)• Zoe Feigenbaum, Chef and Restaurateur, Zoë, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Andrew Scurlock, Kitchen Manager, St. James Cheese Company, New Orleans, LA (winner)
Episode notes: Each basket contained an Easter-themed ingredient.
151 3 "Class Acts, Too" September 25, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ground turkey, broccoli, raw pepitas, frozen yogurt• Entrée: pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes, rainbow chard, hoisin sauce• Dessert: corn flakes, carrots, skim milk, blueberries
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Sam Kass
Contestants:
• Terry Accaira, Head Cook and Nutritionist, Avery/Parsons Elementary School, Buena Vista, CO (eliminated after the appetizer)• Shannon Solomon, Cook Manager, William C. Hinkley High School, Aurora, CO (eliminated after the entrée)• Lynette Thomas, Head Cook, St. Martinville Primary School, St. Martinville, LA (eliminated after the dessert)• Cindy Tinnel, Cook, Henry C. Maxwell Elementary School, Nashville, TN (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four school cafeteria cooks. The three cooks who were chopped each received $5,000, and all four competitors, along with the four cooks from the first "Class Acts" episode, were invited by Sam Kass to the White House to meet its chefs and tour its garden.
152 4 "No Kidding!" October 2, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: gummy bacon, salmon fillets, frozen lima beans, lemon sorbet• Entrée: cotton candy, chicken cutlets, Brussels sprouts, French-fried onions• Dessert: zucchini, chocolate cake mix, crème fraîche, movie theatre popcorn
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Romilly Newman, "Little Girl in the Kitchen" food blog, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Joel Allette, James Baldwin High School and 4Food Restaurant, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Noah Museles, Sidwell Friends School, Washington, D.C. (eliminated after the dessert)• Shania Thomas, Food and Finance High School, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four teen chefs. The chefs were given 30 minutes instead of the usual 20 in the appetizer round. The three chopped chefs each received a $1,000 gift
certificate to Food Network's online store.
153 5 "Charge!" October 9, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Korean-style short ribs, canned spaghetti, purple artichokes, baby pineapples• Entrée: tilefish, hot German mustard, pimento cheese, cape gooseberries• Dessert: honey flavored cereal, soy sauce, anjou pears, cocktail franks
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Jennifer Iserloh, Private Chef and Author, Secrets of a Skinny Chef food blog, Hoboken, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chris DeBarr, Chef and Restaurateur, The Green Goddess / Serendipity, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the entrée)• Gason Nelson, Private Chef, Full of Flavor, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the dessert)• Scott Pajak, Chef de cuisine, Lagasse Stadium at the Palazzo Resort, Las Vegas, NV (winner)
154 6 "A Very Piggy Halloween" October 16, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lacinato kale, finger lime, gummy tarantulas, pre-cooked pig snout• Entrée: calf's liver, sea beans, strawberry popping candy, dried ghost chiles• Dessert: puffed rice cereal bars, spiced rum, rambutan, tequila lollipops
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Pete Ascolese, Chef and Restaurateur, Hope and Anchor, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kyle Bernstein, Culinary Instructor, New Hampton, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Brittanny Evans, Sous chef, Northern Spy Food Co., New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Sean Scotese, Freelance Chef, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a Halloween-themed episode.
155 7 "Pigging Out!" October 23, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pig's head, fava beans, strawberries, Roquefort blue cheese• Entrée: pig organs, fiddlehead ferns, morel mushrooms, bourbon cream liqueur• Dessert: pig tails, dragonfruit, sorghum flour, lard
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Terry Koval, Chef and Restaurateur, Farm Burger, Decatur, GA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Nicole Brisson, Executive Chef, Carnevino at the Palazzo Resort, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Robert Finn, Chef de cuisine, Fatty Crab, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Hugh Mangum, Executive Chef and Owner, Mighty Quinn's, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a "nose-to-tail" themed competition. The pig organs in the entrée round consisted of heart, liver, and kidneys, and the chefs were required to use all three of them. Chef Finn works at Fatty Crab, owned by Chopped judge Zakary Pelaccio.
156 8 "Unsung Heroes" November 6, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: bangers, apple chips, asparagus, chocolate-covered almonds• Entrée: venison tenderloin, hamantashen, cola, cauliflower• Dessert: marshmallow spread, balsamic vinegar, ancho chiles, almond butter cookies
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Tony Biggs, Director of Culinary Operations, Second Harvest Food Bank, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Linda Miles, Chef and Manager, Chapel Manor Senior Health Care Center / Philabundance, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the entrée)• Keith Lucas, Executive Chef, Manna, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the dessert)• Grace Lichaa, Manager, Capitol Area Food Bank, Washington, D.C. (winner)Episode notes: This episodes featured four "unsung heroes": people who volunteer in their communities.
157 9 "Happy Turkey Gizzards Day!" November 13, 2012
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: cranberry sauce, cheese and green chile tamales, green beans, smoked turkey gizzards• Entrée: pumpkin pie, French-fried onions, dried oysters, turkey• Dessert: lavash, kumquats, mulling spices, chocolate turkeys
• Maneet Chauhan• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Evelyn Cheatham, Chef and Instructor, W.O.W. (Worth Our Weight), Santa Rosa, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Tim Cipriano, Director of Food Services, Guilford Public Schools, Guilford, CT (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeremiah Bullfrog, Chef and Owner, gastroPod Mobile Gourmet, Miami, FL (eliminated after the dessert)• Eddie Canlon, Chef and Restaurateur, Canlon's Restaurant, Staten Island, NY (winner)Episode notes: This was a Thanksgiving-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course. The chefs were given 40 minutes instead of the usual 30 in the entrée round to allow time to adequately butcher and cook the turkey.
158 10 "For Sake's Sake" November 20, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ostrich tenderloin, Anzac biscuits, cauliflower, pork rinds• Entrée: sablefish, pomegranates, sake, graffiti eggplant• Dessert: lime curd, cactus pear, candied orange slices, hot dog buns
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Cam Boudreaux, Sous chef, The Green Goddess, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Tasheena Butler, Chef and Caterer, T. Marie's Kitchen & Catering, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the entrée)• Derek Gigliotti, Executive Chef, Onda Ristorante, Mirage Resort, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Ria Pell, Chef and Restaurateur, Ria's Bluebird / Sauced, Atlanta, GA (winner)
159 11 "Chopping in a Winter Wonderland" November 25, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: baby mustard greens, spiral ham, pizzelle cookies, kugel• Entrée: roasted chestnuts, stone crabs, beef tenderloin, Santa Claus melon• Dessert: eggnog, panettone, pomegranate molasses, Hanukkah gelt
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Deborah Gelman, Executive Chef, NYU Law, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kenny Minor, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• William Artley, Executive Chef, Evening Star Cafe, Alexandria, VA (eliminated after the dessert)• Rachel Willen, Culinary Instructor, foodfix, Clinton, NJ (winner)Episode notes: This was a holiday-themed episode. The chefs were directed to prepare holiday-themed dishes for each course.
160 12 "Bird in the Pan" November 27, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicory, Ethiopian coffee beans, petite bananas, lamb fries• Entrée: Cornish hens, baby beets, celeriac, blueberry balsamic vinegar• Dessert: chickpea flour, raspberries, ricotta salata, rose water syrup
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Marco Canora• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Giancarlo Autenzio, Executive Chef, The Astor Room, Queens, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Brack May, Chef and Restaurateur, Cowbell, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the entrée)• Virginia Willis, Chef and Author, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Tabb Singleton, Sous chef, Nola, New Orleans, LA (winner)
161 13 "Thirsty for Victory" December 11, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: ice cream cones, lump crab meat, baby turnips, pickled ginger• Entrée: city chicken, canned peaches, mustard greens, fruit punch-flavored sports drink• Dessert: carob syrup, spaghetti squash, figs, walnuts
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Lee Anne Wong• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Greg Grossman, Student, Professional Children's School, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jeremy Langlois, Executive Chef, Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, Darrow, LA (eliminated after the entrée)
• Leslie Parks, Freelance Caterer, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Phil Crispo, Assistant Culinary Professor, Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Grossman was 16-years old at the time he competed, making him the youngest chef to appear on Chopped outside the special "teen chefs" episode.
162 14 "Trout Bout" December 18, 2012
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: brook trout, rhubarb, dried strawberries, lemon verbena• Entrée: Scottish red-legged partridge, peanut butter taffy, lacinato kale, red curry paste• Dessert: dulce de leche, pineapple, sesame seed buns, apricot paste
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Courtney Renn, Personal Chef, Chef Courtney, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jimmy Tessier, Chef de cuisine, Bacio, Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Akiko Thurnauer, Chef and Restaurateur, Family Recipe, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Nathanial Zimet, Chef and Restaurateur, Boucherie, New Orleans, LA (winner)
163 15 "Belly Up" January 1, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: red mullet, shishito peppers, watercress, hot cocoa mix• Entrée: pork belly, artichokes, cherrystone clams, baby apples in syrup• Dessert: acorn squash, orange sherbet pops, sour cream, wheatgrass
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Jet Tila
Contestants:
• April Neujean, Lead Teacher, The Edible Schoolyard, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chris Sell, Chef and Restaurateur, Chipshop, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Danny Lachs, Chef and Restaurateur, Tortaria, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Flannery Klette-Kolton, Caterer, Big Little Get Together, New York, NY (winner)
164 16 "Hecho en the Chopped Kitchen" February 7, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pig's feet in a jar, tres leches cake, jicama, culantro• Entrée: goat chops, churros, tequila, huitlacoche• Dessert: whole coconuts, pepitas, piloncillo, yucca
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Aarón Sánchez• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Mike Minor, Executive Chef, Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Saul Ortiz-Cruz, Executive Chef, Tacos & Tequila at the Luxor, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the entrée)• Mia Castro, Chef de partie, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the dessert)• Royden Ellamar, Executive Chef, Sensi at the Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured Latin-themed ingredients.
165 17 "Make No Mistake" February 17, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pulpo, chioggia beets, fava beans, pickled garlic• Entrée: wild boar roast, sweet potato chips, nopales, acai berry juice• Dessert: tangerines, cranberry sauce, chocolate chip cookies, gorgonzola dolce
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Marja Samsom, Caterer, New York, NY (Episode 5.11 – "Fright Bites") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Monica Langowski, Private Chef, Chicago, IL (Episode 7.2 – "Canned Cheese, Please!") (eliminated after the entrée)• John Sierp, Chef, New York, NY (Episode 3.9 – "Winging It") (eliminated after the dessert)• Gwen LePape, Executive Chef, New York, NY (Episode 1.8 – "Coconut, Calamari, Donuts") (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured chefs who were eliminated in previous episodes for making egregious mistakes. Fans were given a chance to select the competitors for the episode via an Internet poll.
166 18 "Untrained, Undaunted" February 26, 2013
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: pickled watermelon rind, sushi platter, kohlrabi, bacon bits• Entrée: ostrich fan filets, purple asparagus, fish roe in a tube, blueberry wine• Dessert: cinnamon chips, baby red grapes, earl grey tea leaves, pound cake
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Adrian Ashby, Queens, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Maureen Sanchez, Oswego, IL (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Press, White Plains, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Kevin Rooney, Wycoff, NJ (winner)Episode notes: All of the chefs in this episode were amateurs.
Season 14 (2013)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
166 1 "Leftovers Overload" January 6, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: matzo ball soup, macaroni and cheese, fried onion blossom, submarine sandwich• Entrée: rib-eye steak, mashed potatoes, ketchup packets, Greek salad• Dessert: ice cream sundae, old bananas, stale tortilla chips, cola
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Shawn Smiley, Executive Chef, The Buffet at Aria, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jason Robertson, Caterer, Headwaters Café, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the entrée)• Nealy Frentz, Chef and Restaurateur, Lola, Covington, LA (eliminated after the dessert)• Gerald Chin, Chef de cuisine, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (winner)Episode notes: The ingredients used in this episode were leftovers.
167 2 "Chopped Champions: Part 1" January 15, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: canned haggis, smoked gouda, celery, prunes• Entrée: fish heads, hon-shimeji mushrooms, crema, sugar cookie dough• Dessert: spiral ham, green plantains, water chestnuts, spiced rum
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Lish Steiling, Assistant Food Stylist, Today, New York, NY (Episode 9.9 – "Make a Splash") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sylvain Harribey, Executive Chef, Sofitel, New York, New York, NY (Episode 10.6 – "On the Line") (eliminated after the entrée)• Sean Scotese, Freelance Chef, New York, NY (Episode 13.6 – "A Very Piggy Halloween") (eliminated after the dessert)• Kenneth Johnson, Executive Chef, Pescatore, New York, NY (Episode 11.14 – "Yuzu Never Know") (winner)Episode notes: This was the first of a five-part series of episodes, where sixteen past champions competed. The winner of each preliminary round advanced to the finale, where they competed for $50,000. The fish heads used in the entrée round were from striped bass.
168 3 "Chopped Champions: Part 2" January 22, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: fruitcake, shad roe, vodka, Tokyo scallions• Entrée: squab, peanut butter and jelly, red quinoa, karela• Dessert: mitmita, sauternes, cream-filled snack cakes, cottage cheese
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Rachel Willen, Chef and Culinary Instructor, Foodfix, Clinton, NJ (Episode 13.11 – "Chopping in a Winter Wonderland") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Fatima Ali, Sous chef, Café Centro, New York, NY (Episode 12.3 – "A Guts Reaction") (eliminated after the entrée)• Walter D'Rozario, Chef de cuisine, Junoon, New York, NY (Episode 10.1 – "The Big Scoop") (eliminated after the dessert)• Vinson Petrillo, Executive Sous chef, Caviar Russe, New York, NY (Episode 9.14 – "Yakety Yak, Yak, Yak") (winner)
169 4 "Chopped Champions: Part 3" January 29, 2013
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: smoked eel, cream cheese spread, quince paste, hericots verts• Entrée: frog legs, yuzu marmalade, gin, firm tofu• Dessert: jackfruit, araucana eggs, coconut macaroons, chocolate covered pretzels
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chauhan• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Lester Walker, Sous chef, Copia, New York, NY (Episode 11.2 – "Chewing the Caul Fat") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Corwin Kave, Executive Chef, Fatty Crab / Fatty 'Cue, New York, NY / St. John, VI (Episode 11.5 – "Plenty of Fish") (eliminated after the entrée)• Elise Kornack, Chef and Entrepreneur, Aquavit, New York, NY (Episode 10.2 – "Chop on Through") (eliminated after the dessert)• Jun Tanaka, Executive Chef, Pearl Restaurant, London, England (Episode 8.1 – "Easy Peasy?") (winner)
170 5 "Chopped Champions: Part 4" February 5, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sour apple martini mix, mortadella, white asparagus, fennel• Entrée: calf's liver, fava greens, honey wine, halloumi• Dessert: maraschino cherries, Greek yogurt, canned espresso, corn nuts
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Kris Wessel, Chef and Restaurateur, Red Light, Miami, FL (Episode 11.11 – "Own It!") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Helen Park, Executive Chef, New York, NY (Episode 9.6 – "Time & Space") (eliminated after the entrée)• Jean-Louis Gerin, Chef and Restaurateur, Restaurant Jean-Louis, Greenwich, CT (Episode 11.16 – "Reversal of Fortune") (eliminated after the dessert)• Rob Evans, Chef and Restaurateur, Hugo's / Duckfat, Portland, ME (Episode 9.7 – "Everything's Rosy") (winner)
171 6 "Chopped Champions: Finale" February 12, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pig ears, ramps, pine nuts, apple strudel• Entrée: abalone, curry leaves, serrano ham, amaranth grain• Dessert: carrot juice, almond flour, candied ginger, honeycomb
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Kenneth Johnson, Executive Chef, Pescatore, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Vinson Petrillo, Executive Sous chef, Caviar Russe, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Rob Evans, Chef and Restaurateur, Hugo's / Duckfat, Portland, ME (eliminated after the dessert)• Jun Tanaka, Executive Chef, Pearl Restaurant, London, England (winner)Episode notes: This was the finale in a series of episodes featuring returning champions, with this episode's winner receiving $50,000.
172 7 "Just for the Halibut" March 12, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: black radishes, smoked beef tongue, garbanzo beans, Italian anchovies• Entrée: halibut, aquavit, Chinese spinach, Mexican chorizo• Dessert: banana chips, sugar cane, almond butter, umeboshi
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Lee Anne Wong• Scott Conant
Contestants:
• Anne Churchill, Caterer & Tour Chef, New Orleans, LA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Stephan Bogardus, Chef de cuisine, The North Fork Table & Inn, Southold, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Jamie Adams, Executive Chef, Veni Vidi Vici, Atlanta, GA (eliminated after the dessert)• Steve Benjamin, Executive Chef, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas, NV (winner)
173 8 "Redemption Intention" March 19, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: sea cucumber, enokitake mushrooms, white balsamic vinegar, rotisserie chicken• Entrée: duck tongue, pineapple, chestnuts, pork shoulder• Dessert: zucchini blossoms, dry roasted peanuts, anise liqueur, mamey[disambiguation needed]
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Tony Kang, Sous chef, Upper Brookville, NY (Episode 12.2 – "Sunny Side Apps") (eliminated after the appetizer)• Vito Facciabene, Chef, Bronx, NY (Episode 11.11 – "Own It!") (eliminated after the entrée)• Kate Lee Squibb, Sous chef, South Portland, ME (Episode 9.14 - "Yakety Yak, Yak, Yak") (eliminated after the dessert)
• Cara Thompson, Sous chef, Miami, FL (Episode 8.2 – "Ladies First!") (winner)Episode notes: This episode featured four past runners-up.
174 9 "Chopped All-Stars: Food Network vs. Cooking Channel" April 7, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: banana bread, veggie terrine, galangal, mango juice• Entrée: rack of venison, potato pierogies, okra, seafood pepper pot soup• Dessert: Okinawan sweet potatoes, coconut flakes, calvados, marshmallows
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Maneet Chauhan• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Nadia G. (Charity: Club Tech, The Boys & Girls Club of America) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Gabriele Corcos (Charity: Feeding America) (eliminated after the entrée)• Jeff Mauro (Charity: University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital) (eliminated after the dessert)• Sunny Anderson (Charity: N Street Village) (advances to Finale) (winner)Episode notes: This is considered part of Season 14,[by whom?] but aired after the beginning of Season 15.
175 10 "Chopped All-Stars: Mega Chefs" April 14, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: black sea bass, wakame, cream soda, black garlic• Entrée: precooked oxtail, labneh in olive oil, mustard greens, fruit cocktail• Dessert: peanut brittle, Mexican chocolate, grape tomatoes, sponge cake snacks
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Maneet Chauhan• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Chuck Hughes (Charity: Cedars Cancer Institute) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Elizabeth Faulkner (Charity: Edible Schoolyard Project) (eliminated after the entrée)• Richard Blais (Charity: Alliance for a Healthier Generation) (eliminated after the dessert)• Gavin Kaysen (Charity: Children's Cancer Research Fund) (advances to Finale) (winner)Episode notes: This is considered part of Season 14,[by whom?] but aired after the beginning of Season 15.
176 11 "Chopped All-Stars: Judges" April 21, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: diver scallops, harissa, pink grapefruit, speck• Entrée: capon, ramps, canned pizza sauce, burrata• Dessert: ruby port, olive oil gelato, dried apricots, French toast sticks
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Marcus Samuelsson• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Marc Murphy (Charity: Share Our Strength) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Alex Guarnaschelli (Charity: Alex's Lemonade Stand) (eliminated after the entrée)• Amanda Freitag (Charity: God's Love We Deliver) (eliminated after the dessert)• Scott Conant (Charity: Keep Memory Alive) (Advances to Finale) (winner)Episode notes: This is considered part of Season 14,[by whom?] but aired after the beginning of Season 15. All of the contestants in this episode except for Scott Conant have competed on Chopped previously.
177 12 "Chopped All-Stars: Celebrities" April 28, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: vanilla cupcakes, chicken tenders, avocados, kochujang• Entrée: skirt steak, matzo crackers, sweet orange gelatin cups, collard greens• Dessert: circus peanuts, passion fruit purée, graham cracker cereal, curry powder
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Maneet Chauhan• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Judy Gold (Charity: Project A.L.S.) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Johnny Weir (Charity: Human Rights Campaign Foundation) (eliminated after the entrée)• Joey Fatone (Charity: The Fatone Family Foundation) (eliminated after the dessert)• Laila Ali (Charity: Healthy Child Healthy World) (Advances to Finale) (winner)Episode notes: This is considered part of Season 14,[by whom?] but aired after the beginning of Season 15. Both Joey & Johnny have appeared on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-OffJoey on Season 1, Johnny on Season 2.
178 13 "Chopped All-Stars: Finale!" May 5, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: soft-shell crabs, crunchy peanut butter, sake, sea beans• Entrée: suckling goat, broccoli rabe, farro, cheddar filled pretzels• Dessert: freeze dried grapes, marrow bones, Marcona almonds, cannoli cream
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Sunny Anderson (Charity: N Street Village) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Laila Ali (Charity: Healthy Child Healthy World) (eliminated after the entrée)• Gavin Kaysen (Charity: Children's Cancer Research Fund) (eliminated after the dessert)• Scott Conant (Charity: Keep Memory Alive) (winner)Episode notes: This is considered part of Season 14,[by whom?] but aired after the beginning of Season 15. This episode features the winners of the four previous episodes battling to win $50,000 for their charity. The entrée cooking time was extended to 40 minutes to allow the chefs to butcher the goat.
Season 15 (2013)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
179 1 "Heads Up!" April 2, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: microwavable chocolate cake, baby tatsoi, artichoke liqueur, lamb's head• Entrée: arctic char, concentrated vinegar, smoked butter, purple spinach• Dessert: yellow rice, persimmons, sugar cane drink, pine nuts
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Ingrid Wright, Sous chef, Exchange Alley, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Eleanor Wolper, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
• Jordan Andino, Executive Chef, Side Bar, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Bruce Kalman, Executive Chef, The Churchill, Los Angeles, CA (winner)
180 2 "Viewers Choice Baskets" April 9, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: durian, lime gelatin, imitation crab meat, crunchy cheese curls• Entrée: chicken in a can, clam chowder, potato tots, skirt steak• Dessert: kale, fruit cocktail, cottage cheese, marrow bones
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• John Herndon, Executive Chef, Umami Burger Restaurant Group, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Rory Philipson, Chef and Owner, The Blue Bottle Cafe, Hopewell, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Tre Ghoshal, Chef and Owner, Adara, Montclair, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Luke Reyes, Executve Chef, The Corner Door, Culver City, CA (winner)Episode notes: All the ingredients in the baskets were chosen by viewers via social media (specifically Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter).
181 3 "Aussie Awesome" April 16, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: vegetable yeast spread, barramundi, rucola, gummy snake• Entrée: Australian beer, T-bone steak, bosc pears, chocolate biscuits• Dessert: lamingtons, lemon verbena, wattleseeds, blueberry pomegranate lollies
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Marc Murphy• John Li
Contestants:
• McCaily Cranna, Sous chef, Hudson's on the Bend, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Bruce Barber, Caterer, Aussie Chef Catering, Sherman Oaks, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Michael Bryant, Executive Chef, Eva Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Mai-Khanh "Maiki" Le, Chef de cuisine, Josie, Santa Monica, CA (winner)Episode notes: The basket ingredients were inspired by the Australian theme.
182 4 "Without Missing a Beet" April 30, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: banana chips, frozen grilled chicken breasts, candy cane beets, cherry jelly beans• Entrée: pink beans, sofrito, striped bass, coconut chocolate bars• Dessert: frozen yogurt, amaretti cookies, candied orange peels, red curry paste
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Chris Santos• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Ashley Hough, Personal Chef, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Angela Majko, Sushi Chef, Uchiko, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)• Rouha Sadighi, Chef de cuisine, Penelope Café, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Taji Marie, Caterer, Simple Gourmet, Redondo Beach, CA (winner)
183 5 "Momumental" May 7, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: coffee, pheasant, escarole, peanut butter blossom cookies• Entrée: carrot baby food, pork butt, mustard greens, red quinoa• Dessert: bison grass vodka, guava paste, pistachios, crustless PB & J sandwiches
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Gio Bellino, Sands Point, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Anette Kreipke, Ridgefield, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Heidi Greening, Georgetown, TX (eliminated after the dessert)• Diana Sabater, Philadelphia, PA (winner)Episode notes: All of the chefs competing in this episode were mothers. They wore street clothes rather than the customary chef coats while competing, but were given chef coats by Ted Allen at the end of the episode.
184 6 "Amazing Amateurs" May 14, 2013
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: dragon fruit, guanciale, sunflower sprouts, scallops• Entrée: pork chops, yacon, broccoli rabe, burgundy truffles• Dessert: honey soaked nuts, organic red wine, calamansi limes, salted butter crackers
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Nate Echelberger, Pastor, Gateway Church, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Melissa Campbell, Training Adminstrator, Teledyne Controls, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Rique Uresti, Spin Instructor, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Marisa Biaggi, Public Relations, Orange Agency, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: All of the chefs competing in this episode were amateurs. They wore regular chef's attire during the competition. Chef Biaggi was rewarded with an authentic Choppedcoat at the end.
185 7 "Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!" May 21, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: black forest bacon, ricotta pancakes, smoked salmon, prune juice• Entrée: quiche lorraine, purple cauliflower, blue shrimp, rosé wine• Dessert: chateaubriand, horseradish root, tawny port, stone crab claws
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag• Aarón Sanchez• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Fred Eric, Chef and Restaurateur, Fred 62, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Natalie Cain, Line Cook, Red Rooster Harlem, Harlem, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Chris Leahy, Executive Chef, Lexington Brass, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Brandon Boudet, Chef and Restaurateur, 101 Coffee Shop, Dominick's, Little Dom's, and Tom Bergin's Tavern, Los Angeles, CA (winner)Episode notes: In this episode, the appetizer course was replaced with a breakfast course, the entrée with lunch, and the dessert with dinner. Chef Cain works at Red Rooster Harlem, owned by frequent Chopped judge Marcus Samuelsson.
186 8 "Military Salute" May 28, 2013
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: freeze dried roast beef, torshi, rainbow chard, mint yogurt soda• Entrée: Afghan flatbread, goat chops, zucchini, survival candy• Dessert: pomegranate, pilot bread crackers, fruit chews, freeze dried carrots
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Chris Santos
Contestants:
• Victor Vinson, Chef, U.S. Army (retired) / Personal Chef, Huntington Beach, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Judy Cage-McLean, Chef, U.S. Army (retired) / Caterer, Let Me Cater To You, Spring Lake, NC (eliminated after the entrée)• Jacoby Ponder, Chef, U.S. Navy (retired) / Personal Chef, Fire Syde Chef, Virginia Beach, VA (eliminated after the dessert)• Robbie Myers, Senior Food Service Manager / U.S. Army (retired), Adams Center, NY (winner)Episode notes: Each chef is a retired member of the U.S. military. Each round featured an item that might be found in a military pantry.
187 9 "Cook Your Butt Off!" May 30, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: dried goji berries, bitter melon, duck breast, kumquats• Entrée: coconut oil, black cod, dinosaur kale, pork rinds• Dessert: clotted cream, passion fruit purée, spirulina, angel food cake
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Elizabeth Mwanda, Founder, Winning Diabetics, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chris Avtges, Food Service Director, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT (eliminated after the entrée)• Joel Gargano, Executive Chef, Higher One, New Haven, CT (eliminated after the dessert)• Phillip Dell, Private Chef, Sin City Chefs, Newport Beach, CA (winner)Episode notes: Each of the chefs had lost significant amounts of weight through better diet and exercise.
188 10 "Better Saffron Than Sorry" June 4, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: mussels, blue cheese stuffed olives, saffron, añejo tequila• Entrée: amaranth leaves, blackberries, lamb fries, curd chile
Judges:
• Elizabeth Karmel• Maneet Chauhan
• Dessert: argan oil, apricots, fresh pasta sheets, cheese spread • Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Christian Dolias, Chef, Cutthroat Culinary, Las Vegas, NV (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kurt Ramborger, Caterer, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)• David Fuñe, Executive Chef, Vizzi Truck / Temecula Creek Inn, Los Angeles, CA / Temecula, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Martha Esquivel, Executive Chef, Luminarias Restaurant, Monterey Park, CA (winner)Episode notes: This aired after the beginning of Season 16 yet is a part of Season 15.[citation needed] Chef Ramborger is the first deaf chef to participate in the show. He was accompanied by interpreter Lydia Callis.
189 11 "Take Heart" June 6, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: shishito peppers, ground pork, grape jelly, sausage gravy• Entrée: sticky rice, bok choy, key lime juice, lamb hearts• Dessert: coconut jam, shredded phyllo dough, ginger ale, peanut caramel candy bars
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Maneet Chauhan• Amanda Freitag
Contestants:
• Ian Kokkeler, Chef, Trace Restaurant at W Austin, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Charles Slonaker, Food Truck Chef, Go Chew Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Monique King, Chef and Owner, Firefly Bistro, South Pasadena, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Barry Frish, Chef de cuisine, Restaurant Marc Forgione, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This aired after the beginning of Season 16 yet is a part of Season 15.[citation needed] Chef Frish serves as sous chef for Iron Chef Marc Forgione when he competes on Iron Chef America.
190 12 "Wheatgrass Roots" June 18, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: rice wrappers, morel mushrooms, chia seeds, dandelion greens• Entrée: etrog citron, golden beets, wheatgrass, tempeh
Judges:
• Amanda Freitag• Marc Murphy
• Dessert: cranberries, green tea powder, edamame, local honey • Alex Guarnaschelli
Contestants:
• David Garrido, Chef and Owner, Garrido's, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sonya Coté, Executive Chef and Owner, Hillside Farmacy, Austin TX (eliminated after the entrée)• Mustapha Rahiim, Executive Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Rich Landau, Chef and Owner, Vedge, Philadelphia, PA (winner)Episode notes: This aired after the beginning of Season 16 yet is a part of Season 15.[citation needed] This was a vegetarian and vegan-themed episode; the only animal product was the local honey.
191 13 "Wurst Case Scenario" July 23, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: shrimp, yuca, sweet relish, currywurst• Entrée: Chilean sea bass, avocado, dried wakame seaweed, popcorn balls• Dessert: steel cut oats, feta cheese, watermelon syrup, huckleberries
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Maneet Chahuan• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Michele Harriott, Catering Chef, CulinAriane, Montclair, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)• Geter Atienza, Sous chef, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca (eliminated after the entrée)• Des Lim, Executive Chef, Trump SoHo, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Anup Joshi, Chef de cuisine, Tertulia, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: This aired after the beginning of Season 16 yet is a part of Season 15.[citation needed] Chef Joshi works at Tertulia, under occasional Chopped judge Seamus Mullen.
Season 16 (2013)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
192 1 "Fry, Fry, Again" June 2, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: kosher pickles, catfish filets, green plantains, young coconut• Entrée: capon, halloumi cheese, okra, cherry spoon fruit• Dessert: avocados, pizza dough, red jalapeño peppers, chocolate sandwich cookies
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Vincent Williams, Chef and Restaurateur, Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Vanessa Ayala, Catering Cook, Skybox Sports Bar and Lounge, Roselle, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)• Erik Cho, Food Truck Owner, Frysmith, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Erica Beneke, Executive Chef, Max's Wine Dive, Austin, TX (winner)Episode notes: Each dish had to have at least one fried element. The chefs were provided with a pot of oil already at frying temperature to start each round.
193 2 "Cleaver Fever" June 11, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: tuna belly, key limes, black radishes, bacon popcorn• Entrée: leg of lamb, toban djan, spinach, lassi• Dessert: rosewater syrup, almond butter, rambutans, mashed potato candy
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Elizabeth Karmel
Contestants:
• Raquel Jubran, Executive Chef, The Attic, Log Beach, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Sevan Abdessian, Chef and Restaurateur, Recess Eatery, Glendale, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Owen Clark, Executive Chef, Gwynnett Street Restaurant, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Nicole Mummolo, Sous chef, La Puerta Azul, Millbrook, NY (winner)
194 3 "Mix and Mache" June 16, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: pickled sausage, mache, blood oranges, southern cabbage• Entrée: lobster bisque, baby leeks, daikon, squid
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Dessert: green cerignola olives, honey distilled liqueur, Lady Gala apples, Kaiserschmarrn • Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Roy Handler, Caterer, Hot Mess Catering, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lara Paul, Executive Chef, Rivals Steakhouse, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)• Mogan Anthony, Executive Chef, Village Social, Mount Kisco, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Joseph Miller, Chef and Restaurateur, Joe's Restaurant, Venice Beach, CA (winner)Episode notes: Roy Handler is the brother of comedienne Chelsea Handler. The Kaiserschmarrn in the dessert round was an instant mix.
195 4 "Gyro We Go Again" June 25, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: gyro meat, piquillo peppers, hearts of palm, oysters• Entrée: sirloin flap, rainbow carrots, formaggio di fossa, chocolate covered donuts• Dessert: sorghum molasses, kefir, cactus pear, pigs in a blanket
Judges:
• Marcus Samuelsson• Elizabeth Karmel• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Jaquy Yngvason, Food Stylist, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Tara Thomas, Executive Chef / Owner, Traxx, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Guillermo Perez, Chef de cuisine, SushiSamba NYC Park, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Thomas McKenna, Sous chef, Jean-Georges, New York, NY (winner)
196 5 "Big Fish, Small Basket" June 27, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: seitan, purple ninja radishes, mezcal, canned chili• Entrée: liquid aminos, beet greens, alfredo sauce, fluke• Dessert: speck, sfogliatelle, crabapples, brewer's yeast
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Geoffrey Zakarian• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Paul Joseph, Executive Chef, FireBird, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Salvatore Lima, Executive Chef, Giovanna's, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Steve Eakins, Executive Chef, Ditch Plains, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Palak Patel, Culinary Instructor, Ger-Nis, Brooklyn, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Eakins works at Ditch Plains, which is owned by Chopped judge Marc Murphy.
197 6 "Teen Invasion" July 2, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: grapefruit, tuna, hen of the woods mushrooms, graham cracker cereal• Entrée: leg of goat, hummus, rhubarb, frisée• Dessert: kettle-style potato chips, black currant jam, red Anjou pears, Japanese mayonnaise
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Tyler Bloch, age 14, Jericho, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Molly Bhuiyan, age 17, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Emma Scher, age 17, Ridgewood, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Mikey Robins, age 14, Philadelphia, PA (winner)Episode notes: Mikey Robins is the youngest winner of Chopped. The eliminated contestants each received a $1,000 gift card.
198 7 "Mochi Obliged" July 9, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: escargot, cilantro chutney, biscuit dough, merguez• Entrée: dorado, cherry wheat beer, country style pâté, ivy gourd• Dessert: dehydrated chocolate covered strawberries, hemp milk, ataulfo mango, mochi
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Amanda Freitag• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Regina Chen, Sous chef, Maison Akira, Pasadena, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Cathy McNight, Executive Chef, What a Dish Café, Dana Point, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Jason Quinn, Chef and Owner, Playground, Santa Ana, CA (eliminated after the dessert)
• Cole Dickinson, Chef de cuisine, ink., Los Angeles, CA (winner)
199 8 "Sweet Surprises" July 16, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: rack of wild boar, broccolini, hazelnuts, vanilla fondant cake• Entrée: duck, cardoons, preserved lemons, macaroons• Dessert: clementines, cheese wedges, Aleppo pepper, frozen hot chocolate
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Jemell Simpson, Caterer, Taste My Expression Catering, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Kenny Gray, Sous chef, Olivia Restaurant, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)• Allison Robicelli, Pastry Chef, Robicelli's, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Madeline Lanciani, Pastry Chef, Duane Park Patisserie, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: All courses had a sweet as a required ingredient. These sweet ingredients were hidden under a separate cloche.
200 9 "Break a Crab Leg!" July 30, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: babaco, gìo lụa, chive blossoms, quark• Entrée: crab legs, sweet vermouth, asparagus, Mexican wedding cookies• Dessert: red bean paste, jicama, cilantro, bacon jam
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Maneet Chauhan• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Chris Houlihan, Chef de cuisine, AFrame, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lucas Marino, Sous chef, The Darby, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Betsy Rodriguez, Sous chef, The Goodwin, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Josie Gordon, Personal Chef, New York, NY (winner)Episode notes: Chef Marino works with frequent Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli at The Darby.
201 10 "Walk on the Whelk Side" August 6, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: lemon bars, acai juice, upland cress, whelk snails• Entrée: lamb shawarma, baby romanesco cauliflower, cornichons, chicken flavored potato chips• Dessert: cucumber salad, cantaloupe, sesame seed candy, marshmallow spread
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Maneet Chauhan• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Ben Durham, Executive Chef, Four Food Studio, Melville, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)• Paolo Pasio, Chef and Restaurateur, Osteria Latini, Brentwood, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Natasha Pogrebinsky, Chef and Restaurateur, Bear, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Katsuji Tanabe, Chef and Restaurateur, MexiKosher, Los Angeles, CA (winner)
202 11 "Chopped Family Feud" August 11, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Cape gooseberries, falooda glass noodles, watercress, bacalao• Entrée: beef tip cap, cognac, green bean chips, cinnamon rolls• Dessert: spaetzle, moustalevria, walnuts, Japanese cola candy
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Kent Rathbun (Charity: March of Dimes) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lou Campanaro (Charity: Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) (eliminated after the entrée)• Joey Campanaro (Charity: El Farro De los Animales) (eliminated after the dessert)• Kevin Rathbun (Charity: Atlanta Community Food Bank) (winner)Episode notes: The contestants are two pairs of brothers who have each competed together on Iron Chef America.
203 12 "Extreme Halloween" October 6, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Potato crisps, eel, candy bats, coagulated pig blood• Entrée: Gummy skull, collard greens, sweet breads, dehydrated weaver ant eggs
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Dessert: Candy blood, deviled eggs, pate sucree, buffalo chestnuts • Chris Santos
Contestants:
• John Creger (eliminated after the appetizer)• Isaiah Frizzell (eliminated after the entrée)• Terri Wahl (eliminated after the dessert)• Sharon Singelton (winner)Episode notes: All baskets have ingredients with a Halloween theme.The originally aired prior to Halloween Wars.
204 13 "A Chopped Thanksgiving" November 12, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer:• Entrée:• Dessert:
Judges:
Contestants:
• (eliminated after the appetizer)• (eliminated after the entrée)• (eliminated after the dessert)• (winner)
Season 17 (2013)[edit]
SeriesNo.
Season
No.Title Original airdate
205 1 "Wasted!" August 13, 2013
Ingredients: Judges:
• Appetizer: pickle juice, herb stems, overripe tomatoes, fish carcass• Entrée: wilted carrots, potatoes with eyes, parmesan cheese rinds, meat trimmings• Dessert: ends of bread loaves, squeezed orange halves, used coffee grinds, hardened brown sugar
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Molly Peck, Caterer, The Vanilla Orchid Catering, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Dylan Hallas, Executive Chef, Petit Ermitage Hotel, West Hollywood, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Parind Vora, Chef and Restaurateur, Restaurant Jezebel, Austin, TX (eliminated after the dessert)• Garrett Eagleton, Freelance Chef, The Meat Hook, Brooklyn, NY (winner)Episode notes: All of the ingredients of the baskets were scraps - ingredients that are normally thrown away.
206 2 "Keep On Trucking" August 18, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: smoked pork chops, savoy cabbage, ginger snap cookies, blood sausage• Entrée: halibut, Chinese celery, peperoni (sic) risotto, orange powdered drink• Dessert: guanabana nectar, white chocolate chips, pecans, chipotle in adobo
Judges:
• Geoffrey Zakarian• Maneet Chauhan• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Tagan Couch, Food Truck Chef/Owner, The Gypsy Kit, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chris Trapani, Food Truck Chef/Owner, Urban Cowboy, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)• Hop Phan, Food Truck Chef/Owner, Dos Chinos, Orange County, CA (eliminated after the dessert)• Michael Israel, Food Truck Chef/Owner, MOE Deli, Los Angeles, CA (winner)Episode notes: The original airing of this episode was as a lead-in to Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. All the chefs operate food trucks.
207 3 "Sports Stars" September 3, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: salmon filet, candy-coated peanuts, redbor kale, lemon-lime sports drink• Entrée: spinach, filet mignon, almonds, chocolate covered marshmallows
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Dessert: protein powder, caramel coated popcorn, tangelo, olive oil cake • Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Tiki Barber (Charity: The Fresh Air Fund) (eliminated after the appetizer)• Chuck Zito (Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) (eliminated after the entrée)• Natalie Coughlin (Charity: Right To Play) (eliminated after the dessert)• Danica Patrick (Charity: COPD Foundation) (winner)Episode notes: All of the chefs are sports stars.
208 4 "Hero Chefs" September 10, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken soup, ground pork, pattypan squash, barbecue sauce• Entrée: scallops, Chinese broccoli, tamarillos, finger limes• Dessert: aged cheddar cheese, Granny Smith apples, hamburger buns, vanilla frosting
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Amanda Freitag• Cheryl Barbara
Contestants:
• Wilhemina Bell, Executive Chef, Children's Village/Program Coordinator, C-CAP (Careers through the Culinary Arts Program), Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the appetizer)• Pedro Rodriguez, Head Chef, New York City Rescue Mission, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)• Nicki Bogie, Culinary Instructor, The Fresh Air Fund, Fishkill, NY (eliminated after the dessert)• Derek Walker, Executive Chef, Bread and Roses Café, Venice, CA (winner)Episode notes: All of the chefs are heroes in their community. Judge Cheryl Barbara was the winner of the first school chef episode, Class Acts (9x13).
209 5 "We Love Leftovers!" September 17, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: 1/2 burger, stale fortune cookies, leftover sautéed broccoli, leftover lasagna• Entrée: BBQ ribs, cold french fries, German chocolate cake, leftover chili• Dessert: leftover corn on the cob, pitcher of sangria, duck sauce, stale plain donuts
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Chris Santos• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Josh Watkins, Executive Chef, The Carillon, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)• Krissy Kerwin, Private Chef, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)• Aatul Jain, Executive Chef, St. Clare's Hospital, Denville, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)• Jason Stude, Chef de Cuisine, Second Bar + Kitchen, Austin, TX (winner)Episode notes: The baskets are filled with leftovers.
210 6 "Count Your Chickens" September 24, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: chicken livers, marrowfat peas, watermelon, chicken tenders• Entrée: chicken legs, chicken-flavored crackers, napa cabbage, caramel flavored liqueur• Dessert: chicken suckers, chicken fat,farm fresh eggs, fruit cake
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Amanda Freitag• Marcus Samuelsson
Contestants:
• Brian Tsao (eliminated after the appetizer)• David Catapano (eliminated after the entrée)• Eric McCarthy (eliminated after the dessert)• Janelle Renyolds (winner)Episode notes: All baskets have chicken products.
211 7 "Liver and Learn" October 1, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: calf liver, lemon potatoes, pickled Chinese mustard greens, ranch dressing• Entrée: quail, sumac, turnips, Peanut crisp candy bars• Dessert: yuzu marmalade, whipped cream cheese, hot sauce, corn flakes
Judges:
• Chris Santos• Amanda Freitag• Geoffrey Zakarian
Contestants:
• Shaguay Peacock, Sous Chef (eliminated after the appetizer)
• Jared Braithwaite, Executive Chef (eliminated after the entrée)• Seth Gordon (eliminated after the dessert)• Teah Evans (winner)Episode notes: Chef Shaguay's brother had competed twice.
212 8 "Brunch Boxes" October 15, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: quail eggs, kale, champagne, caviar• Entrée: emu egg, pancake mix, bloody mary mix, lobster• Dessert: Araucana eggs, waffles, maple syrup, Canadian bacon
Judges:
• Marc Murphy• Alex Guarnaschelli• Aarón Sánchez
Contestants:
• Neil Fuentes (eliminated after the appetizer)• Shannon Olvera (eliminated after the entrée)• Joyce Brandes (eliminated after the dessert)• Nick Di Bona (winner)Episode notes: The ingredients for a sophisticated brunch are in the baskets.
213 9 "Circus Spectacular" October 24, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Cotton candy, peanuts in the shell, corn dogs, Tokyo scallions• Entrée: Nachos, chicken fingers, candy apple, baby corn• Dessert: Snow cones, funnel cakes, popcorn, sour cream
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Chris Santos• Ron Ben Israel
Contestants:
• Steve Yen (eliminated after the appetizer)• John Atkinson (eliminated after the entrée)• Jesse Olson (eliminated after the dessert)
• Claire Handleman (winner)Episode notes: Each basket includes something with a circus theme. Ron Ben Israel guest judged.
214 10 "Competition Italiano" October 29, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Sopresata, pasta dough, newborn baby fish, limoncello• Entrée: Veal chops, bottarga, graffiti eggplant, cafe macchiato• Dessert: Figs, burrata, padina, chinotto
Judges:
• Scott Conant• Alex Guarnaschelli• Maneet Chauhan
Contestants:
• Philip Meoli (eliminated after the appetizer)• Lisa Savage (eliminated after the entrée)• Luca Manderino (eliminated after the dessert)• Antonio Mure (winner)Episode notes: All the baskets are filled with Italian ingredients. All the chefs are Italian.
215 11 "Redeemed or Re-chopped?" November 5, 2013
Ingredients:
• Appetizer: Vegan Lobster, hot mustard, canned chop suey, winter melon• Entrée: Skordalia, Hawaiian Parrot fish, pickled sour grapes, chayote squash• Dessert: bubble tea, papaya, coconut butter, chocolate-covered bananas
Judges:
• Aarón Sánchez• Alex Guarnaschelli• Marc Murphy
Contestants:
• Frank Whittaker (eliminated after the appetizer)• Jeff Eng (eliminated after the entrée)• Kent Rollins (eliminated after the dessert)• Zoe Feigenbaum (winner)Episode notes: It aired on Food Network's 20th birthday and the episode title had 'Redemption' underneath it. All contestants were previously chopped on other episodes.
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b Julianne McGourty (2011-11-21). "School Chefs Compete on "Chopped"". NBCUniversal, Inc. Retrieved 2011-11-23.2.Jump up ^ Cynthia Littleton (2011-11-21). "Doing good at Thanksgiving". Variety. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
External links[edit]
• Episode guide at FoodNetwork.com<img src="//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CentralAutoLogin/start&type=1x1" alt="" title="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;" />
Categories: Lists of food television series episodes
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