List of Chopped episodes

This is the list of episodes for the Food Network competition reality series Chopped. New episodes are broadcast on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.


Series overview

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 13 June 2, 2013 November 12, 2013
17 13 August 13, 2013 December 3, 2013
18 13 November 26, 2013 May 13, 2014
19 13 February 4, 2014 June 10, 2014
20 13 March 18, 2014 November 25, 2014
21 13 July 15, 2014 January 13, 2015
22 TBA October 14, 2014 TBA
23 TBA December 16, 2014 TBA
24 TBA April 28, 2015 TBA

Season 1 (2009)

Series
No.		 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:

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 1 "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 1 "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 1 "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:

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 1 "Yucca, Watermelon, Tortillas" February 10, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • 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 1 "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:

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 1 "Quail, Arctic Char, Beer" February 24, 2009

Ingredients:

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 1 "Coconut, Calamari, Donuts" March 3, 2009

Ingredients:

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)
  • Dave 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 1 "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 1 "String Cheese, Jicama, Gingersnaps" March 17, 2009

Ingredients:

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 1 "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)
This episode is not available on iTunes for an unknown reason.
12 1 "Chocolate, Mussels and Figs" March 31, 2009

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: beef tenderloin, cucumber, Asian pears, bittersweet chocolate
  • Entrée: mussels, canned tomatoes, pita bread, celery root
  • Dessert: black mission figs, slivered almonds, lemons

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • 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 1 "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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
14 1 "A Prickly Situation" June 14, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

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)
15 2 "Salty Veggies & Heated Battles" June 16, 2009

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: sea beans, ginger ale, pork tenderloin
  • Entrée: baby artichokes, cashew butter, monkfish, Thai chiles
  • Dessert: jicama, pepitas, blueberries

Judges:

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)
16 3 "High Hopes" June 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:

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)
17 4 "Floundering Around" June 30, 2009

Ingredients:

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)
18 5 "Pride on the Plate" July 7, 2009

Ingredients:

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.

19 6 "Pretty Please with a Pepper on Top" July 14, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

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)
20 7 "Pods, Grills and Sticky Fingers" July 28, 2009

Ingredients:

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:

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • 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:

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)
23 10 "Chopped Champions Event, Round One: The Ultimate Face-off" September 8, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

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:

Judges:

Contestants:

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:

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:

Season 3 (2009–10)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
27 1 "When Chefs Collide" October 13, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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 (Torres did not appear as a judge in this episode).

29 3 "Judge Knows Best" October 27, 2009

Ingredients:

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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:

  • Appetizer: venison tenderloin, quince, eggnog
  • Entrée: kale, rutabaga, marshmallows, turkey
  • Dessert: garnet yams, brie, sparkling wine, cranberries

Judges:

  • 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, Artisanal, 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" March 14, 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:

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" March 21, 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:

Episode notes: This was the first episode to feature four past runners-up.

35 9 "Winging It" March 28, 2010

Ingredients:

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" April 5, 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" April 12, 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" April 19, 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:

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" May 2, 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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
40 1 "Rattle & Roll" April 6, 2010

Ingredients:

Judges:

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:

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:

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:

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Amanda Freitag
  • 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:

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 (Guarnaschelli did not appear as a judge in this episode).

47 8 "Quahog Quandaries and Pickle Puzzles" June 8, 2010

Ingredients:

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:

  • 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)

Series
No.		 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:

Contestants:

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:

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:

Contestants:

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:

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

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:

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:

60 8 "$50,000 Tournament: Grand Finale" September 28, 2010

Ingredients:

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:

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • 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)

Episode notes: In the dessert round, Ted warned the contestants that cherimoya seeds were poisonous.

62 10 "When Octopuses Attack" October 12, 2010

Ingredients:

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.

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:

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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
66 1 "Victory on the Brain" January 4, 2011

Ingredients:

Judges:

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:

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:

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

  • 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

Judges:

  • Marcus Samuelsson
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

73 8 "All-Stars Tournament: Round Three – Notable Chefs" March 20, 2011

Ingredients:

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:

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • 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:

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)

Series
No.		 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
  • Dessert: bananas, pomegranate juice, phyllo dough, white miso

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

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:

Judges:

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:

  • Appetizer: gorgonzola cheese, green papaya, sour lemon candies, duck livers
  • Entrée: tequila, epazote, puff pastry, cuttlefish
  • Dessert: cocoa nibs, blackberries, corn tortillas, ginger

Judges:

  • 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:

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:

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)

Series
No.		 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:

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:

Judges:

  • Zakary Pelaccio
  • 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:

  • Appetizer: lime pickle, red chard, baby octopus, Tokyo scallions
  • Entrée: gingersnaps, sweet potatoes, farina, turbot
  • Dessert: cactus pear, soft pretzels, farmhouse cheddar, wheat beer

Judges:

  • 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:

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:

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)

Series
No.		 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:

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
  • Entrée: tuna belly, lemon curd, purple cauliflower, dried cuttlefish snack
  • Dessert: cacao beans, masa, pisco, gorgonzola dolce

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

Judges:

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:

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
  • Dessert: gingerbread cookie dough, goat cheese, garam masala, strawberry syrup

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Amanda Freitag
  • 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:

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:

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)

Series
No.		 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:

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:

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:

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
  • Entrée: blue foot chicken, broccolini, tequila, dried limes
  • Dessert: white balsamic vinegar, chocolate covered peanuts, dried cranberries, masa harina

Judges:

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:

Contestants:

  • Germany Marcus Lepke, Personal Chef, European Epicurean, Voorhees, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • United States Dewey Losasso, Executive Chef, The Forge, Miami Beach, FL (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Israel Ronit Penso, Private Chef and Author, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • France 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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
116 1 "I'm Your Huckleberry" February 7, 2012

Ingredients:

Judges:

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 (Murphy did not appear as a judge in this episode).

117 2 "Chewing the Caul Fat" February 14, 2012

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: sea scallops, guaje beans, aged cheddar, pickle juice
  • Entrée: black bass, raspberry lavender risotto, savoy cabbage, caul fat
  • Dessert: cosmopolitan mix, dried apples, biscotti, edible flowers

Judges:

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:

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:

Judges:

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 (Pelaccio did not appear as a judge in this episode).

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

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
  • Dessert: hollandaise sauce, strawberries, walnuts, blue corn tortilla chips

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • 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:

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:

Judges:

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:

  • 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

Judges:

  • 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)

Series
No.		 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:

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:

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:

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
  • Entrée: chateaubriand, rainbow carrots, escarole, chocolate wine
  • Dessert: marzipan, membrillo, ladyfingers, chocolate lips

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • 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:

Judges:

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:

  • 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:

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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
149 1 "Stacking Up" September 4, 2012

Ingredients:

Judges:

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

Judges:

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:

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:

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 (Pelaccio did not appear as a judge in this episode).

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, Capital 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:

  • 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

Judges:

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:

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:

Judges:

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:

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)

Episode notes: Chef Klette-Kolton is the business partner of Lauren Gerrie, runner-up of the second Chopped Champions tournament.

164 16 "Hecho en the Chopped Kitchen" February 7, 2013

Ingredients:

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:

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:

  • 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

Judges:

  • 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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
167 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:

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.

168 2 "Chopped Champions: Part 1" January 15, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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.

169 3 "Chopped Champions: Part 2" January 22, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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)
170 4 "Chopped Champions: Part 3" January 29, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • 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)
171 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)
172 6 "Chopped Champions: Finale" February 12, 2013

Ingredients:

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.

173 7 "Just for the Halibut" March 12, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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)
174 8 "Redemption Intention" March 19, 2013

Ingredients:

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.

175 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:

176 10 "Chopped All-Stars: Mega Chefs" April 14, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

Contestants:

177 11 "Chopped All-Stars: Judges" April 21, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Marcus Samuelsson
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

Episode notes: All of the contestants in this episode except for Scott Conant have competed on Chopped previously.

178 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:

Episode notes: Joey, Judy, and Johnny have appeared on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off: Joey on Season 1, Johnny on Season 2, Judy is currently on Season 3

179 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:

Episode notes: 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)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
180 1 "Heads Up!" April 2, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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, SideBAR, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Bruce Kalman, Executive Chef, The Churchill, Los Angeles, CA (winner)
181 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:

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, Executive 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.

182 3 "Aussie Awesome" April 16, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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.

183 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:

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)
184 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 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Judges:

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.

185 6 "Amazing Amateurs" May 14, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

  • Nate Echelberger, Pastor, Gateway Church, Austin, TX (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Melissa Campbell, Training Administrator, 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 Chopped chef's coat at the end.

186 7 "Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!" May 21, 2013

Ingredients:

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.

187 8 "Military Salute" May 28, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

  • 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 was a retired member of the U.S. military. Each round featured an item that might be found in a military pantry.

188 9 "Cook Your Butt Off!" May 30, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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.

189 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
  • Dessert: argan oil, apricots, fresh pasta sheets, cheese spread

Judges:

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: Chef Ramborger was the first deaf chef to participate in the show. He was accompanied by interpreter Lydia Callis, best known as the ASL interpreter for Michael Bloomberg during his Hurricane Sandy press conference.

190 11 "Take Heart" June 6, 2013

Ingredients:

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: Chef Frish serves as sous chef for Iron Chef Marc Forgione on Iron Chef America.

191 12 "Wheatgrass Roots" June 18, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: rice wrappers, morel mushrooms, chia seeds, dandelion greens
  • Entrée: etrog citron, golden beets, wheatgrass, tempeh
  • Dessert: cranberries, green tea powder, edamame, local honey

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Marc Murphy
  • 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 was a vegetarian and vegan-themed episode; the only animal product was the local honey.

192 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: Chef Joshi works at Tertulia, under occasional Chopped judge Seamus Mullen.

Season 16 (2013)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
193 1 "Fry, Fry, Again" June 2, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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.

194 2 "Cleaver Fever" June 11, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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)
195 3 "Mix and Mache" June 16, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: pickled sausage, mache, blood oranges, southern cabbage
  • Entrée: lobster bisque, baby leeks, daikon, squid
  • Dessert: green cerignola olives, honey distilled liqueur, gala apples, Kaiserschmarrn

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Roy Handler, Caterer, Haute 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.

196 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)
197 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.

198 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:

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.

199 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:

Contestants:

  • Regina Chen, Sous chef, Maison Akira, Pasadena, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Cathy McKnight, 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)
200 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.

201 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.

202 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)
203 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:

Episode notes: The contestants are two pairs of brothers who have each competed together on Iron Chef America.

204 12 "Extreme Halloween" October 6, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: potato crisps, eel, candy bats, coagulated pig blood
  • Entrée: gummy skull, collard greens, sweetbreads, dehydrated weaver ant eggs
  • Dessert: candy blood, deviled eggs, pâte sucrée, buffalo chestnuts

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • John Creger, Head Chef, Gallow Green, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Isaiah Frizzell, Supper Club Chef, Feast Underground Supper Club, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Terri Wahl, Chef and Restaurateur, Auntie Em's Kitchen, Eagle Rock, CA (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Sharon Singelton, Caterer, Singlelicious Catering, Staten Island, NY (winner)

Episode notes: All baskets had ingredients with a Halloween theme. The episode originally aired prior to Halloween Wars.

205 13 "A Chopped Thanksgiving" November 12, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: turkey sausage, rutabaga, green bean casserole, honey baked ham
  • Entrée: whole turkey, Brussels sprouts, giblet gravy, pumpkin pie ice cream
  • Dessert: butternut squash soup, fennel, orange cranberry muffins, tofu turkey

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Nick Vazquez, Azúcar Cuban Cuisine, Jersey City, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Dustin Gauvain, Executive Chef, Front Steps, Austin, TX (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Fiore Tedesco, Sous chef, Franklin Barbecue, Austin, TX (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Ruth Cimaroli, Private Chef, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: This was a Thanksgiving-themed episode. The chefs were given 40 minutes in the entrée round to allow them to properly prepare the turkey.

Season 17 (2013)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
206 1 "Wasted!" August 13, 2013

Ingredients:

  • 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

Judges:

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.

207 2 "Keep On Trucking" August 18, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

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.

208 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
  • Dessert: protein powder, caramel coated popcorn, tangelo, olive oil cake

Judges:

Contestants:

Episode notes: All of the chefs are sports stars.

209 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:

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).

210 5 "We Love Leftovers!" September 17, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: burger, fortune cookies, sautéed broccoli, lasagna
  • Entrée: BBQ ribs, french fries, German chocolate cake, chili
  • Dessert: cooked corn cobs, pitcher of sangria, duck sauce, stale plain doughnuts

Judges:

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 were filled with leftovers.

211 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, Executive Chef, Liang's, Forest Hills, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • David Catapano, Caterer, Romeo's Catering Service, Queens, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Eric McCarthy, Executive Chef, Tamarind Tribeca, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Janelle Reynolds, Caterer and Personal Chef, @ Large Catering and Private Chef Services, Austin, TX (winner)

Episode notes: All baskets had chicken products.

212 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 cereal

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Shaguay Peacock, Sous chef, The New York Times, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jared Braithwaite, Executive Chef, Layla, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Seth Gordon, Executive Chef, Dune Studios, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Teah Evans, Chef, FireFly American Bistro, Manasquan, NJ (winner)

Episode notes: Chef Peacock's brother Darius Peacock is a two-time Chopped winner (in season 1 and in season 2's "Chopped Champions" event).

213 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, Personal Chef, New Haven, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Shannon Olvera, Executive Chef, Red Restaurant & Bar, City of Industry, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Joyce Brandes, Chef de cuisine, DuMont Burger, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Nick Di Bona, Executive Chef, Peter Pratt's Inn, Yorktown Heights, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Each basket contained ingredients commonly used to prepare brunch dishes.

214 9 "Circus Spectacular" October 24, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: cotton candy, peanuts in the shell, corn dogs, Tokyo scallions
  • Entrée: nachos, chicken fingers, candy apples, baby corn
  • Dessert: snow cones, funnel cakes, popcorn, sour cream

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Steve Yen, Sous chef, Catch, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • John Atkinson, Chef and Restaurateur, North End Café, Manhattan Beach, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Jesse Olson, Executive Chef, Vanderbilt, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Claire Handleman, Culinary Producer, The Chew, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Each basket included something with a circus theme. Chef Olson is the grandson of singer Glen Campbell.

215 10 "Competition Italiano" October 29, 2013

Ingredients:

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Philip Meoli, Chef de cuisine, Brooklyn Pub, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Lisa Savage, Chef and Restaurateur, Sage Restaurant, Ventnor, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Luca Manderino, Chef and Restaurateur, La Sosta Enoteca, Hermosa Beach, CA (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Antonio Mure, Chef and Restaurateur, Ado Ristorante, Venice Beach, CA (winner)

Episode notes: This was an Italian-themed episode.

216 11 "Redeemed or Re-chopped?" November 5, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: vegan lobster, hot mustard, canned chop suey, winter melon
  • Entrée: skordalia, Hawaiian parrotfish, pickled sour grapes, chayote squash
  • Dessert: bubble tea, papaya, coconut butter, chocolate-covered bananas

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

  • Frank Whittaker, Executive Sous chef, Fishtail by David Burke, New York, NY (Episode 11.9: "Ready, Set, Escargot!") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jeff Eng, Executive Chef, Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge, Rockville, MD (Episode 11.4: "Leftovers Extravaganza!") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Kent Rollins (Episodes 12.14: "Grill Masters: Part Four" and 12.16: "Grill Masters: Finale") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Zoe Feigenbaum, Chef and Restaurateur, Zoë, New York, NY (Episode 13.2: "A Bunny Thing Happened") (winner)

Episode notes: This episode featured four past runners-up.

217 12 "Cloche Call" November 19, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: kimchi, apple sauce, gefilte fish, lavash
  • Entrée: brook trout, cream corn, kale chips, bacon flavored vodka
  • Dessert: opal basil, orange blossom water, dried apricots, marshmallow snack cakes

Judges:

  • Marcus Samuelsson
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

  • Josh Greenfield, Caterer/Internet Chef, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Mike Greenfield, Caterer/Internet Chef, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Emilie Friedman, Personal Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Sean Quinn, Executive Chef, Frederick's, Brooklyn, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Chefs Josh and Mike are brothers, with Josh being older.

218 13 "Celebrity Holiday Bash" December 3, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: reindeer pâté, sparkling cider, candied ginger, jelly-filled donuts
  • Entrée: rosca de reyes, wagyu rib-eye steaks, broccoli, cocktail sauce
  • Dessert: Douglas fir brandy, plum pudding, dried persimmon, chocolate Santa

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Amanda Freitag

Contestants:

  • Antonio Sabato Jr. (Charity: Boys and Girls Club of Ventura) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Dawn Wells (Charity: Terri Lee Wells' Discovery Museum for Children) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Anthony Anderson (Charity: United Negro College Fund) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Teri Hatcher (Charity: Juvenille Arthritis Association) (winner)

Episode notes: All the chefs are celebrities competing for a charity. As a food safety measure, at the start of the entrée round the competitors were informed that rosca de reyes contained several small baby Jesus figurines.

Season 18 (2013-2014)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
219 1 "No Pain, No Shame" November 26, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: smoked catfish, ricotta salata, giant jawbreaker, watermelon soda
  • Entrée: lamb tagine, miso paste, croissant doughnuts, zucchini blossoms
  • Dessert: blueberry scones, ginger preserves, rosemary, gjetost cheese

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Jonah Frazier, Executive Sous chef, Garden Terrace, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jason Rivas, Chef de cuisine, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Tek Moore, Executive Chef, Le Barricou, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Kristen Gregory, Executive Chef, Firefly Grille, Nashville, TN (winner)
220 2 "Teen Talent" December 10, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: swordfish steaks, broccoli rabe, tiger figs, cherry flavored drink
  • Entrée: toaster pastries, filet mignon, truffles, heirloom tomatoes
  • Dessert: strawberry mints, salt bagels, cream cheese, cotton candy grapes

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Roxy Belfiore (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Matthew Wheelock (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Simona Alomary (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Hunter Zampa (winner)

Episode notes: All the chefs were teens competing to win a $40,000 scholarship.

221 3 "Tapas Time" December 17, 2013

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Boquerones, pan de leche, gazpacho, head-on shrimp
  • Entrée: Spanish tortilla, serrano ham, chayote, squid
  • Dessert: Catalan creme, Cava, oranges, Marcona almonds

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Andres Figueroa, Executive Chef, Antojeria La Popular, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Gemma Gray, Executive Sous Chef, Andaz, West Hollywood, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • David Viana, Chef de Cuisine, Daryl, New Brunswick, NJ (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Alex Moreno, Executive Chef, Border Grill, Santa Monica, CA (winner)

Episode notes: All the chefs were required to make tapas in each round. The first round was 30 minutes instead of the usual 20.

222 4 "Waste Not" January 5, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: lobster bodies, juicer pulp, used tea bags, stale pita
  • Entrée: brownie edges, near-empty bottle of ranch dressing, onion ends, rotisserie chicken picked down to the bone
  • Dessert: pineapple skin and core, last piece of cheese, cucumber peels, brown avocados

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Marcus Samuelsson
  • Hooni Kim

Contestants:

  • Pip Freeman, Chef & Owner, Three Letters, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Lauren Von Der Pool, Personal Chef (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Damon Gordon, (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Sarah Pouzar, Executive Chef, Il Forno, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Ingredients that are typically scrapped were used in the baskets.

223 5 "Firefighter Chefs" January 12, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: wildfire lettuce, 'nduja, burrata, roti
  • Entrée: ghost peppers, rack of wild boar, cucuzza squash, saganaki
  • Dessert: wafer sheets, vanilla pudding cups, lemon soda, blow torch

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Sal DePaola (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Antonia Donnelly (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Robert Corbin (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Richard Fields (winner)

Episode notes: All contestants were firefighters.

224 6 "Hoofin' It!" January 21, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: pickled pigs feet, butter beans, coleslaw mix, sweet potato chips
  • Entrée: venison tenderloin, watercress, eggplant, pecan pie
  • Dessert: chai tea latte, gala apples, black licorice, puff pastry

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Marcus Samuelsson
  • Alex Stupak

Contestants:

  • Ashley Fahr, Caterer & Food Stylist, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Laurie Potts, Executive Chef, Wild Horse Saloon, Nashville, TN (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Maxcel Hardy, Private Chef, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Joe Youkhan, Executive Chef & Owner, Tasting Spoon Food Truck, Orange County, CA (winner)
225 7 "Pizza Perfect" February 2, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: thin crust pizza dough, king crab legs, malta, vegan pepperoni
  • Entrée: deep dish pizza, rabbit escabeche, Swiss chard, pineapple cheese spread
  • Dessert: crescent roll dough, pickled apricots, salted caramel sauce, candied mushrooms

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Bruno DiFabio

Contestants:

  • Sam Nuckols, Chef de Partie, Womack Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jimmy Wang, Chef & Consultant, former owner of Hot Stuff Café, San Gabriel, CA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Nikki Hill, Chef & Caterer, Earl's Gourmet Grub & La Copine, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Germano Minen, Chef & Owner, Hostaria del Piccolo, Santa Monica & Venice, CA (winner)
226 8 "All-Burger Meal!" February 9, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: ceal shoulder, bean sprouts, Marsala wine, veal tongue
  • Entrée: whole brisket, short ribs, pickle juice Popsicles, quail eggs
  • Dessert: hamburger buns, chocolate peanut clusters, shaved coconut, sesame seeds

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Megan Logan (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Afton Farnsworth (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Eli Irland (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Evelyn Garcia (winner)

Episode notes: The chefs were required to make burgers in each round.

227 9 "Chocolate Competition" February 11, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Mayan chocolate bars, chocolate martini, eggplant, pasta sheets
  • Entrée: chocolate cake pops, white chocolate cocoa mix, quail, serrano peppers
  • Dessert: cacao paste, peanut butter cups, baumkuchen, cherries

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Pierre Coray (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Lucy Collins (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Juerg "Fed" Federer (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Phillip Frankland Lee (winner)

Episode notes: All baskets contained something with chocolate.

228 10 "Bacon Baskets!" February 16, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Mangalitsa bacon, apple chips, horseradish leaves, smoked pork chops
  • Entrée: Iberico bacon, pork loin, kimchi, dried cherries
  • Dessert: applewood smoked bacon, poached pears, french toast, cracklings

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Adam Sobel

Contestants:

  • Noah Blöm (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Peter Kontomanolis (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Blake Orchard (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Roxanne Spruance (winner)

Episode notes: Bacon appeared in every basket.

229 11 "Beer Here!" February 23, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: toasted lager, hop drops, hickory smoked sausage, fried pickle
  • Entrée: bourbon barrel aged tripled ale, beer taffy, beer cheese, beef tips
  • Dessert: milk stout, stout beer jelly, soft pretzels, peaches

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Larry Monaco (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Hiep Le (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Bradley Stellings (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Lauren Kyles (winner)

Episode notes: All baskets had beer in them.

230 12 "Burn for the Worse" April 7, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Dim sum, honeydew melon, middle eastern noodles, ketchup
  • Entrée: mint julep, rack of lamb, eggplant, apple spiced cake
  • Dessert: corn tortillas, cassia sticks, paw paws, black cornith grapes

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Matt Dunn (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Ashton Keefe (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Jennifer Story (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Giuseppe Gentile (winner)
231 13 "An Egg Up" May 13, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: pork secreto, 100-year-old eggs, red leaf lettuce, onion ring snacks
  • Entrée: halibut, herbed cheese, asparagus, mango pudding
  • Dessert: sea buckthorn juice, waffle cones, vanilla yogurt cups, lime curd

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Roderick Bailey (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Nissa Pierson (eliminated after the entrée)
  • George Rallis (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jeremy Bringardener (winner)

Season 19 (2014)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
232 1 "Ambitious Amateurs" February 4, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken tenderloins, paprika peppers, fennel, ginger preserves
  • Entrée: tikka masala sauce, asian long beans, hanger steak, serrano ham croquettes
  • Dessert: guava shells in syrup, cottage cheese, couscous, candied chick peas

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Soraya Sobreidad (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jackie Khanich (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Tommy Wether (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Dinah Surh (winner)

Episode notes: All the chefs are amateurs.

233 2 "Return and Redeem" February 25, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: lime gelatin, prosciutto, celery, prawn cocktail chips
  • Entrée: sour candy belts, quinoa, pickled turnips, red snapper
  • Dessert: palm seeds in syrup, chocolate-covered raisins, dulce de leche, multi-grain cereal

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Lauren Von Der Pool (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Tre Ghoshal (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Natasha Pogrebinsky (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Michael Bryant (winner)

Episode notes: This episode featured previous contestants.

234 3 "Grandma vs. Grandma" March 4, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: fillet of sole, popovers, ginger, bacon grease
  • Entrée: meatloaf mix, sweet potatoes, green beans, Old Fashioned
  • Dessert: oatmeal, dried currants, yuzu juice, vanilla ice cream

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Nancy Judd (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Mannee Soohoo (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Wenona Moorer (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Elda Belanski (winner)

Episode notes: All contestants were grandmothers. The meatloaf mix was made of a mix of veal, pork, and beef.

235 4 "Chopped Tournament of Stars: Sports Stars!" March 9, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: organic green juice, alligator, hen of the woods mushrooms, mini rainbow marshmallows
  • Entrée: turkey tenderloin, double yolked eggs, pattypan squash, finger limes
  • Dessert: liquid breakfast drink, pink wafer cookies, crystallized ginger, red bosc pears

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Charity: Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Charles Oakley, Charity: Save Our Strength (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Greg Louganis, Charity: Kids international (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Brandi Chastain, Charity: Bay Area Women's Sport Initiative (winner)

Episode notes: Part 1 of a 5-part competition for $50,000 for a charity of the winner's choice. The green juice included kale.

236 5 "Tournament of Stars: Rachael vs. Guy!" March 16, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: beef tongue, Chinese broccoli, candied citron,microwavable chocolate cake
  • Entrée: buffalo hanger steak, watermelon cucumbers, pizza, ranch dip
  • Dessert: Peanut caramel chocolate bars, Chinese five spice, coconut milk, banana chips

Judges:

Contestants:

Episode notes: Part 2 of a 5-part competition for $50,000 for a charity of the winner's choice. Lou Diamond Phillips and Coolio were the winner and the runner-up respectively of Season 1 of Rachael vs. Guy. Carnie Wilson was the Season 2 runner-up and Penn Jillette was the Season 3 runner-up.

237 6 "Chopped Tournament of Stars: Comedians!" March 23, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: picked pig lips, spinach, polenta, gummy fried eggs
  • Entrée: beer can chicken, jalapeño popper, collard greens, truffle honey
  • Dessert: cinnamon chips, cheese curls, vanilla cupcakes, apple cider

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Tommy Davidson, Charity: Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Robert Wuhl, Charity: The Amanda Foundation (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Sinbad, Charity: Downtown Dog Rescue (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Gillian Vigman, Charity: Go Campaign (winner)

Episode notes: Part 3 of a 5-part competition for $50,000 for a charity of the winner's choice.

238 7 "Chopped Tournament of Stars: Actors" March 30, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: squid, popcorn on the cob, dinosaur kale, candy blood
  • Entrée: steamed spiny lobster, pink fermented lemons, amaro, French breakfast radishes
  • Dessert: star cookies, strawberries, mascarpone cheeese, Buddha's hand

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Maneet Chauhan

Contestants:

  • Tasha Smith, Charity: Planned Parenthood (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Lucas Grabeel, Charity: Harmony Project (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Peter Scolari, Charity: Copd Foundation (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Michael Imperioli, Charity: Pure Land Project (winner)

Episode notes: Part 4 of a 5-part competition for $50,000 for a charity of the winner's choice.

239 8 "Chopped Tournament of Stars: Finale" April 6, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: 10 pack of tacos, escarole, dragon fruit, vanilla ice cream
  • Entrée: peking duck, brussels sprouts, cotton candy, veal demi glaze
  • Dessert: blueberry goat cheese, pecans, churros, champagne

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Carnie Wilson, Charity: Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Gillian Vigman, Charity: Go Campaign (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Brandi Chastain, Charity: Bay Area Women's Sport Initiative (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Michael Imperioli, Charity: Pure Land Project (winner)

Episode notes: Part 5 of a 5-part competition for $50,000 for a charity of the winner's choice.

240 9 "Peri Peri Determined" April 22, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken wings, stroopwafels, asian pears, peri peri
  • Entrée: sunflower seed spread, lamb breast, blueberries, lardo
  • Dessert: butternut squash, pie dough, aged Gouda cheese, nordic honey wine

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Melissa Torre (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Auria Abraham (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Eric Buss (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Georgeann Leaming (winner)
241 10 "Mother's Day" May 6, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken noodle soup, ground beef, spinach, salsa
  • Entrée: tilapia fillets, plantains, crispy fruit cereal, pink grapefruit jam
  • Dessert: passion fruit, dates, lady fingers, chocolate sauce

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

  • Samantha McClerran (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Tina Adams (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Sunny Hostin (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Lisa Keys (winner)

Episode notes: Every contestant was a mother. The episode opened with a generic statement about mothers followed by the introduction of the contestants.

242 11 "Cool, Palm and Perfected" May 27, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: pupusas, blowfish tails, black beans, horchata liqueor
  • Entrée: salami, date palms in brine, chicken breast, canned pumpkin
  • Dessert: basil juice, bananas, coconut butter, Jordan almonds

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • David James Robinson (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Ariane Resnick (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Peter Lee (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Rose Ludwig (winner)

Episode notes: All the contestants have had near-death experiences: Peter had gone through chemotherapy; Rose is a cancer survivor; Ariane suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning; and David was a witness of the 9/11 attacks.
Despite its lethal reputation, the blowfish tails were farm-raised and did not have any poison.

243 12 "There Will Be Bloody Marys" June 3, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: mille crepe cake, snow crab claws, kohlrabi, Bloody Mary
  • Entrée: seafood paella, ground chicken, dry sherry, bread and butter pickles
  • Dessert: cinnamon whisky, phyllo dough, Brazil nuts, rose hip jam

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Millie Fernandez (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Patrick Lacey (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Hayan Yi (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jeffrey Forrest (winner)

Episode notes: Each round had an alcoholic beverage as a basket ingredient.

244 13 "Four Fathers" June 10, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: salt and vinegar potato chips, Dover sole fish, red Russian kale, sour cream
  • Entrée: single malt scotch, lamb porterhouse, rapini, tamarind paste
  • Dessert: chocolate cigars, pretzels, cocktail nuts, rice pudding

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Ian-Max Henriquez (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Herb Hand (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Richie Katzenberg (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Keith Young (winner)

Episode notes: All contestants are fathers.

Season 20 (2014)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
245 1 "Dread and Breakfast" March 18, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: coffee cake, mimosas, breakfast sausages, cream-filled chocolate eggs
  • Entrée: John Dory fish, arugula, vodka martini, pate
  • Dessert: prime rib, amarone wine, potato gratin, shallot confit

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Rose Kai (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Brandon Frohne (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Matt Lackey (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Joe Wetherbee (winner)

Episode notes: In this episode, the appetizer course was replaced with a breakfast course, the entrée with lunch, and the dessert with dinner.

246 2 "Leftover Rescue Mission" April 29, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: leftover turkey meatloaf, leftover kimchi, leftover naan, leftover baked ziti
  • Entrée: leftover shepherd's pie, leftover hard-boiled eggs, hot sauce packets, leftover broccoli casserole
  • Dessert: banana pudding, leftover marmalade packets, broken crackers, leftover bacon

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Chris Lukic (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Connie Tran (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Kyle McClelland (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Mike Kollarik (winner)

Episode notes: All the baskets contained leftovers.

247 3 "G'day, Chefs!" May 20, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: lamb ribs, rainbow chard, loaded baked potato,cherry moonshine
  • Entrée: emu fan fillet, Australian mustard, vegetable pasties, moonshine
  • Dessert: canned cheddar cheese, wheat biscuit cereal, guanciale, apple moonshine

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Chris Santos
  • John Li

Contestants:

  • Jason Netro (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Cass Quinlan Ashford (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Peter Lemos (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Patti Peck (winner)

Episode notes: All of the basket contents had an Australian theme.

248 4 "Salt Pearls of Wisdom" June 17, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: head-on shrimp, pickled raisins, roasted chickpeas, Romanesco cauliflower
  • Entrée: baklava, bluefish, recaito, salt pearls
  • Dessert: vodka-infused chocolate milk, persimmons, crumpets, cashews

Judges:

  • Alex Guarnechelli
  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Maneet Chauhan

Contestants:

  • Iain Falconer (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jonathan Mailo (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Steve Lohse (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Clara Park (winner)
249 5 "Swai Not?" June 24, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: falafel mix, chicory, habanero peppers, date paste
  • Entrée: mostarda, swai fillets, chicken livers, turnips
  • Dessert: carob molasses, white chocolate chips, nougat biscuits, raspberries

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Ted Hirsch (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Vinny Tardo (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Josh Cohen (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Lindsay McClain (winner)

Episode notes: Josh Cohen's diner was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

250 6 "Short and Sweetbreads" July 1, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: dried beef, eggplant pulp, sweetbreads, honey comb
  • Entrée: monkfish, middle eastern cake spice, chestnuts, dill pickles
  • Dessert: Amaretto, butternut squash, mango chutney, chocolate covered potato chips

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Meg Hall (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Whitney Werner (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Albert Shim (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jeremy Barlow (winner)

Episode notes: The sweetbreads is made of a veal thymus gland.

251 7 "Fig Out" July 8, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: sweet whitefish, pastis, cinnamon candies, oysters
  • Entrée: French onion soup mix, beef kidneys, parsnips, pickled caper leaves
  • Dessert: cane flared syrup, vanilla wafers, figs, lemon verbena

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Emily Frith (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Todd Barrie (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Tamar Robinson (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Tom Gloster (winner)
252 8 "Big Hitters" October 8, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Italian sausage, tiny ice cream spheres, baby mustard greens, sunflower seeds
  • Entrée: Soft pretzels, flank steak, bleu cheese, tawny port wine
  • Dessert: coffee caramel, popcorn, hot dog buns, blueberries

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Jessica Helms (St. Louis Cardinals) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Josh Distenfeld (Baltimole Oriels) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Cris Vazquez (Texas Rangers) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • James Major (Cincinnati Reds) (winner)

Episode notes: All contestants work at baseball stadiums.

253 9 "Offal Surprise" October 21, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Ramen, canned apples, okra, biscuit dough
  • Entrée: rocky mountain oysters, purple artichokes, pomegranates, cola
  • Dessert: peanuts in the shell, cream of coconut, rambutan, red velvet whoopie pies

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Amanda Fretaig
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Naved Ferdinans (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Tia McDonald (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Aaron DuBois (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Mindy Merrel (winner)
254 10 "Haricot Flair" October 28, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Fish balls, moscato, haricots verts, banana blossoms
  • Entrée: Goat chops, asafoetida, petite french lentils, quince paste
  • Dessert: clotted cream fudge, rice crackers, rainbow sprinkles, pepper jelly

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Maneet Chauhun
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Ashlee Saylor (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Samia Behaya (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Lauren Proceszyrn (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Natalia Gavaria (winner)

Episode notes: All the contestants are females. Banana blossoms are similar to artichokes.

255 11 "Frankly Frantic" November 4, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Kelp noodles, mustard seeds, vegan hot dogs, minestrone soup
  • Entrée: fire roasted peppers, branzino, antipasto salad, cornmeal
  • Dessert: tarragn soda, vanilla pastila, cashews,cranberries

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Greg Ling (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Drew Jackson (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Garrett Pittler (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Kristin Beringson (winner)
256 12 "Chopped Chops" November 18, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Rainbow carrots, black trumpet mushrooms, walnuts, frog legs
  • Entrée: sombrero pasta, garbanzo beans, sun-dried tomatoes, pork chops
  • Dessert: dulce de batata, apple cinnamon cereal, la tur cheese, grapa

Judges:

  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Marc Murphy
  • Amanda Freitag

Contestants:

  • Licia Kassim, Executive Chef, Mashmomack Fish & Game, Pine Plains, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Liz Sempervive, Executive Sous Chef, Jamonera, Philadelphia, PA (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Gilbert Delgado, Sous Chef, The Fat Radish, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Dean Rucker, Private Chef, Malibu, CA (winner)
257 13 "Pesto Chango" November 25, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken cutlets, Thai chiles, pesto sauce, kohlrabi
  • Entrée: spirulina chips, jumbo head-on shrimp, red pearl onions, ruby crescent potatoes
  • Dessert: chak-chak, wolf river apples, camembert cheese, sour cherry nectar

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Sassan Rostamian (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Ryan Costanza (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Bryon Freeze (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Elderoy Arendse (winner)

Season 21 (2014-2015)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
258 1 "Teen Tournament: Part One" July 15, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: cherry drink soaked pickles, lamb loin chops, kale chips, riccota salata
  • Entrée: mahi mahi, cookie snack chips, green beans, french fries
  • Dessert: gourmet frozen yogurt sundae, white balsamic vinegar, puffed rice cereal bars, dulce de leche

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Alexandria Brooks, Hometown: Voorhees, NJ (age:16) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Ashley Dudley, Hometown: Hancocks Bridge, NJ (age:16) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Jay Ureña, Hometown: Queens, NY (age:16) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jason Khaytin, Hometown: Holland, PA (age:14) (winner)

Episode notes: Part 1 of 5. For the whole Teen Tournament, chefs were given 30 minutes for the appetizer round, instead of the usual 20 minutes.

259 2 "Teen Tournament: Part Two" July 22, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: jumbo shrimp, chunky peanut butter, jalapeños, sticky rice
  • Entrée: frog legs, mafaldine, bok choy, lobster mushrooms
  • Dessert: black and white cookies, fruit leather strips, cashews, agave nectar

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Mikayla Layng, Hometown: Lynbrook, NY (age:13) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Eyan Goldman, Hometown: New York, NY (age:16) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Lucy Felong, Hometown: Hightstown, NJ (age:15) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Dante Foggy, Hometown: Burlington Twp, NJ (age:17) (winner)

Episode notes: Part 2 of 5.

260 3 "Teen Tournament: Part Three" July 29, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: rabbit and ginger sausage, dandelion greens, dried currants, hot-sauce-flavored candy canes
  • Entrée: pineapple upside-down cake, Cornish hens, hen of the woods mushrooms, edamame hummus
  • Dessert: cinnamon cereal, pie crust, chocolate fudge sauce, grape carbonated candy

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Brandon Medley, Hometown: Sewell, NJ (age:15) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Hannah Buzkin, Hometown: Westport, NJ (age:14) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Max Aronson, Hometown: Woodlake, NJ (age 16) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Tommi Rae Fowler, Hometown: Townville, SC (age:16) (winner)

Episode notes: Part 3 of 5.

261 4 "Teen Tournament: Part Four" August 3, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: salsa verde, chicken breasts, bundled lunch kits, blue corn tortilla chips
  • Entrée: buffalo tenderloin, couscous, rainbow chard, squeezable blueberry yogurt
  • Dessert: chocolate Swiss rolls, popcorn balls, blackberries, gummy fish

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Alex Stupak

Contestants:

  • Antonio Jubela-Gordon, Hometown: New York, NY (age: 16) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jake Diamond, Hometown: Montclair, NJ (age: 13) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Morgan Goldstein, Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio (age: 14) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Sequoia Pranger, Hometown: Salem, Oregon (age: 16) (winner)

Episode notes: Part 4 of 5.

262 5 "Teen Tournament: Grand Finale" August 12, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: octopus, purple cauliflower, kumquats, coconut caramel cookies
  • Entrée: antelope chops, red curry paste, rainbow carrots, ants on a log
  • Dessert: frozen mocha drink, Vacherin Mont d'Or cheese, jelly donuts, chocolate covered crickets

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Alex Stupak

Contestants:

  • Sequoia Pranger, Hometown: Salem, Oregon (age: 16) (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jason Khaytin, Hometown: Holland, PA (age:14) (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Dante Foggy, Hometown: Burlington Twp, NJ (age:17) (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Tommi Rae Fowler, Hometown: Townville, SC (age:16) (winner)

Episode notes: Part 5 of 5. Contestants won previous parts. The winner received a $40,000 scholarship and an additional $25,000. All other contestants received a $1,000 gift card to FoodNetwork.com.

263 6 "Food Truck Fight" August 19, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: strawberry shortcake ice cream bars, ground lamb, caviar, empanada dough
  • Entrée: whole suckling pig, red and white kabob sauces, corn tortillas, fiddlehead ferns
  • Dessert: Liège waffles, mangoes with spiced lime, Vietnamese iced coffee, flan

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Michael Natiello (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Han Ly Hwang (eliminated after the entrée)
  • James Klayman (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Nong Poonsukwattana (winner)

Episode notes: Contestants are chefs who operate food trucks and carts.

264 7 "Ultimate Champions: Professionals" August 26, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: eel, pepihuates, shaved coconut, sea beans
  • Entrée: dressed squab, stuffed grape leaves, feta cheese, cherry cola
  • Dessert: grasshopper pie, Granny Smith apples, smoked salt, puffed rice

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Chris Santos
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Fatima Ali (Episode 14.3 – "Chopped Champions: Part 2") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Lauren Kyles (Episode 18.11 – "Beer Here!") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Tom Mckenna (Episode 16.4 – "Gyro We Go Again") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Giorgio Rapicavoli (Episode 10.3 – "Far Far Out!") (winner)

Episode notes: Part 1 of 5. All contestants are chopped champions from other episodes. Fatima Ali had competed 2 other times before this (Episode 12.3 – "A Guts Reaction") and (Episode 14.3 – "Chopped Champions: Part 2"). This episode had a 30-minute "after hours" special that aired directly after the episode. The judges cooking on the first round were Aarón Sánchez, Geoffrey Zakarian, and Chris Santos; they cooked the appetizer round of this episode. The second round had a different basket from a different episode (Episode 17.10 - "Competition Italiano"'s Appetizer round) with Amanda Freitag, Maneet Chauhan, and Aarón Sánchez cooking. The third round had Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli,and Amanda Freitag cooking a basket from a different episode (Episode 18.5 - "Firefighter Chefs"'s desert round).

265 8 "Ultimate Champions: Amateur Champs" September 2, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: cheese blintzes, salsa, poblano peppers, ground pork
  • Entrée: wagyu ribeye steak, jalapeño chips, pink pearl sedum, mangoes
  • Dessert: cookie spread, crème anglaise, grapefruit, microwaved mug cupcake

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Marisa Biaggi (Episode 15.6 – "Amazing Amateurs") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Dinah Surh (Episode 19.1 – "Ambitious Amateurs") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Elda Bielanski (Episode 19.3 – "Grandma vs. Grandma") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Keith Young (Episode 19.13 – "Four Fathers") (winner)

Episode notes: Part 2 of 5. All contestants are chopped champions from other episodes.

266 9 "Ultimate Champions: Heroes" September 9, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: sablefish, pineapple, fruit and nut bars, turnips
  • Entrée: rack of lamb, papaya, peppermint patties, spring garlic
  • Dessert: purple corn pudding, crystallized ginger, cinnamon spice coffee liqueur, pecans

Judges:

  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Chris Santos
  • Aarón Sánchez

Contestants:

  • Richard Fields (Episode 18.5 - "Firefighter Chefs") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Paul Rut (Episode 11.6 - "Sound the Alarm!") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Robbie Myers (Episode 15. 8 - "Military Salute") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Diana Sabater (Episode 15.5 - "Momumental") (winner)

Episode notes: Part 3 of 5. All contestants are chopped champions from other episodes. Two firefighters, a US army veteran, and a police officer are the contestants in this episode.

267 10 "Ultimate Champions:Celebrities" September 16, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: salmon fillets, avocados, sweet tea, cricket flour
  • Entrée: pork loin, cucumbers, black bean soup, chocolate body paint
  • Dessert: key lime juice, cream cheese, banana paste, ladyfingers

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Gillian Vigman (Episode 19.6: - "Chopped Tournament of Stars:Comedians!") and (Episode 19.8: - "Chopped Tournament of Stars:Finale!") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Brandi Chastain (Episode 19.4: - Chopped Tournament of Stars: Sports Stars!") and (Episode 19.8: - "Chopped Tournament of Stars:Finale!") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Carnie Wilson (Episode 19.5: - "Chopped Tournament of Stars:Rachel vs. Guy!") and (Episode 19.8: - "Chopped Tournament of Stars:Finale!") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Laili Ali from both (Episode 14.12: - "Chopped All-Stars:Celebrities") and (Episode 14.13 - "Chopped All-Stars:Finale") (winner)

Episode notes: Part 4 of 5. All the chefs are celebrities who formerly competed on Chopped for charity.

268 11 "Ultimate Champions: Grand Finale" September 23, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: duck confit, orange cream ice pops, ramps, risotto
  • Entrée: pig's head, ajvar, vegetable steamed buns, chinese broccoli
  • Dessert: corn muffin tops, whiskey, macadamia nuts, chocolate covered gummy bears

Judges:

  • Scott Conant
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Keith Young (Episode 19.13 – "Four Fathers") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Laili Ali from both (Episode 14.12: - "Chopped All-Stars:Celebrities") and (Episode 14.13 - "Chopped All-Stars:Finale") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Giorgio Rapicavoli (Episode 10.3 – "Far Far Out!") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Diana Sabater (Episode 15.5 - "Momumental") (winner)

Episode notes: Part 5 of 5.

269 12 "Short Order Cooks" September 30, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: ground beef, tomatoes, slider buns, cotton candy
  • Entrée: broccoli rabe, chicken tenders, baked pizza dough, sour gummy candies
  • Dessert: banana pudding, vanilla ice cream, icing, brownie mix

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Eitan Bernath (age: 11), from: Teaneck, NJ (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Christopher Pappas (age: 10), from: Long Island, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Mona Ziabari (age: 10), from: Lehigh Valley,PA (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Lily Nichols (age: 11), from: NJ (winner)

Episode notes: The contestants are 4th and 5th graders, the youngest chopped contestants. Due to height of the contestants, Ted had been called upon to help them out.

270 13 "Money Saver" January 13, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chickpeas, baby red mustard greens, marinara sauce, silken tofu
  • Entrée: ham steaks, lemon lime soda, cottage cheese, pea tendrals
  • Dessert: pound cake, chocolate chips, honey, strawberries

Judges:

  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Jun Robles, Chef de Cuisine, Oven and Shaker, Portland, OR (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Christopher Arellanes, Chef de Partie, Brooklyn Fair, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Alluette Jones-Smalls, Alluette's Cafe, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Emily Chapman, Line Cook, Louro, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: The basket ingredients all cost less than $10; contestants were limited to using two parts of the pantry.

Season 22 (2014-2015)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
271 1 "Mummies and Gummies" October 14, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: gummy rats, canned pumpkin, bitter melon, mummy dogs
  • Entrée: graveyard diet pudding, beef hearts, gummy body parts, pigs ears
  • Dessert: witch's brew, blood oranges, blue cheese, pretzel spider webs

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Mark Murray, Private Chef, Stanford, CT (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Stephanie Mishoe, Pastry Chef, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the entrée)
  • TK Kyle, Caterer, Tara Singleton Catering, Queens, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Roro Morales, Caterer, Haute Couture, Portland, OR (winner)

Episode notes: The ingredients are Halloween themed.

272 2 "Chopped Family Thanksgiving" November 11, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: smoked turkey legs, hominy, corn bread, gummy turkey feet
  • Entrée: brined turkey breast, savoy cabbage, corn casserole, boniato sweet potatoes
  • Dessert: pumpkin pie flavored vodka, cranberry pie, turkey fat, mashed potatoes

Judges:

Contestants:

Episode notes: In this episode, the judging panel and contestants were all regular Chopped judges. Other than the championship series, this is the first time that the episode only featured the judges in both roles. All competitors were competing for No Kid Hungry.

273 3 "Meatball Madness" December 2, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: lamb shanks, creme brûlée, ginger, baby leeks
  • Entrée: boar shoulder, etouffé sauce, bacon, okra
  • Dessert: chocolate ravioli, strawberry syrup, candied orange zest, french vanilla cake mix

Judges:

  • Michael Chernov
  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Mirna Attar, Chef & Restauranteur, Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine, Portland, OR (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Eva Winans, Line Cook, Bay Street Biergarten, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Zachary Kell, Sous Chef, Hu Kitchen, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Giuseppe Fanelli, Executive Chef, Tre Dici, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: The chefs were required to make meatballs in every course. Each chef was given a meat grinder on their station.

274 4 "The Holiday Kitchen" December 9, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Marrons Glaces, prosecco, challah bread, seafood salad
  • Entrée: Yule log, brisket, baked potato, mulled wine
  • Dessert: cookie dough in a press, peppermint candies,curried nuts, royal icing

Judges:

  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Geoffrey Zakarian

Contestants:

  • Sunny Anderson (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jeff Mauro (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Marcella Valladolid (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Katie Lee (winner)

Episode notes: Contestants are all hosts of The Kitchen.

275 5 "Family Food Fight" December 23, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: piadina, purple malabar spinach, preserved lemon,veal cutlet
  • Entrée: branzino, french green lentils, firm tofu, mostarda
  • Dessert: lobster tail pastries, cinnamon chips, star anise, hazelnut liqueur

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Raphael Martone (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • John Martone (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Rosie Martone (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Geraldine Martone (winner)

Episode notes: The contestants are a mother, father, daughter, and son who run a restaurant together.

276 6 "Bizarre Baskets" January 20, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: lox ice cream, wasabi microgreens, pink asparagus, ground camel
  • Entrée: kholodets, flaming shiso, blue foot mushrooms, goat head
  • Dessert: unlaid chicken eggs, sour cream, rambutan, Turkish tavuk gogsu

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Nico Romo, Culinary Director/French Master Chef, Fish Restaurant, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Geoff Rhyne, Chef de Cuisine, The Ordinary, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Aaron Barnett, Chef & Restauranteur, Restaurant St. Jack, Portland, OR (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Timothy Peterson, Sous Chef, Beauty & Essex and The Stanton Social, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Andrew Zimmern is the host of several programs on the Travel Channel featuring "bizarre" foods and is the guest judge. All basket ingredients featured a series of highly unusual ingredients. Chef Peterson works at Beauty & Essex, which is run by Chopped judge Chris Santos

277 7 "Reality TV Stars" February 17, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Smoked mozzarella, endive, biscuit dough, pheasant terrine
  • Entrée: Lobster,dinosaur kale, vegetable cream cheese, quinoa
  • Dessert: cannoli shells, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, cherry pie filling

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

Episode notes: All contestants are reality television stars and competed for charity.

278 8 "Late Night Food Brawl" February 24, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: Italian sausages in buns, tomatillos, morel mushrooms, poutine
  • Entrée: Fast food sliders, Belgian style stout beer, Japanese eggplant, Mexican corn
  • Dessert: Rice and Cheese burrito, chocolate milk, apple pie, whipped cream

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Maria Ojala, Private Chef, Bel-Air, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Ryan Whyte, Sous Chef, Restaurant St. Jack, Portland, OR (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Anastacia Song, Sous Chef, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Manhattan, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Adam Greenberg, Corporate Executive Chef, Barcelona Restaurant Group, Norwalk, CT (winner)

Episode notes: Late night is the basket theme.

279 9 "Amateurs' Brawl" April 7, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken truffle sausage, pecorino, banana peppers, spinach vinaigrette
  • Entrée: wild boar roast, katsu sauce, pattypan squash, caperberries
  • Dessert: marshmallow chocolate cookies, strawberry jam, hot sauce, cottage cheese

Judges:

  • Chris Santos
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Gregory Generet (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Marilyn Mansfield (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Melissa Naccarato (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Drew Magary (winner)

Episode notes: Home cooks are the contestants.

280 10 "Fabulous Baker Boys" April 21, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: focaccia dough, black cod, miso paste, rice pudding
  • Entrée: puffed pastry dough, chateaubriand, chicken liver, champagne chocolate truffles
  • Dessert: pate a choux, marzipan oranges, gold leaf, candied crabs

Judges:

  • Christina Tosi
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Kamel Saci (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Frederick Aquino (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Mario Bacherini (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Thiago Silva (winner)

Episode notes: Male Bakers are the contestants. They have to bake something in each round. Guest Judge is Christina Tosi.Pate a choux is used to make eclairs.

Season 23 (2014-2015)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
281 1 "Every 'Wich Way" December 16, 2014

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: polenta log, braised beef brisket, araucana eggs, tomatillos
  • Entrée: pate, mango licorice, thousand island dressing, pork shoulder
  • Dessert: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, marshmallow spread, thai curry paste, chocolate covered espresso beans

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Leigh Ann Kato, Freelance Chef & Consultant, Los Angeles, CA (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Susie Blue McWilliam, Redwood, Portland, OR (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Josh Lewis, Head Chef, Better Being Underground, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Daniel Sharp, Corporate Executive Chef, The Meatball Shop, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Contestants were required to make a sandwich for every course.

282 2 "Viewers' Choice Ingredients" January 6, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: pickled eggs, ramps, instant ramen noodles, calf eyeballs
  • Entrée: beef tongue, chimichurri sauce, shiitake mushrooms, boxed mac and cheese
  • Dessert: pig skin, baby food, margherita pizza, ostrich egg

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Victoria Neikirk, Executive Chefs, Pearlz Oysters, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Tynan Gibson, Chef de Cuisine, Tasty n Sons, Portland, OR (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Emily Hahn, Executive Chef, Warehouse, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Vandy Vanderwarker, Sous Chef, The Ordinary, Charleston, SC (winner)

Episode notes: The mystery baskets were filled with ingredients suggested by fans via social media. The first round is from Twitter; the second from Facebook; and the third from Instagram.

283 3 "Chopped Again!" January 27, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: skate wings, pomegranate molasses, purple asparagus, candied sardines
  • Entrée: whole chicken legs, baby zucchini, wine ice cream, spotted dick pudding
  • Dessert: tortenboden, cocoa hazelnut spread, mirin, beer salt

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Angela Majko (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Han Li Hwang (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Brandon Frohne (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Bradley Stellings (winner)

Episode notes: All contestants are chefs looking for redemption.

284 4 "Say Cheese!" February 3, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: domed goat cheese, blue cheese, mostarda, guanciale
  • Entrée: rachlette, brie, chicken thighs, garlic scapes
  • Dessert: manchego, garrotxa, fig spread, tarragon

Judges:

  • Adam Moskowitz
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Alex Stupak

Contestants:

  • Dung Trinh, Chef, Bar Bruno, Brooklyn, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Christian Fischhuber, Chef de Cuisine, Le Cirque, New York, NY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Jose Chesa, Chef & Restauranteur, Ataula, Portland, OR (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Maurizio Crescenzo, Chef & Restauranteur, Grano Trattoria, Traverna di Bocco, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: The theme of the episode is cheese.

285 5 "Chocolate Rush!" February 10, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chocolate stout, white chocolate, pork chops, malted milk powder
  • Entrée: tortilla lime chocolate bars, dark chocolate, deckle of beef, naranjillas in syrup
  • Dessert: chocolate chile liqueur, milk chocolate, graham crackers, toasted coconut flakes

Judges:

Contestants:

  • Kelly Kleisner, Executive Pastry Chef, Indigo Road, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Einav Gefen, Corporate Chef, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Megan Vargas, Pastry Chef, Andina, Portland, OR (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Mindy Simmons, Owner, Decadent Creations Bakery, Beaverton, OR (winner)

Episode notes: The theme of the baskets is chocolate.

286 6 "Double Trouble" March 3, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: date vinegar, rocky mountain oysters, daikon radish, chili roasted peas
  • Entrée: soft shell crab, passion fruit, canned beets, sweet potato patties
  • Dessert: Port wine, crème fraiche, Canadian bacon, lollipop rings

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Kimberly and Justin Maisey, Spa Chefs, Miraval Resort, Tucson, AZ (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jen Catron and Paul "Outlaw", Chefs, Jen & Outlaw's Fish Fry Truck & Crawfish Boil, (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Jon Cano and Elizabeth Gribko, Chef & Pastry Chef, Salumi Tapas & Wine War, East Massapequa, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Adam and Jackie Sappington, Chef & Pastry Chef, The Country Cat, Portland, OR (winner)

Episode notes: Contestants are all couples.

287 7 "T.G.I. Fry-Day" March 10, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: buckwheat honey, hot dogs, taro root, beef fat
  • Entrée: cube steak, pickled green tomatoes, chocolate sandwich cookies, duck fat
  • Dessert: serrano peppers, salted caramel sauce, gooey butter cake, coconut oil

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Chris Santos
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Fred Neuville, Chef & Restauranteur, Fat Hen, John's Island, SC (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Catherine Cosby, Executive Chef, Montreux Bar & Grill, Summerville, SC (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Anh Luu, Head Chef, Tapalaya, Portland, OR (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Mo Major, Sous Chef, Bartaco, Port Chester, NY (winner)

Episode notes: The contestants must fry something in every round.

288 8 "Amateurs Redemption" March 17, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: vegan roast, japanese mayo, purple kohlrabi, almonds
  • Entrée: quail, chermoula, cousa sqush, cinnamon sugar cereal
  • Dessert: ricotta cheese, maple bacon lollipops, wonton wrappers, baharat

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Rique Uresti (Episode 15.6 – "Amazing Amateurs") (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Tommy Werther (Episode 19.1 – "Ambitious Amateurs") (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Sunny Hostin (Episode 19.10 – "Mother's Day") (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jackie Khanich (Episode 19.1 – "Ambitious Amateurs") (winner)

Episode notes: The contestants are home cooks who all competed previously, Tommy Werther and Jackie Khanich having previously competed on the same episode.

289 9 "Let's Do Lunch" March 24, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: cinnamon rolls, turkish coffee, quail eggs, tamarillos
  • Entrée: duck breast, artichoke, champagne, peanut butter and jelly
  • Dessert: pork crown roast, green lipped mussels, creamed spinach, truffles

Judges:

  • Aarón Sánchez
  • Amanda Freitag
  • Marc Murphy

Contestants:

  • Mark Mata, Executive Chef, The Mermaid Inn, New York, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Sarah Arkwright, Food Truck Owner, The Egg Carton, Portland, OR (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Diane Vista-Wayne, Line Cook, New York, NY (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Jonathan Kavourakis, The Stanton Social, New York, NY (winner)

Episode notes: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is the theme of the competition. Chef Kavourakis works at Beauty & Essex, which is run by Chopped judge Chris Santos.

290 10 "Fake Cake, Real Stakes" March 31, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: chicken wings (puffed rice treats with hot sauce), Italian sausage, caramel apple (caramel coated onion), sheep (Cauliflower and olive)
  • Entrée: layer cake (meatloaf), spaghetti squash, green beans (fondant), ice cream sundae (mashed potatoes and gravy)
  • Dessert: grilled cheese (pound cake with frosting), milk (buttermilk), peas and carrots (candy), tomato soup (strawberry soup)

Judges:

  • Marc Murphy
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Lauren Miller, Executive Chef, Sasquatch Brewing Co., Portland, OR (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Daniel Doyle, Executive Chef, Poogan's Porch, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Cole Poolaw, Executive Chef, Barsa Tapas Lounge, Charleston, SC (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Silvia Baldini, Chef & Caterer, Strawberry & Sage, New Canaan, CT (winner)

Episode notes: This is an April Fools' Day competition where ingredients weren't what they seemed and small pranks were pulled (including hiding a rubber snake in a blender, and having someone in a bear costume waiting in the break room between rounds.)

291 11 "First Responders" April 14, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: mixed berry jam, ground bison, arugula, hummus chips
  • Entrée: Rotisserie chicken, fiery jaw breakers, fingerling potatoes, tequila
  • Dessert: passionfruit, angel food cake, toasted marshmallows, fruit ring candies

Judges:

  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Amanada Freitag
  • Chris Santos

Contestants:

  • Ariella Dalfen, Paramedic in Queens, NY (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Jing Cong, FDNY (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Richard Henderson, NYPD Bomb Squad Detective (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Anna Serrano, Sergent of Police (winner)

Episode notes: Police officers and paramedics compete.

Season 24 (2015)

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Original airdate
292 1 "All Stars Tournament: Part 1" April 28, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer: smoked pork tails, culantro, natto, clams
  • Entrée: Shrimp skin, hamachi, pomelo, green garlic
  • Dessert: maple smoked cheddar chesse, almond flour, mayonnaise, dates

Judges:

  • Amanda Freitag
  • Maneet Chauhan
  • Scott Conant

Contestants:

  • Brian Malarkey, Charity: Chimps Inc. (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • Madison Cowan, Charity:Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter (eliminated after the entrée)
  • Eric Greenspan, Charity: Stu and the Kids (eliminated after the dessert)
  • Art Smith, Charity: Reunion (winner)

Episode notes: The first in a five-part All-Stars tournament series, where the winner takes home $75,000 for a charity of their choice. Madison Cowan beat Jose Garces in Iron Chef America's battle Kale.

293 2 "All Stars Tournament: Part 2" May 5, 2015

Ingredients:

  • Appetizer:
  • Entrée:
  • Dessert:

Judges:

Contestants:

  • (eliminated after the appetizer)
  • (eliminated after the entrée)
  • (eliminated after the dessert)
  • (winner)

Episode notes: Part 3 of 5.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Julianne McGourty (2011-11-21). "School Chefs Compete on "Chopped"". NBCUniversal, Inc. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  2. ↑ Cynthia Littleton (2011-11-21). "Doing good at Thanksgiving". Variety. Retrieved 2011-11-23.

External links