From the four corners of the world,
they've arrived at New York City to test their mettle against each
other and against the clock for a shot at $10,000. Let's meet the
chefs who hope to avoid the titular action tonight.
CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN
parts unknown
former professional boxer & chef |
CINDI AVILA
parts unknown
former journalist turned catering manager |
ROBERT BURMEISTER
Staten Island, NY
owner & executive chef, Chow Gourmet |
LUCAS MANTECA
orig. Buenos Aires
surfer & chef |
The rules are
simple. You're given a mélange of random theme ingredients that must
be used in that dish. You have 30 minutes of cooking time. After
each course, the plate will be judged on creativity, presentation,
and above all, taste. The chef whose plate scores the lowest after
each course will be "chopped". The last chef standing wins $10,000.
Tonight's judges...
- Chef & restaurateur Aaron Sanchez
- executive chef Alex Guarnaschelli
- rock'n'roll chef & restaurateur Chris Santos
Round 1: APPETIZER. In the mystery boxes
this round... asparagus, chorizo, button mushroom, and canned peaches.
The twenty minutes for this round - instead of
the usual thirty - starts ... NOW.
Chris: Sauteed Vegetables & Spicy Chorizo
Cindi: Trio of Beans
Robert: Stuffed Mushrooms
Lucas: Warm Asparagus Salad
Cindi has a plan for the chorizo, and that's
important, because she's a veg. But her station is becoming a leaning tower of
gasgetry. Lucas' dish is very much... him. Robert's downfall might be that he's
not a trained chef. Chris has a lot of color going on. He says he's a warrior.
But are they on target now with two minutes left on the clock? We'll find out...
TIME. What's on the plate is what the judges will
eat.
Chris's tricolored peppers is very classic and
works well. But how about a little fresh herb or spice next time? Cindi has
different textures and flavors, but the peaches only made it onto one plate.
Robert stuffed the peaches and the mushrooms. Bold flavors work. Lucas tries to
play it straight. Very clean. Aaron's serving has a clove of garlic that wasn't
supposed to be here?
And Cindi begs.
But will we have a very sloppy dish make it
through to the next round, or will simple and clean work out in the end? And
what about... Cindi?
The first person to be chopped... is... CINDI.
Presentation wise, it wasn't an invitation to eat. And again, no peaches.
Round 2: ENTREE. In the boxes of fun
today... rice cakes, chicken thighs, yellow plantains, fruit punch, and cocktail
onions.
Thirty on the clock... Get cooking.
Chris: Baked Chiciken with Sweet Plantains
Robert: Plantain Puree with Pan-Seared Chicken
Lucas: Mofongo (Mashed plantain with bacon et al.)
No secret. Rice cakes are about as appetizing as
cardboard. Lucas is going for a Caribbean-Central American influence. Chris is
baking the rice cake. Robert... his puree is working pretty good. Lucas is still
cooking with five minutes left. You have to stop cooking and start plating...
He's basically trying everything in the book to try and salvage this dish.
And... TIME. Step away. Let's go to the panel.
Robert's chicken is nice, moist, and crusty.
Chris can make a great dish without a crunch. Lucas... just completely screwed
the pooch. Alex: "You've given me food that I can't eat."
But we have talent against evidence. What will
win out in the end?
The next person to be chopped... is.... no
surprise, LUCAS. At the end of the day, you served raw chicken.
Round 3: DESSERT. And in the boxes for
tonight's final course... betts, goat cheese, quick cook oatmeal, and
crystallized ginger...
... Thirty on the clock... GO!
Chris: Three-Layer Oatmeal Parfait
Robert: Dessert "Salad" Oatmeal Crusted Goat Cheese Medallion
Robert has a plan for the first time all day.
Chris is pulling out all the stops. Both chefs seem to be done early. No need to
call time. Let's go to the Chopping Block.
Chris' parfait is very well balanced. For the
other Chris, it could be sweeter. Alex wanted some crunch. Robert's dessert..
isn't. It straddles the line between dessert and cheese course. He says you can
always do something with something.
Chris' dessert was comfort food. Robert's dessert
was innovative and challenging. Robert had a star in each of his dishes. Chris
is more familar and grew more from the word go.
But who will get the cash, and who will get
chopped?
The final person... to be chopped... is...
Robert. There were just some elements that didn't gel.
But it's all elementary for Chris Coleman, who
gets the bragging rights, 10 G's, and the title of Chopped Champion. He calls it
his biggest triumph... but an even bigger triumph awaits, as his daughter was
just born in Ireland.
Next week, four more chefs and another $10,000 to
be won if you can avoid being... chopped.
To see this episode in its
entirety, or to apply to be a contestant on "Chopped", visit the
official website at
www.foodnetwork.com/chopped.