1 00:00:01,567 --> 00:00:03,900 [Mike Beltran] Every dish that I create has a story to it. 2 00:00:03,967 --> 00:00:05,166 [Lauren Lawless] I love to kick people's asses, 3 00:00:05,166 --> 00:00:06,600 I love to be center of attention. 4 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:08,200 Oh, my gosh. 5 00:00:08,266 --> 00:00:10,567 [Samantha Etienne] Man, watching [chuckles] 6 00:00:10,567 --> 00:00:11,767 and actually being on here 7 00:00:11,767 --> 00:00:13,000 is two complete different things. 8 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:14,867 -What the hell? -[Joe Sasto] Let's go, Mike, finish up. 9 00:00:14,867 --> 00:00:16,266 Home stretch. 10 00:00:16,266 --> 00:00:19,467 I've got almost like crazy stress butterfly thing in your stomach. 11 00:00:19,467 --> 00:00:22,700 He winced as if somebody had punched him in the stomach. 12 00:00:22,767 --> 00:00:24,967 -Tell me you have a plan. -I'll get to it. 13 00:00:24,967 --> 00:00:25,867 -[Ted Allen] Five. -[Nilou Motamed] Damn. 14 00:00:25,867 --> 00:00:27,333 -[Ted] Four. -Oh, my gosh. 15 00:00:27,333 --> 00:00:28,967 -[Ted] Three, two. -It was a rough day in the Chopped kitchen. 16 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:30,000 [Ted] One. 17 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:30,567 [Ted] One. 18 00:00:32,667 --> 00:00:34,266 [Lauren] My competition better step aside 19 00:00:34,266 --> 00:00:36,467 because flawless Lawless is coming for that win. 20 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,033 Whoo! 21 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:40,767 I'm chef and owner of Flawless Cuisine, 22 00:00:40,767 --> 00:00:43,166 a catering company in San Diego. 23 00:00:43,166 --> 00:00:45,367 My style of cooking is Asian fusion. 24 00:00:45,367 --> 00:00:46,900 That smells so good. Mmm. 25 00:00:47,967 --> 00:00:49,567 When you taste my food, you can expect 26 00:00:49,567 --> 00:00:52,300 umami, bold flavors, and pure magic. 27 00:00:52,367 --> 00:00:53,266 Beautiful. 28 00:00:53,266 --> 00:00:54,767 In my career, I've done a lot. 29 00:00:54,767 --> 00:00:57,100 I've opened restaurants, a food truck, a cookbook, 30 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,000 and now I'm fighting for that Chopped champion title. 31 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:00,166 and now I'm fighting for that Chopped champion title. 32 00:01:00,166 --> 00:01:01,200 Don't let my looks fool you, 33 00:01:01,266 --> 00:01:02,400 'cause I'm here to kick some ass. 34 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:07,667 All right, let's cut some stuff. 35 00:01:07,667 --> 00:01:08,900 I wanted to become a chef 36 00:01:08,967 --> 00:01:11,467 mostly 'cause I couldn't sit at a desk my entire life. 37 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:14,066 And now I get to cook food and listen to music all day, 38 00:01:14,066 --> 00:01:17,567 so it's like the most fun thing you can do for a career. 39 00:01:17,567 --> 00:01:18,467 Perfect. 40 00:01:18,467 --> 00:01:19,767 My cuisine is Mediterranean. 41 00:01:19,767 --> 00:01:21,800 Definitely use a lot of acidity 42 00:01:21,867 --> 00:01:23,100 and brightness in my food 43 00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:26,000 to balance out a lot of, like, fatty and rich things. 44 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,166 Bellissimo! 45 00:01:29,367 --> 00:01:30,000 I started my career in Chicago, 46 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,266 I started my career in Chicago, 47 00:01:31,266 --> 00:01:34,367 and I worked with some awesome chefs in amazing restaurants, 48 00:01:34,367 --> 00:01:37,266 I was in Eater Young Gun and Zagat 30 under 30. 49 00:01:37,266 --> 00:01:41,200 2019, I went on Beat Bobby Flay, and beat him. 50 00:01:41,266 --> 00:01:43,166 I didn't come here to lose. 51 00:01:43,166 --> 00:01:44,667 I wanna be the last one standing. 52 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,467 [Sam] I may be small and young, 53 00:01:52,467 --> 00:01:55,500 but I'm just as bad, just as skilled, 54 00:01:55,567 --> 00:01:57,100 and I'm here for the win. 55 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:00,000 I'm the owner and executive chef 56 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,000 I'm the owner and executive chef 57 00:02:01,066 --> 00:02:02,967 of Rose Catering in Atlanta, Georgia. 58 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:08,667 My food is inspired by my Haitian background. 59 00:02:08,667 --> 00:02:12,100 Fresh herbs and some spice. 60 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:13,367 When you taste my food, 61 00:02:13,367 --> 00:02:16,166 you can expect to feel overall good vibe, 62 00:02:16,166 --> 00:02:18,367 like, it's a party in your mouth. 63 00:02:18,367 --> 00:02:20,100 Winning Chopped would mean a lot. 64 00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:22,567 I wanna walk into a room, and people know, like, 65 00:02:22,567 --> 00:02:23,767 "Oh, there's Chef Sam." 66 00:02:25,567 --> 00:02:27,000 I'm bringing the heat. 67 00:02:29,266 --> 00:02:30,000 I am the owner of Little Chef Diner and Culinary Theory. 68 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,266 I am the owner of Little Chef Diner and Culinary Theory. 69 00:02:32,266 --> 00:02:34,567 I got into cooking as a young kid. 70 00:02:34,567 --> 00:02:36,066 I'll watch my grandmother cook, 71 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:39,266 make, like, Mexican pizzas, Indian fired bread, green chili, 72 00:02:39,266 --> 00:02:41,066 lot of traditional Mexican cuisine. 73 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:43,967 I still make lot of those with my own twist. 74 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:46,400 And the thing I love about cooking 75 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,667 is being able to share my food with a story, 76 00:02:48,667 --> 00:02:50,367 so everything that's on my menus 77 00:02:50,367 --> 00:02:52,467 has a story behind it. 78 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:54,100 I know I got the skills needed to win, 79 00:02:54,166 --> 00:02:55,667 so I'm ready to do this. 80 00:02:55,667 --> 00:02:56,567 Let's go. 81 00:02:59,567 --> 00:03:00,000 Hello, Chefs. 82 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:00,600 Hello, Chefs. 83 00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:01,834 -What's up? -What's up, Ted? 84 00:03:01,834 --> 00:03:05,467 Your moment to shine in the Chopped kitchen is now. 85 00:03:05,467 --> 00:03:06,800 Can you do this? 86 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,166 -Let's get this party started, come on. -Hell, yeah Let's go. 87 00:03:08,166 --> 00:03:09,800 [Ted] There are three rounds. 88 00:03:09,867 --> 00:03:12,800 Mandatory mystery ingredients for each course. 89 00:03:12,867 --> 00:03:15,000 If your dish doesn't cut it, 90 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:16,567 you will be chopped. 91 00:03:16,567 --> 00:03:18,266 -Not happening. -No, it's not me. 92 00:03:18,266 --> 00:03:20,300 Your appetizer ingredients are waiting for you. 93 00:03:23,867 --> 00:03:24,867 Get into the basket. 94 00:03:25,867 --> 00:03:27,266 -[all exclaiming] -Ooh, nice. 95 00:03:27,266 --> 00:03:29,300 -Wow! -[Ted] Surprise! 96 00:03:29,367 --> 00:03:30,000 It's a watermelon cake. 97 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,967 It's a watermelon cake. 98 00:03:31,967 --> 00:03:34,166 This one might be little bit challenging. 99 00:03:35,967 --> 00:03:38,667 [Ted] You'll also be cooking with thinly sliced rib eye. 100 00:03:38,667 --> 00:03:40,166 Thinly sliced rib eye. 101 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:43,100 [Ted] Marinated goat cheese. 102 00:03:43,100 --> 00:03:44,367 [Lauren] Wow. 103 00:03:45,166 --> 00:03:46,266 Shishito. 104 00:03:46,266 --> 00:03:48,000 [Ted] And shishito peppers. 105 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,266 [Mike] Definitely like this peppers. 106 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,200 Could've been a lot worse. 107 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,000 [Ted] Twenty minutes to make a stellar first impression. 108 00:03:54,767 --> 00:03:56,066 Clock starts now. 109 00:03:56,066 --> 00:03:57,300 -[Nilou] Go! Yeah! -[Chris Santos] All right, here we go. 110 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:00,000 Look at this, Sam going for plates straight away. 111 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:00,100 Look at this, Sam going for plates straight away. 112 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:02,500 -Straight, going for plates, that's interesting. -[Joe] What a move. 113 00:04:02,567 --> 00:04:04,567 That's a move that says, I know exactly what I'm making. 114 00:04:04,567 --> 00:04:06,567 -Yup. -Coming down. 115 00:04:06,567 --> 00:04:10,367 Chris, you joined on the judges panel by two special guests. 116 00:04:10,367 --> 00:04:13,066 Copped champion, Chef Joe Sasto, 117 00:04:13,066 --> 00:04:16,667 -and celebrated food journalist, Nilou Motamed. -[Chris] Welcome, welcome. 118 00:04:16,667 --> 00:04:18,500 Judges, this watermelon cake looks fancy, 119 00:04:18,567 --> 00:04:21,166 but at the end of the day, it's just watermelon. 120 00:04:21,166 --> 00:04:23,467 I think it gives tons of opportunities for our chefs 121 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:24,867 to use something fresh and bright, 122 00:04:24,867 --> 00:04:26,400 I think it's, it's a lay-up. 123 00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:27,367 Yup. 124 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:29,634 Behind you. 125 00:04:30,867 --> 00:04:33,367 [Sam] Seeing the judges, they're looking awesome. 126 00:04:33,367 --> 00:04:35,800 Chef Joe, I've always looked up to him 127 00:04:35,867 --> 00:04:39,000 'cause of his snazzy little moustache, I love that. 128 00:04:39,066 --> 00:04:43,000 I wanna show the judges, this 26-year-old Haitian girl, 129 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,100 I'm a force to be reckoned with, 130 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:48,100 and they better get to know me. [laughs] 131 00:04:50,266 --> 00:04:52,367 I am making Seared Curry Rib Eye, 132 00:04:52,367 --> 00:04:56,166 with pickled watermelon, and rosemary infused whipped goat cheese. 133 00:04:56,166 --> 00:04:58,066 Time to cook. 134 00:04:58,066 --> 00:04:59,867 Sam, how are you feeling about this watermelon cake? 135 00:04:59,867 --> 00:05:00,000 I'm feeling good, I'm gonna pickle the watermelon, 136 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000 I'm feeling good, I'm gonna pickle the watermelon, 137 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,066 and I'm gonna infuse this goat cheese with some rosemary oil. 138 00:05:07,066 --> 00:05:10,400 I really wanted the judges to shut up. [laughs] 139 00:05:10,467 --> 00:05:12,667 Like, I cannot answer no questions, 140 00:05:12,667 --> 00:05:15,200 it's already a lot of pressure. [laughs] 141 00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:17,800 I'm a little stressed right now, this was like, whoo. 142 00:05:17,867 --> 00:05:20,266 -[Chris laughs] Okay. -[Joe laughs] 143 00:05:22,266 --> 00:05:24,100 What do I need for this? Bit of lettuce. 144 00:05:25,467 --> 00:05:27,066 [Joe] So this thinly sliced rib eye 145 00:05:27,066 --> 00:05:28,300 is normally the steak, 146 00:05:28,367 --> 00:05:30,000 the prime rib cut that you'd have, 147 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,300 the prime rib cut that you'd have, 148 00:05:30,367 --> 00:05:33,100 but sliced thin, it's the perfect cut for cheese steaks. 149 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:35,567 What about pounding out this rib eye and doing a carpaccio? 150 00:05:35,567 --> 00:05:36,467 I wouldn't be against it. 151 00:05:36,467 --> 00:05:38,467 Let's do this. 152 00:05:38,467 --> 00:05:41,100 I think the other chefs need to look out for me because 153 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:44,000 my presentation is always gonna be flawless. 154 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,200 Flawless Cuisine is a high-end catering company, 155 00:05:46,266 --> 00:05:47,767 I specialize in global cuisine, 156 00:05:47,767 --> 00:05:50,000 I love to do farm to table, fresh ingredients, 157 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,567 fine dining with a modern twist. 158 00:05:52,166 --> 00:05:53,066 Whoo! 159 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:54,266 With the thinly sliced rib eye, 160 00:05:54,266 --> 00:05:55,400 I don't wanna do too much to it, 161 00:05:55,467 --> 00:05:57,033 I really wanna showcase the meat. 162 00:05:57,033 --> 00:06:00,000 For my dish, I'm gonna make a Mediterranean Inspired Beef Carpaccio 163 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:00,467 For my dish, I'm gonna make a Mediterranean Inspired Beef Carpaccio 164 00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:02,467 and blistered shishito peppers. 165 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:05,000 So this is kinda one of my favorite childhood dishes. 166 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,467 In my Mediterranean salad, 167 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,867 I'm going to use the watermelon from the watermelon cake, 168 00:06:08,867 --> 00:06:10,600 some heirloom tomatoes, 169 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:12,266 I wanna add some pickled onions 170 00:06:12,266 --> 00:06:13,700 because I love pickled stuff. 171 00:06:13,767 --> 00:06:14,800 How are you feeling over there, buddy? 172 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:15,967 -Good, good, how are you? -What are you doing? 173 00:06:15,967 --> 00:06:18,166 -I'm good. I'm hyped. -Let's do this. 174 00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:20,000 Whoo! 175 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,800 [Mike] I'm trying to add some flavor into this beef. 176 00:06:23,867 --> 00:06:26,166 Every dish that I create has a story to it, 177 00:06:26,166 --> 00:06:28,800 and I make a Thai steak salad for my wife all the time, 178 00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:30,000 I'm gonna recreate that with this basket. 179 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:30,967 I'm gonna recreate that with this basket. 180 00:06:30,967 --> 00:06:33,967 For my appetizer, I'm making a Thai Cold Noodle Salad. 181 00:06:33,967 --> 00:06:36,667 I marinated my steak in rice wine vinegar, 182 00:06:36,667 --> 00:06:38,400 soy sauce, honey, and garlic. 183 00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:41,934 Perfect. 184 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,066 Sieger, it looks like you're making a steak tartar, yeah? 185 00:06:46,066 --> 00:06:47,200 We'll see. 186 00:06:47,266 --> 00:06:49,100 -[Chris] We'll see! -[Nilou] Damn! 187 00:06:49,166 --> 00:06:50,500 Keeping us in the dark. 188 00:06:50,567 --> 00:06:53,166 -I could do larb. Do you guys want larb? -[Chris] Yes. 189 00:06:53,166 --> 00:06:55,000 If larb in available, I'm interested. 190 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,500 We'll do larb. Okay, we'll do larb. 191 00:06:58,367 --> 00:07:00,000 Since I'm doing larb, I kinda wanna go more towards Thai, 192 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,367 Since I'm doing larb, I kinda wanna go more towards Thai, 193 00:07:01,367 --> 00:07:03,600 so I wanna get fish sauce and soy sauce 194 00:07:03,667 --> 00:07:05,266 to kind of balance out the spiciness 195 00:07:05,266 --> 00:07:07,367 and then also have that umami punch. 196 00:07:09,700 --> 00:07:12,100 Chefs, less than 10 minutes to get this done. 197 00:07:12,166 --> 00:07:13,000 Heard. 198 00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:16,700 [Nilou] I love a shishito so much, 199 00:07:16,767 --> 00:07:19,367 but they're like a little bit of Russian roulette situation, though, 200 00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:20,700 'cause for every seventh one, 201 00:07:20,767 --> 00:07:22,600 you get one that, it burns your face off. 202 00:07:22,667 --> 00:07:24,166 That's... Which is my favorite one, by the way. 203 00:07:24,166 --> 00:07:25,166 [Nilou laughs] I know. 204 00:07:30,767 --> 00:07:32,867 [Sam] I'm taking my shishito peppers 205 00:07:32,867 --> 00:07:35,467 and looking to get them into a nice char. 206 00:07:35,467 --> 00:07:37,567 Cool, who love some curry. 207 00:07:37,567 --> 00:07:39,467 You can never go wrong with curry. 208 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:42,066 My mom is Haitian, my dad is Haitian, 209 00:07:42,066 --> 00:07:44,767 and Haitian cooking is just what I was raised on. 210 00:07:44,767 --> 00:07:47,367 I'm putting Haitian cuisine on the forefront, 211 00:07:47,367 --> 00:07:51,266 and I want people to realize we're about to take over the fine dining world. 212 00:07:51,266 --> 00:07:52,567 So, hopefully, it tastes good. 213 00:07:52,567 --> 00:07:54,667 Get some olive oil on here. 214 00:07:54,667 --> 00:07:56,767 I take my shishito peppers and pop them on my grill. 215 00:07:56,767 --> 00:07:58,767 I wanna blister them, get a nice char on them 216 00:07:58,767 --> 00:08:00,000 to bring out the flavor and some caramelization. 217 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,000 to bring out the flavor and some caramelization. 218 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,166 How is everybody looking on time? We're good? 219 00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:07,500 Some beautiful bread right here. 220 00:08:07,567 --> 00:08:10,700 No one expected me to be as successful as I am today. 221 00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:12,467 Crunch time. 222 00:08:12,467 --> 00:08:14,600 I'm very hard working and determined. 223 00:08:14,667 --> 00:08:16,700 When I set my mind to something, I accomplish it. 224 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:18,667 Pistachios. 225 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,767 Add some vinegar and acidity. 226 00:08:22,767 --> 00:08:25,300 Chef Mike, how are you feeling about that watermelon cake? 227 00:08:25,367 --> 00:08:28,967 I'm gonna use the watermelon cake to make a quick vinaigrette, 228 00:08:28,967 --> 00:08:30,000 um, for my Thai Asian salad. 229 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,166 um, for my Thai Asian salad. 230 00:08:31,166 --> 00:08:33,000 -[Joe] There we go, acid. -Oh, nice. 231 00:08:34,066 --> 00:08:36,100 [Mike] The goat cheese is kinda salty, 232 00:08:36,166 --> 00:08:37,667 so if I add it to my vinaigrette, 233 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:40,000 it will help balance the sweetness. 234 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,100 I see my shishito peppers. 235 00:08:42,166 --> 00:08:43,667 I'm gonna throw them into a hot skillet. 236 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,767 My Daphnie and I have been married for six years, 237 00:08:48,767 --> 00:08:49,900 we have five kids, 238 00:08:49,967 --> 00:08:51,000 and I love coming home to them, 239 00:08:51,066 --> 00:08:52,166 they, like, brighten up my day. 240 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:54,767 I'm just working hard for my family 241 00:08:54,767 --> 00:08:56,667 and trying to, like, build something for them to have 242 00:08:56,667 --> 00:08:58,166 as they get older. 243 00:08:58,166 --> 00:08:59,500 My family means the world to me, 244 00:08:59,567 --> 00:09:00,000 so this win will be for them. 245 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,000 so this win will be for them. 246 00:09:02,166 --> 00:09:04,000 You guys, last six minutes, six minutes. 247 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,567 Six minutes. 248 00:09:06,567 --> 00:09:08,266 [Sieger Bayer] I want the watermelon to kinda of add 249 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:10,300 the sweetness that you usually get in larb, 250 00:09:10,367 --> 00:09:12,700 I add some minced shallot to that and some vinegar, 251 00:09:12,767 --> 00:09:15,367 and kinda just let that marinate. 252 00:09:15,367 --> 00:09:18,467 Right after culinary school, I backpacked in Europe for a couple of months. 253 00:09:18,467 --> 00:09:20,667 I hit Italy and Germany and France, 254 00:09:20,667 --> 00:09:22,767 but Spain was the one that really stuck with me. 255 00:09:22,767 --> 00:09:25,600 I'm gonna take this $10,000, and I'm gonna go on a big trip to Spain. 256 00:09:28,567 --> 00:09:29,867 Five minutes to go, chefs. 257 00:09:29,867 --> 00:09:30,000 -Five minutes, chefs. -Heard. 258 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,567 -Five minutes, chefs. -Heard. 259 00:09:34,066 --> 00:09:35,367 [Joe] All right, now I'm worried for Sieger. 260 00:09:35,367 --> 00:09:36,767 We're down to the final minute, 261 00:09:36,767 --> 00:09:39,567 and he just started working with his goat cheese. 262 00:09:39,567 --> 00:09:42,300 -Let's hope that Sieger pulls it out. -I'll get to it. 263 00:09:42,367 --> 00:09:44,567 -Ugh! Oh. -Busted. 264 00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:46,700 -He heard you. [laughs] -Oh, no. 265 00:09:46,767 --> 00:09:48,000 I promise. 266 00:09:58,367 --> 00:10:00,300 Coming through, behind. Coming through, behind. 267 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:04,300 [Sieger] I know I'm running out of time, 268 00:10:04,367 --> 00:10:05,867 so I just need to get this goat cheese on the plate. 269 00:10:05,867 --> 00:10:08,000 So I season it just like I seasoned the larb. 270 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,000 Mirin and just a little bit of fish sauce. 271 00:10:10,066 --> 00:10:11,667 The mouthfeel and the texture with the larb 272 00:10:11,667 --> 00:10:13,100 is gonna be perfect. 273 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:15,600 You guys should start plating, you have under three minutes to go. 274 00:10:15,667 --> 00:10:17,467 -[Mike] Heard. -[Sam] Heard. Three minutes. 275 00:10:17,467 --> 00:10:20,667 With the goat cheese, I am using a hand mixer 276 00:10:20,667 --> 00:10:23,000 to whip and get it as soft as possible. 277 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:23,259 Then I fold in my rosemary oil. 278 00:10:23,259 --> 00:10:25,500 Then I fold in my rosemary oil. 279 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:28,667 Come on. 280 00:10:28,667 --> 00:10:30,266 I wanna add some body to my salad, 281 00:10:30,266 --> 00:10:31,767 so I grabbed arugula and spinach, 282 00:10:31,767 --> 00:10:34,000 I tossed that together with some minced scallions 283 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,567 and crushed almonds. 284 00:10:37,266 --> 00:10:38,500 Two minutes, guys. 285 00:10:39,467 --> 00:10:40,700 It's down to the wire, 286 00:10:40,700 --> 00:10:42,166 I gotta figure out what to do with this goat cheese, 287 00:10:42,166 --> 00:10:43,967 I'm going to crumble the goat cheese, 288 00:10:43,967 --> 00:10:46,300 put it on my salad, and cross my fingers. 289 00:10:46,367 --> 00:10:48,100 [Ted] You got this, chefs, get it done, get it done. 290 00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:49,400 [Mike] Come on, guys, come on, we're almost there. 291 00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:50,300 Let's go, let's go. 292 00:10:50,367 --> 00:10:51,367 Stay focused. 293 00:10:51,367 --> 00:10:52,266 You can do it. 294 00:10:52,266 --> 00:10:53,259 Oh, gosh, crunch time. 295 00:10:53,259 --> 00:10:54,000 Oh, gosh, crunch time. 296 00:10:54,567 --> 00:10:55,667 Whoo! 297 00:10:55,667 --> 00:10:57,066 [Nilou] You have to remember all the ingredients, 298 00:10:57,066 --> 00:10:59,100 everything in the basket. 299 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:01,667 [Ted] Don't let the clock trip you up now, chefs. 300 00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:04,900 -Ten, nine, eight, seven... -[Nilou] Here we go, chefs, you can do it. 301 00:11:05,567 --> 00:11:07,000 [Ted] ...six, five, 302 00:11:07,767 --> 00:11:09,367 four, three, 303 00:11:09,367 --> 00:11:11,066 two, one. 304 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,367 -Times up! -[all cheering] 305 00:11:15,367 --> 00:11:17,367 -[Joe] Nice work. -[Nilou] Great job. 306 00:11:18,667 --> 00:11:22,100 Man, watching [chuckles] and actually being on here 307 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:23,259 is two complete different things, 308 00:11:23,259 --> 00:11:23,900 is two complete different things, 309 00:11:23,967 --> 00:11:25,467 but the time is just ticking, 310 00:11:25,467 --> 00:11:27,667 and you just gotta get it done as fast as possible. 311 00:11:28,867 --> 00:11:29,867 [Sieger] Twenty minutes goes by real quick 312 00:11:29,867 --> 00:11:31,000 in the Chopped kitchen. 313 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,300 I hope the judges can see that I can adapt, 314 00:11:33,367 --> 00:11:34,567 work really quickly on my feet, 315 00:11:34,567 --> 00:11:35,767 and put out a delicious dish. 316 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:42,166 [Ted] Chefs, you've arrived at the chopping block. 317 00:11:42,166 --> 00:11:44,567 Your mandatory mystery ingredients were 318 00:11:44,567 --> 00:11:46,066 a watermelon cake, 319 00:11:46,867 --> 00:11:48,100 thinly sliced rib eye, 320 00:11:48,867 --> 00:11:50,467 marinated goat cheese, 321 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,500 and shishito peppers. 322 00:11:53,567 --> 00:11:55,767 First up, Chef Lauren, what do we have? 323 00:11:55,767 --> 00:11:57,066 Uh, what I've made for you guys today 324 00:11:57,066 --> 00:11:59,400 is a Mediterranean Inspired Beef Carpaccio, 325 00:11:59,467 --> 00:12:02,400 a little watermelon heirloom tomato salad, 326 00:12:02,467 --> 00:12:04,100 I blistered the shishito pepper, 327 00:12:04,166 --> 00:12:06,266 I've also added the goat cheese to it 328 00:12:06,266 --> 00:12:07,800 and some toasted pistachio. 329 00:12:09,100 --> 00:12:10,100 Tell us what you do, chef. 330 00:12:10,166 --> 00:12:11,667 [Lauren] First of all, I'm a mother of two, 331 00:12:11,667 --> 00:12:13,967 I'm a private chef, and own a catering company, 332 00:12:13,967 --> 00:12:16,100 so a little bit of everything. 333 00:12:16,166 --> 00:12:17,700 [Nilou] What I love about this dish 334 00:12:17,767 --> 00:12:19,767 is how beautifully presented it is. 335 00:12:19,767 --> 00:12:22,600 The way you used the watermelon cake is exactly what we wanted, 336 00:12:22,667 --> 00:12:23,259 we wanted you to take the watermelon and evolve it, 337 00:12:23,259 --> 00:12:24,767 we wanted you to take the watermelon and evolve it, 338 00:12:24,767 --> 00:12:25,700 and certainly did. 339 00:12:25,767 --> 00:12:26,800 Thank you. 340 00:12:26,867 --> 00:12:28,066 [Chris] You know, it's really funny, 341 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:31,467 but getting bread right in this kitchen for some reason, 342 00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:33,166 it seems to be an impossibility, 343 00:12:33,166 --> 00:12:34,367 and this is perfect. 344 00:12:34,367 --> 00:12:35,800 Oh, thank you. 345 00:12:35,867 --> 00:12:37,066 But, yeah, that rib eye needed to be 346 00:12:37,066 --> 00:12:38,800 just paid attention to a little bit more. 347 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,467 - [Lauren] Heard. - [Chris] Some pieces were thicker than others. 348 00:12:40,467 --> 00:12:42,200 I think you needed to pound this out, basically, 349 00:12:42,266 --> 00:12:44,300 -for it to make it a real carpaccio. -Heard. 350 00:12:44,367 --> 00:12:46,567 -Thank you. -[Joe] Chef Lauren, the goat cheese itself 351 00:12:46,567 --> 00:12:47,767 was kinda just put on there, 352 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:49,767 but I really enjoyed what you did with 353 00:12:49,767 --> 00:12:50,900 the shishito peppers in there, 354 00:12:50,967 --> 00:12:52,700 using them as texture. 355 00:12:52,767 --> 00:12:53,259 Heard. 356 00:12:53,259 --> 00:12:54,266 Heard. 357 00:12:54,266 --> 00:12:55,667 Chef Lauren, thank you. 358 00:12:55,667 --> 00:12:56,867 Chef Mike, what have you made? 359 00:12:56,867 --> 00:13:00,667 I've made for you guys today a Thai Cold Noodle Salad. 360 00:13:00,667 --> 00:13:03,567 As soon as I saw the steak, I thought it was very lean, 361 00:13:03,567 --> 00:13:04,867 so I could cook that really quick, 362 00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:07,300 and then I wanted to make the vinaigrette, 363 00:13:07,367 --> 00:13:09,467 which is made with the watermelon and goat cheese. 364 00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:11,367 Yeah, I think you got a lot of flavor into this rib eye 365 00:13:11,367 --> 00:13:13,467 -in a very short period of time. -Thank you. 366 00:13:13,467 --> 00:13:16,166 I like the vinaigrette that you made with the watermelon, 367 00:13:16,166 --> 00:13:18,500 but it's a little but hard to get the noodles with, 368 00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:21,800 because of the weight of the spinach that's on top of it. 369 00:13:21,867 --> 00:13:23,259 The utilization of the goat cheese in the vinaigrette 370 00:13:23,259 --> 00:13:23,867 The utilization of the goat cheese in the vinaigrette 371 00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:26,266 made it nice and creamy, it coated all those noodles, 372 00:13:26,266 --> 00:13:29,467 but I think you could've either made it completely a salad 373 00:13:29,467 --> 00:13:31,367 or completely a noodle dish, 374 00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:32,567 and what we have here is something 375 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,667 kind of in the middle. 376 00:13:34,667 --> 00:13:35,767 Thank you. 377 00:13:35,767 --> 00:13:37,467 [Nilou] Chef Mike, I have to agree, 378 00:13:37,467 --> 00:13:39,700 but I do wanna keep on coming back 379 00:13:39,767 --> 00:13:44,500 and having more of the blistered shishito and the rib eye. 380 00:13:44,567 --> 00:13:47,667 And the little hits of scallion that I'm getting are lovely. 381 00:13:47,667 --> 00:13:49,200 Thank you. 382 00:13:49,266 --> 00:13:50,967 [Ted] All right, chef, if you win, you get $10,000, 383 00:13:50,967 --> 00:13:52,000 what would you do with that? 384 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:53,166 [Mike] Uh, when I win, 385 00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:53,259 I'm going to use the $10,000, 386 00:13:53,259 --> 00:13:55,467 I'm going to use the $10,000, 387 00:13:55,467 --> 00:13:57,700 uh, for my Little Chef Diner, 388 00:13:57,767 --> 00:14:00,700 I just bought a 1950s vintage diner. 389 00:14:00,767 --> 00:14:02,667 Just wanna put money back into it and just keep growing. 390 00:14:03,266 --> 00:14:04,200 Chef Mike, thank you. 391 00:14:04,700 --> 00:14:05,667 Thank you. 392 00:14:05,667 --> 00:14:07,200 Next up, Chef Sam. 393 00:14:07,266 --> 00:14:09,767 Okay, so what I've made for you guys today 394 00:14:09,767 --> 00:14:11,700 is a Curried Rib Eye 395 00:14:11,767 --> 00:14:13,266 with pickled watermelon 396 00:14:13,266 --> 00:14:15,567 and rosemary infused whipped goat cheese. 397 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,767 Aesthetically, I wasn't sure what to expect 398 00:14:21,767 --> 00:14:23,259 when going into this dish, 399 00:14:23,259 --> 00:14:23,266 when going into this dish, 400 00:14:23,266 --> 00:14:24,867 but then as soon as I started eating it, 401 00:14:24,867 --> 00:14:26,200 it all completely made sense. 402 00:14:26,266 --> 00:14:27,600 You get some of the meat, 403 00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:29,200 you get that pickled watermelon. 404 00:14:29,266 --> 00:14:31,066 The cook on the shishito peppers, 405 00:14:31,066 --> 00:14:33,400 text book well done, they're blistered. 406 00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:35,367 I think this all worked very well for you. 407 00:14:35,367 --> 00:14:36,667 Thank you, chef. 408 00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:40,367 There is a lot of flavor in each layer of your creations, 409 00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:43,367 but I'm getting a lot of, lot of salt from that goat cheese, 410 00:14:43,367 --> 00:14:45,600 but the rosemary is a nice touch. 411 00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:46,934 Thank you, chef. 412 00:14:46,934 --> 00:14:48,867 Couple of things, I love the pickle on the watermelon, 413 00:14:48,867 --> 00:14:50,700 but I don't love the texture of it. 414 00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:53,100 And then you kinda cooked, my steak at least, 415 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:53,259 I have pieces that are, like, very, very well done, 416 00:14:53,259 --> 00:14:55,667 I have pieces that are, like, very, very well done, 417 00:14:55,667 --> 00:14:58,300 and then I have pieces that are, like, very, very rare, 418 00:14:58,367 --> 00:15:01,400 -but the flavors are really stunning. -Thank you, chef. 419 00:15:01,467 --> 00:15:02,266 [Ted] Chef Sam, thank you. 420 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,367 And finally, Chef Seiger. 421 00:15:05,367 --> 00:15:06,667 [Sieger] So we've got Beef Larb, 422 00:15:06,667 --> 00:15:09,100 some charred and marinated shishito peppers, 423 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:11,800 a little bit of, like, watermelon kinda add some sweetness, 424 00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:14,367 and I've just, uh, hit the goat cheese with some more, 425 00:15:14,367 --> 00:15:15,767 like, the mirin and fish sauce 426 00:15:15,767 --> 00:15:18,266 to kinda incorporate with everything. 427 00:15:18,266 --> 00:15:21,767 Have you ever put goat cheese and larb together and seen that? 428 00:15:21,767 --> 00:15:22,934 Never seen it. 429 00:15:22,934 --> 00:15:23,259 I think the laws of larb say not to put goat cheese... 430 00:15:23,259 --> 00:15:25,500 I think the laws of larb say not to put goat cheese... 431 00:15:25,567 --> 00:15:27,767 -Yeah, 100% -...with, with the larb. 432 00:15:27,767 --> 00:15:29,900 Um, but it adds this creaminess 433 00:15:29,967 --> 00:15:31,100 that cuts through all that 434 00:15:31,867 --> 00:15:34,166 salty, umami fish sauce 435 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:36,567 that you have worked into that meat marinade. 436 00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:39,467 And then you have the crispy lettuce to kinda scoop everything up. 437 00:15:39,467 --> 00:15:40,767 Very well thought out. 438 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,133 [Chris] This is very craveable, 439 00:15:43,133 --> 00:15:45,967 and I think you did the best job with the rib eye overall. 440 00:15:45,967 --> 00:15:48,567 Did you out anything else in here for spice or is it just the shishito? 441 00:15:48,567 --> 00:15:51,000 -It's just the shishito. -Well, you got a hot one and it works perfectly. 442 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,300 -[Nilou] Yeah. -It works really perfectly. 443 00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:53,259 I'll take it. Thank you. 444 00:15:53,259 --> 00:15:53,266 I'll take it. Thank you. 445 00:15:53,266 --> 00:15:55,400 [Chris] Minced basil, 446 00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:59,066 cilantro, um, all those things would've really elevated this. 447 00:16:00,367 --> 00:16:02,700 I agree, more herbs, but I love the flavor, 448 00:16:02,767 --> 00:16:04,467 I think it's a beautiful plate of food. 449 00:16:04,467 --> 00:16:05,900 Knife cuts in the rib eye are beautiful, 450 00:16:05,967 --> 00:16:08,500 but even the way you've cut the watermelon 451 00:16:08,567 --> 00:16:11,266 from the watermelon cake is very impressive. 452 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:13,767 -[Ted] Chef Sieger, thank you. -Thank you. 453 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:17,700 You all put forth a great effort, 454 00:16:17,767 --> 00:16:20,567 but only three chefs can cook in the second round. 455 00:16:22,900 --> 00:16:23,259 [Lauren] I think Mike is gonna get chopped, 456 00:16:23,259 --> 00:16:24,300 [Lauren] I think Mike is gonna get chopped, 457 00:16:24,300 --> 00:16:26,467 I think overall, he didn't have a well composed dish, 458 00:16:26,467 --> 00:16:29,066 and I'm really hopping that my flavors beat him in this round. 459 00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:32,166 [Sam] I think I did a good job, 460 00:16:32,166 --> 00:16:34,867 but Chef Chris, his meat was rare 461 00:16:34,867 --> 00:16:37,467 and also, like, over done 462 00:16:37,467 --> 00:16:39,867 but I transformed the ingredients, 463 00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:41,367 and the flavor was there, 464 00:16:41,367 --> 00:16:44,000 so hopefully, that's enough to get me to the next round. 465 00:16:56,767 --> 00:16:59,667 So whose dish is on the chopping block? 466 00:17:06,767 --> 00:17:08,000 Knew it. [chuckles] 467 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,567 Chef Lauren, you've been chopped. 468 00:17:10,567 --> 00:17:11,700 Judges. 469 00:17:11,767 --> 00:17:14,066 [Nilou] Chef Lauren, the plate was beautiful, 470 00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:16,367 but we wish you had created 471 00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:18,800 more transformation with the rib eye, 472 00:17:18,867 --> 00:17:20,166 and we felt that the goat cheese 473 00:17:20,166 --> 00:17:22,344 needed to be transformed more as well, 474 00:17:22,344 --> 00:17:22,500 needed to be transformed more as well, 475 00:17:22,567 --> 00:17:24,500 and so we have to chop you. 476 00:17:24,567 --> 00:17:26,000 Thank you so much, it's been an honor. 477 00:17:27,867 --> 00:17:30,367 I'm sad to go, I feel like I had a lot more to showcase, 478 00:17:30,367 --> 00:17:33,567 but I think my family and my kids are gonna be excited to see me. 479 00:17:33,567 --> 00:17:34,867 They know I put my heart out there, 480 00:17:34,867 --> 00:17:37,567 I did my best, and that's all that I can do at this point. 481 00:17:37,567 --> 00:17:39,700 [mouthing] I've been chopped. [chuckles] 482 00:17:41,967 --> 00:17:43,867 Chef Mike, Chef Sam, Chef Sieger, 483 00:17:43,867 --> 00:17:45,867 let's see if you can keep the momentum going 484 00:17:45,867 --> 00:17:48,266 with whatever you find in these. 485 00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:52,344 Please open your entrée baskets. 486 00:17:52,344 --> 00:17:52,800 Please open your entrée baskets. 487 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:55,033 Okay, what is in this? 488 00:17:55,033 --> 00:17:57,266 [Ted] And can you make incredible dishes 489 00:17:57,266 --> 00:17:59,200 with movie theatre popcorn... 490 00:17:59,266 --> 00:18:00,266 [Mike] The popcorn is gonna be a little tricky. 491 00:18:00,266 --> 00:18:02,467 Some eggplant. 492 00:18:02,467 --> 00:18:03,867 [Ted] ...Japanese eggplant, 493 00:18:04,667 --> 00:18:06,000 Cornish hens... 494 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,000 [Mike] Oh. 495 00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:09,667 [Ted] ...and egg tofu. 496 00:18:09,667 --> 00:18:13,300 Egg tofu, I have no idea what this even tastes like. 497 00:18:14,467 --> 00:18:16,700 [Sam] This is definitely harder than the first round. 498 00:18:16,767 --> 00:18:17,900 Yeah, definitely harder basket for sure. 499 00:18:17,967 --> 00:18:20,100 But it's doable, we'll make it work. 500 00:18:21,100 --> 00:18:21,967 [Ted] Thirty minutes. 501 00:18:24,266 --> 00:18:25,767 Clock starts now. 502 00:18:25,767 --> 00:18:27,000 -[Nilou] Yeah. -[Chris] There they go. 503 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,967 -Nice job. -Come on, let's go. 504 00:18:30,567 --> 00:18:32,767 Onion powder, paprika, 505 00:18:33,567 --> 00:18:35,300 garlic powder. 506 00:18:35,367 --> 00:18:38,567 Judges, at first glance, this might not look like a very difficult basket, 507 00:18:38,567 --> 00:18:41,600 but this is Chopped, what are the pitfalls? 508 00:18:41,667 --> 00:18:44,600 -I think the Cornish hen is the trip up in this basket. -[Nilou] Really? 509 00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:45,800 -[Ted] Really? -[Joe] 'Cause you have this 510 00:18:45,867 --> 00:18:48,200 really lean piece of protein, 511 00:18:48,266 --> 00:18:51,166 incredibly flavorful, lots of fat in there, 512 00:18:51,166 --> 00:18:52,344 -but the cooking and managing the clock in this... -[Chris] Yes. 513 00:18:52,344 --> 00:18:53,767 -but the cooking and managing the clock in this... -[Chris] Yes. 514 00:18:53,767 --> 00:18:56,800 -...I think is going to be the challenge. -Yup. 515 00:18:56,867 --> 00:18:59,367 [Sieger] I wanna cook the Cornish hen in a cast iron pan, 516 00:18:59,367 --> 00:19:01,300 skin side down, so it gets nice and crisp, 517 00:19:01,367 --> 00:19:03,367 'cause I know they're probably gonna need five to ten minutes to cook, 518 00:19:03,367 --> 00:19:04,867 just wanna make sure they cook through, 519 00:19:04,867 --> 00:19:06,700 and take the rest of the bone to make the jus. 520 00:19:06,767 --> 00:19:08,867 Chef Sieger, are you taking a request again in this round or... 521 00:19:08,867 --> 00:19:11,200 -Yeah, absolutely. -[Chris laughs] 522 00:19:11,266 --> 00:19:12,667 Just kidding, just kidding. 523 00:19:12,667 --> 00:19:13,700 What are you making for us? 524 00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:16,266 I'm gonna do a seared Cornish game hen 525 00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,767 with some marinated Japanese eggplant 526 00:19:18,767 --> 00:19:22,344 and, uh, popcorn and egg tofu somewhere in the dish. 527 00:19:22,344 --> 00:19:23,500 and, uh, popcorn and egg tofu somewhere in the dish. 528 00:19:23,567 --> 00:19:26,467 At this point, I feel like we're all just neck and neck in the competition, 529 00:19:26,467 --> 00:19:28,166 but I love the competitiveness of cooking 530 00:19:28,166 --> 00:19:29,266 and the short deadlines 531 00:19:29,266 --> 00:19:30,967 and the energy that you get from the kitchen. 532 00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:32,300 It's, like, one of the best things in the world. 533 00:19:36,667 --> 00:19:37,700 [Mike] So, on my Cornish hens, 534 00:19:37,767 --> 00:19:39,367 I wanna get a nice rub on them. 535 00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:42,300 Add some of my Mexican flair to this. 536 00:19:42,367 --> 00:19:44,967 I season them with honey powder, garlic powder, 537 00:19:44,967 --> 00:19:47,667 oregano, paprika, cumin and coriander. 538 00:19:47,667 --> 00:19:49,200 I'm making a popcorn sope 539 00:19:49,266 --> 00:19:52,100 with spice rub Cornish hen and a guajillo salsa. 540 00:19:54,166 --> 00:19:55,367 -Chef Mike. -[Mike] Yes? 541 00:19:55,367 --> 00:19:56,500 What are you making for us? 542 00:19:56,567 --> 00:19:58,367 Uh, I'm gonna do a sope. 543 00:19:58,367 --> 00:20:01,467 So I'm gonna reinfuse, um, the masa with the corn. 544 00:20:01,467 --> 00:20:04,600 And then, I'm gonna do a guajillo sauce. 545 00:20:04,667 --> 00:20:06,166 [Chris] I love that he's drying in that popcorn down 546 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:07,900 and putting it in some masa, that's very cool. 547 00:20:10,266 --> 00:20:11,800 [Mike] Let's go, let's go, let's go. 548 00:20:14,867 --> 00:20:17,300 Uh, my mom used to marinate chicken in epis, 549 00:20:17,367 --> 00:20:19,600 and I think that's what I'm gonna do today. 550 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:20,667 For my dish, 551 00:20:20,667 --> 00:20:22,344 I am making seared Cornish hen breast 552 00:20:22,344 --> 00:20:22,867 I am making seared Cornish hen breast 553 00:20:22,867 --> 00:20:25,767 marinated in epis, with eggplant legume. 554 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:30,266 Chef Sam, what are you making? 555 00:20:30,266 --> 00:20:33,500 It's epis. It's a Haitian herb blend. 556 00:20:33,567 --> 00:20:37,166 With cilantro, parsley, onion, shallots. 557 00:20:37,166 --> 00:20:39,467 I'm just making it work. 558 00:20:39,467 --> 00:20:41,467 -Okay. -Fifteen minutes to go, chefs. 559 00:20:41,467 --> 00:20:43,066 [Sam] Some more. 560 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:48,433 [Joe] Japanese eggplant. 561 00:20:48,467 --> 00:20:51,166 Very different than that large, black Italian eggplant 562 00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,344 that you see in the store. 563 00:20:52,344 --> 00:20:52,667 that you see in the store. 564 00:20:52,667 --> 00:20:55,367 Uh, much less seeds, much less bitter. 565 00:20:55,367 --> 00:20:56,567 When it's cooked, 566 00:20:56,567 --> 00:20:58,967 the interior becomes very soft and decadent. 567 00:20:58,967 --> 00:21:01,867 You could fry it, you could broil it, sauté it, grill it. 568 00:21:01,867 --> 00:21:03,367 In my opinion, Japanese eggplant 569 00:21:03,367 --> 00:21:05,767 is the best thing to deep-fry outside of potatoes. 570 00:21:05,767 --> 00:21:08,100 It's crispy on the outside, but it gets really creamy 571 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,467 -in the center. -Yeah. 572 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,667 [Mike] The Japanese eggplant makes me think of calabacitas. 573 00:21:16,667 --> 00:21:19,600 Calabacitas are just a medley of different squashes. 574 00:21:19,667 --> 00:21:21,600 I'm gonna sauté this Japanese eggplant 575 00:21:21,667 --> 00:21:22,344 with some zucchini and onion. 576 00:21:22,344 --> 00:21:23,100 with some zucchini and onion. 577 00:21:25,900 --> 00:21:27,100 Mmm, I love that. 578 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,567 With my Japanese eggplant, 579 00:21:29,567 --> 00:21:31,600 I plan to make legume. 580 00:21:31,667 --> 00:21:34,200 Legume is a Haitian dish that I grew up eating. 581 00:21:34,266 --> 00:21:37,266 Uh, can't use that, there's flavor in there. 582 00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:39,467 So, once my eggplant gets a nice char, 583 00:21:39,467 --> 00:21:43,166 I am adding brown sugar, mushrooms, bell peppers, 584 00:21:43,166 --> 00:21:44,967 as well as shallot and oil. 585 00:21:50,967 --> 00:21:52,344 [Sieger] So, the eggplant's going into a marinade. 586 00:21:52,344 --> 00:21:52,867 [Sieger] So, the eggplant's going into a marinade. 587 00:21:52,867 --> 00:21:56,567 I add some jalapenos, some shallot, two vinegars. 588 00:21:56,567 --> 00:21:57,667 I know this dish is gonna need 589 00:21:57,667 --> 00:21:58,800 some acidity and some brightness, 590 00:21:58,867 --> 00:22:00,100 so I really want that marinade 591 00:22:00,166 --> 00:22:01,567 from the eggplant to shine through. 592 00:22:02,967 --> 00:22:04,367 Six minutes, y'all. 593 00:22:06,166 --> 00:22:07,166 [Ted] Is anybody else worried 594 00:22:07,166 --> 00:22:08,567 that Mike might have waited too late 595 00:22:08,567 --> 00:22:10,567 to start his sopes? 596 00:22:10,567 --> 00:22:12,467 [Mike] I was going to pan-fry my sope, 597 00:22:12,467 --> 00:22:14,967 but once I put it in the pan, I realized it wasn't hot enough. 598 00:22:14,967 --> 00:22:17,166 So I need to pivot and drop this in the deep fryer. 599 00:22:17,166 --> 00:22:18,500 [Ted] Four minutes, chefs. 600 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:22,344 Come on. 601 00:22:22,344 --> 00:22:23,000 Come on. 602 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,767 Chefs, you have all your ingredients. 603 00:22:25,767 --> 00:22:27,467 [Sieger] At this moment, I realize 604 00:22:27,467 --> 00:22:29,100 I haven't done anything with that popcorn. 605 00:22:29,166 --> 00:22:30,333 Oh, my gosh. 606 00:22:30,333 --> 00:22:32,166 [Sieger] So I'm adding the popcorn to the jus. 607 00:22:32,166 --> 00:22:33,467 This is gonna be the flavor 608 00:22:33,467 --> 00:22:35,166 that really boosts up this jus. 609 00:22:35,166 --> 00:22:36,467 [Ted] Get it done, chefs, get it done. 610 00:22:36,467 --> 00:22:38,066 Get it done. You got this, let's go! 611 00:22:39,367 --> 00:22:41,000 What is... What the hell? 612 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,500 [Joe] Sam, I'm on the edge of my seat over here, 613 00:22:42,567 --> 00:22:44,500 tell me you have a plan for the egg tofu. 614 00:22:44,567 --> 00:22:46,266 I'm creating a sauce right now. 615 00:22:46,266 --> 00:22:47,467 [Chris] This is gonna be interesting. 616 00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:49,166 Down to the wire. 617 00:22:49,166 --> 00:22:52,000 [Sam] I'm going to use my movie-theater popcorn 618 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:52,344 and make a egg tofu sauce. 619 00:22:52,344 --> 00:22:53,967 and make a egg tofu sauce. 620 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,667 [Chris] This egg tofu is made of pasteurized eggs 621 00:22:57,667 --> 00:22:59,567 as well as water, and obviously, soy. 622 00:22:59,567 --> 00:23:00,634 It's got a little bit 623 00:23:00,634 --> 00:23:02,000 -of a custard consistency. -[Nilou] Mmm-hmm. 624 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,367 That bit of an egg flavor. 625 00:23:03,367 --> 00:23:05,200 [Nilou] I think it would actually be a really good use. 626 00:23:05,266 --> 00:23:07,266 It'll almost give you that velvetiness 627 00:23:07,266 --> 00:23:09,166 of a sauce that you might not have time to develop, 628 00:23:09,166 --> 00:23:10,667 -by just blending it in. -[Chris] Yeah. 629 00:23:10,667 --> 00:23:11,700 [Ted] All right, chefs, you're coming up 630 00:23:11,767 --> 00:23:13,667 on the two-minute warning here. 631 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,066 [Sieger] I have three of the four components ready to go. 632 00:23:17,066 --> 00:23:18,066 I look at the egg tofu, 633 00:23:18,066 --> 00:23:20,166 and I'm thinking, that has to be a sauce. 634 00:23:20,166 --> 00:23:22,344 So I grab the blender, fill my egg tofu in there, 635 00:23:22,344 --> 00:23:22,367 So I grab the blender, fill my egg tofu in there, 636 00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:24,367 and hit it with a little bit of the jus. 637 00:23:26,767 --> 00:23:28,266 [Mike] I wanna stay true to my roots this round 638 00:23:28,266 --> 00:23:29,667 and make guajillo salsa. 639 00:23:29,667 --> 00:23:31,100 I still need to use the egg tofu. 640 00:23:31,100 --> 00:23:32,367 It tastes very bland, 641 00:23:32,367 --> 00:23:33,900 but I think I can give my guajillo sauce 642 00:23:33,967 --> 00:23:36,000 a nice consistency. 643 00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:37,367 [Chris] Let's go, Mike, finish up. 644 00:23:37,367 --> 00:23:38,367 Home stretch! 645 00:23:38,767 --> 00:23:39,867 Heard. 646 00:23:39,867 --> 00:23:41,400 [Chris] Paint those plates up, make them look nice. 647 00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:42,967 [Nilou] Okay, here we go. 648 00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:46,467 Finishing touches, finishing touches! 649 00:23:47,767 --> 00:23:49,867 Follow through, chefs, get it done! 650 00:23:49,867 --> 00:23:51,867 Ten, nine, 651 00:23:51,867 --> 00:23:52,344 eight, seven, six, 652 00:23:52,344 --> 00:23:55,200 eight, seven, six, 653 00:23:55,266 --> 00:23:57,567 five, four, 654 00:23:57,567 --> 00:24:01,000 three, two, one... 655 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,867 -Time's up! -[Nilou] Wow! Wow! 656 00:24:03,867 --> 00:24:05,000 -Wow! -[Joe exclaims] 657 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:11,867 [Mike] My dish came together pretty well. 658 00:24:11,867 --> 00:24:14,066 I had a plan and I stuck to it. 659 00:24:14,066 --> 00:24:16,100 And I wanted to make sure I put my roots on 660 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:17,400 to that plate, and that's exactly what I did. 661 00:24:17,467 --> 00:24:18,767 [chuckles] I definitely think 662 00:24:18,767 --> 00:24:20,467 that this dish will get me to the dessert round, for sure. 663 00:24:34,567 --> 00:24:36,500 Chefs, you opened your entree baskets 664 00:24:36,567 --> 00:24:39,166 and found movie-theater popcorn, 665 00:24:39,166 --> 00:24:43,467 Japanese eggplant, Cornish hens, and egg tofu. 666 00:24:44,367 --> 00:24:46,166 Chef Sieger, what have you made? 667 00:24:46,166 --> 00:24:49,200 Here, we have a roasted Cornish game hen, 668 00:24:49,266 --> 00:24:52,367 seared Turkish eggplant, popcorn jus, 669 00:24:52,367 --> 00:24:54,567 and a egg tofu crema. 670 00:25:00,367 --> 00:25:03,166 [Chris] I think the jus is really great. 671 00:25:03,166 --> 00:25:04,333 For 30 minutes, 672 00:25:04,367 --> 00:25:07,166 you've really coaxed a lot of flavor out of that bird. 673 00:25:07,166 --> 00:25:09,700 My Cornish game hen is really crispy. 674 00:25:09,767 --> 00:25:12,066 Great crisp on the skin, but it is too, also, 675 00:25:12,066 --> 00:25:14,266 a tad overcooked, it's not very juicy. 676 00:25:14,266 --> 00:25:15,767 -Thank you. -[Joe] I think you executed 677 00:25:15,767 --> 00:25:17,900 a lot of things perfectly on here. 678 00:25:17,967 --> 00:25:19,900 The eggplant, my favorite part, 679 00:25:19,967 --> 00:25:22,700 you got this beautiful caramelization on the outside, 680 00:25:22,767 --> 00:25:24,667 so it almost has this, like, bitterness to it 681 00:25:24,667 --> 00:25:26,667 that provide a fantastic relief 682 00:25:26,667 --> 00:25:29,000 to that really creamy egg tofu 683 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:29,176 -you have down on the bottom. -Thank you. 684 00:25:29,176 --> 00:25:31,100 -you have down on the bottom. -Thank you. 685 00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:33,266 [Nilou] Chef Sieger, the base that you've created 686 00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:35,800 with that, uh, sulken tofu 687 00:25:35,867 --> 00:25:37,800 is velvety in a lovely bed 688 00:25:37,867 --> 00:25:39,567 for everything else to rest on. 689 00:25:39,567 --> 00:25:41,967 Um, but my Cornish hen's a tiny bit overdone. 690 00:25:43,467 --> 00:25:45,500 What would winning Chopped mean to you? 691 00:25:45,567 --> 00:25:47,266 [Sieger] It's the next step in my career. 692 00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:49,166 I just kind of wanna do this, I've traveled a bunch, 693 00:25:49,166 --> 00:25:51,000 I've worked in a couple of big cities. 694 00:25:51,066 --> 00:25:52,467 And then, just kind of, like, prove 695 00:25:52,467 --> 00:25:54,066 to some of my cooks, myself, my family, 696 00:25:54,066 --> 00:25:55,100 that I still got it. 697 00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:56,266 [Ted] Thank you, Chef Sieger. 698 00:25:56,266 --> 00:25:57,800 Next up, Chef Sam. 699 00:25:57,867 --> 00:25:59,176 Okay, so what I have in front of you today 700 00:25:59,176 --> 00:26:00,166 Okay, so what I have in front of you today 701 00:26:00,166 --> 00:26:03,100 is a seared Cornish hen breast 702 00:26:03,166 --> 00:26:06,367 marinated in epis, a Haitian herb blend. 703 00:26:06,367 --> 00:26:09,166 And charred eggplant legume. 704 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:14,367 [Nilou] Chef Sam, you've done a beautiful job. 705 00:26:14,367 --> 00:26:16,000 I love that you're representing Haiti 706 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,667 through this plate of food. 707 00:26:17,667 --> 00:26:20,767 The smoky flavor that you got from the eggplant 708 00:26:20,767 --> 00:26:22,467 is one of my favorites. 709 00:26:22,467 --> 00:26:24,367 And the Cornish hen is perfectly done 710 00:26:24,367 --> 00:26:26,700 and incredibly moist. 711 00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:29,176 Yeah, I agree. The Cornish hen, it's absolutely delicious. 712 00:26:29,176 --> 00:26:29,667 Yeah, I agree. The Cornish hen, it's absolutely delicious. 713 00:26:29,667 --> 00:26:32,467 And then, this eggplant, 714 00:26:32,467 --> 00:26:34,667 it's got delicious flavor. 715 00:26:34,667 --> 00:26:37,000 But the skin is separated from the eggplant. 716 00:26:37,066 --> 00:26:38,600 It becomes kind of hard to chew, 717 00:26:38,667 --> 00:26:40,066 kind of like it's stuck in your teeth. 718 00:26:40,066 --> 00:26:42,300 And it just doesn't have great texture. 719 00:26:42,367 --> 00:26:43,533 Thank you. 720 00:26:43,533 --> 00:26:45,500 [Joe] The fact that you have the flavor of the popcorn 721 00:26:45,567 --> 00:26:47,600 but the texture of the egg tofu, 722 00:26:47,667 --> 00:26:50,867 it eats and reads like a super-creamy polenta. 723 00:26:50,867 --> 00:26:53,900 And it's just really, really pleasant. 724 00:26:53,967 --> 00:26:56,467 And what motivated you to compete with us? 725 00:26:56,467 --> 00:26:58,000 [Sam] In my culture, 726 00:26:58,066 --> 00:26:59,176 if you're not, like, a doctor, engineer, or a lawyer, 727 00:26:59,176 --> 00:27:01,767 if you're not, like, a doctor, engineer, or a lawyer, 728 00:27:01,767 --> 00:27:04,567 they don't really consider you doing much of anything 729 00:27:04,567 --> 00:27:05,967 with your career. 730 00:27:05,967 --> 00:27:07,767 So, that's why I'm here on Chopped, 731 00:27:07,767 --> 00:27:09,867 to prove that I take this very seriously, 732 00:27:09,867 --> 00:27:12,000 and this is a career path that I'm choosing. 733 00:27:12,066 --> 00:27:13,467 [Ted] Thank you, Chef Sam. 734 00:27:13,467 --> 00:27:15,100 Finally, Chef Mike. 735 00:27:15,166 --> 00:27:18,166 I made for you guys today, a popcorn sope 736 00:27:18,166 --> 00:27:21,800 with a spice rub hen and guajillo salsa. 737 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:29,176 [Joe] I love the way you worked that movie-theater popcorn 738 00:27:29,176 --> 00:27:30,066 [Joe] I love the way you worked that movie-theater popcorn 739 00:27:30,066 --> 00:27:32,667 into the sope, you really taste that butteriness. 740 00:27:32,667 --> 00:27:36,567 And it adds that different corniness to it. 741 00:27:36,567 --> 00:27:38,166 The guajillo salsa on the bottom, 742 00:27:38,166 --> 00:27:39,767 working in that egg tofu, 743 00:27:39,767 --> 00:27:41,166 stroke of genius. 744 00:27:41,166 --> 00:27:42,767 -Thank you. -What I do think 745 00:27:42,767 --> 00:27:44,600 could have been accomplished a little better 746 00:27:44,667 --> 00:27:46,100 is just a little more salt. 747 00:27:46,166 --> 00:27:47,567 -[Mike] Okay. -All throughout the dish. 748 00:27:47,567 --> 00:27:48,567 -Thank you. -[Nilou] I do feel 749 00:27:48,567 --> 00:27:50,467 like there's some seasoning missing. 750 00:27:50,467 --> 00:27:52,300 So, the Cornish hen is delicious, 751 00:27:52,367 --> 00:27:53,500 but I just think that sope 752 00:27:53,567 --> 00:27:56,000 is such a central part of this dish 753 00:27:56,066 --> 00:27:59,176 that it just needed to be a little bit more delicate. 754 00:27:59,176 --> 00:27:59,667 that it just needed to be a little bit more delicate. 755 00:27:59,667 --> 00:28:02,367 [Chris] Yeah, I mean, that's a giant sope, right? 756 00:28:02,367 --> 00:28:03,767 And it's dense. 757 00:28:03,767 --> 00:28:05,467 -Like, it's super dense. -Yeah. I agree. 758 00:28:05,467 --> 00:28:07,967 -But there's a lot of good work that you did as well. -Thank you. 759 00:28:07,967 --> 00:28:10,467 And this is my favorite Cornish game hen of the round. 760 00:28:12,166 --> 00:28:13,300 [Ted] Okay. 761 00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:17,166 Which two chefs will face off in the dessert round? 762 00:28:18,867 --> 00:28:20,767 [Mike] I feel like I should move into the next round 763 00:28:20,767 --> 00:28:23,100 because my Cornish hen was cooked the best. 764 00:28:23,100 --> 00:28:25,667 And I feel like that will kind of give me the edge. 765 00:28:27,166 --> 00:28:29,000 [Sieger] Coming out of the judging, I think it's neck and neck. 766 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:29,176 I don't think any of us are, like, safe, 767 00:28:29,176 --> 00:28:30,667 I don't think any of us are, like, safe, 768 00:28:30,667 --> 00:28:32,867 or anyone is, like, for sure, going home. 769 00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:34,100 So, kind of nervous. 770 00:28:45,100 --> 00:28:48,300 So, whose dish is on the chopping block? 771 00:28:59,867 --> 00:29:02,000 Chef Mike, you've been chopped. 772 00:29:02,066 --> 00:29:03,367 Judges... 773 00:29:03,367 --> 00:29:06,600 [Joe] Chef Mike, that sope was very dense, 774 00:29:06,667 --> 00:29:08,367 And I think overall, your dish 775 00:29:08,367 --> 00:29:10,802 lacked the level of seasoning and salt. 776 00:29:10,802 --> 00:29:11,000 lacked the level of seasoning and salt. 777 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,467 And for those reasons, we had to chop you. 778 00:29:13,467 --> 00:29:15,900 Thank you, guys. Appreciate it. Thank you. 779 00:29:15,967 --> 00:29:18,000 -Thank you. -Bye! I want a hug. 780 00:29:19,367 --> 00:29:20,900 -Good luck, man. Good luck. -Thank you. 781 00:29:20,967 --> 00:29:22,300 -Good luck, guys. -Thank you. 782 00:29:22,867 --> 00:29:24,066 Thank you, guys. Bye. 783 00:29:24,066 --> 00:29:26,367 It's unfortunate, but I'm proud of just being here. 784 00:29:26,367 --> 00:29:28,467 What's next for me is my little chef diner, 785 00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:30,300 and the food trailer, 786 00:29:30,367 --> 00:29:32,000 and just see where it takes me from there. 787 00:29:36,867 --> 00:29:38,266 [Ted] Chef Sam, Chef Sieger, 788 00:29:38,266 --> 00:29:40,802 anybody wanna just walk away? Back down? Give up? 789 00:29:40,802 --> 00:29:41,100 anybody wanna just walk away? Back down? Give up? 790 00:29:41,166 --> 00:29:44,367 -Hell no, I came all this way. -Too late to turn around. Let's do this. 791 00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:45,800 [Ted] All right, let's check out what you'll be 792 00:29:45,867 --> 00:29:47,266 dealing with for dessert. 793 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,367 Open the final basket. 794 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:53,800 -[Sieger] Oh, god. -[chuckles excitedly] 795 00:29:53,867 --> 00:29:56,100 [Ted] And you see mochi donuts. 796 00:29:56,166 --> 00:29:57,500 [Sam] I'm loving this. 797 00:29:57,967 --> 00:29:59,000 [Ted] Guavas. 798 00:30:00,767 --> 00:30:02,467 Vanilla frosting. 799 00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:04,000 [Ted] Vanilla frosting. 800 00:30:04,567 --> 00:30:05,500 Okay! 801 00:30:05,567 --> 00:30:07,166 [Ted] And a Craft cosmopolitan. 802 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,467 -[Sam] Okay. -Uh, yeah. 803 00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:10,802 It'll be fun. Let's see what happens. 804 00:30:10,802 --> 00:30:11,300 It'll be fun. Let's see what happens. 805 00:30:12,367 --> 00:30:13,800 [Ted] Once again, 30 minutes. 806 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:17,266 Clock starts now. 807 00:30:17,266 --> 00:30:18,800 -[judges cheering] -[Joe] Yeah, let's go, let's go! 808 00:30:18,867 --> 00:30:20,600 -Okay! -[Chris] Last round. 809 00:30:20,667 --> 00:30:22,367 -Who's gonna take it? -[Joe] Here we go. 810 00:30:23,066 --> 00:30:24,767 Just gonna take that. 811 00:30:24,767 --> 00:30:27,567 [Ted] Judges, this has been quite the competition so far. 812 00:30:27,567 --> 00:30:30,567 Does one of these chefs have an edge going into dessert? 813 00:30:30,567 --> 00:30:33,967 I think Chef Sieger is a little bit more consistent 814 00:30:33,967 --> 00:30:35,800 -in his two first dishes. -[Ted] Okay. 815 00:30:35,867 --> 00:30:37,300 [Joe] So it's really his competition 816 00:30:37,367 --> 00:30:38,667 to lose at this point. 817 00:30:38,667 --> 00:30:40,266 Whereas Chef Sam 818 00:30:40,266 --> 00:30:40,802 is really gaining momentum in every round. 819 00:30:40,802 --> 00:30:42,867 is really gaining momentum in every round. 820 00:30:42,867 --> 00:30:44,767 And if she continues that momentum, 821 00:30:44,767 --> 00:30:46,767 she might have enough to really knock him out. 822 00:30:48,066 --> 00:30:49,567 [mumbling] 823 00:30:49,567 --> 00:30:52,500 I feel like I'm right there, like, 824 00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:55,567 Chopped champion, and I'm, like, right there. [chuckles] 825 00:30:55,567 --> 00:30:57,000 Behind you. 826 00:30:57,767 --> 00:30:59,200 [Sam] I love guava 827 00:30:59,266 --> 00:31:02,166 because it is a fruit that grows in Haiti. 828 00:31:02,166 --> 00:31:05,000 And guava is tangy, it's sweet. 829 00:31:06,166 --> 00:31:10,000 For my dessert, I'm making soaked mochi doughnuts 830 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:10,802 with a guava cosmopolitan syrup, 831 00:31:10,802 --> 00:31:12,500 with a guava cosmopolitan syrup, 832 00:31:12,567 --> 00:31:14,400 and a vanilla mascarpone frosting. 833 00:31:15,667 --> 00:31:18,266 [Nilou] We do have guava in this basket, 834 00:31:18,266 --> 00:31:19,900 which is a beautiful tropical fruit. 835 00:31:19,967 --> 00:31:22,000 The flavor is musky and tropical 836 00:31:22,066 --> 00:31:23,667 -and super sexy. -[Joe] Musky is a really good word. 837 00:31:23,667 --> 00:31:25,000 But it's not a fruit 838 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,667 that you can just puree it all together. 839 00:31:26,667 --> 00:31:28,767 You really need to make sure whatever you're doing with it, 840 00:31:28,767 --> 00:31:30,867 -that the seeds are out. -Yes. 841 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:35,667 [Sam] I am going to use the Craft cosmopolitan 842 00:31:35,667 --> 00:31:38,100 and a guava to make a syrup. 843 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,600 [Chris] Cosmo is very sweet, 844 00:31:42,667 --> 00:31:44,700 and that vanilla frosting is extremely sweet. 845 00:31:44,767 --> 00:31:47,100 The cosmopolitan is cranberry juice, vodka, 846 00:31:47,166 --> 00:31:50,200 orange liqueur, and lime juice. 847 00:31:50,266 --> 00:31:52,100 [Nilou] So there's a lot of brazing acid 848 00:31:52,166 --> 00:31:53,567 -in whatever preparation you're making. -[Ted] Yes. 849 00:31:53,567 --> 00:31:55,800 So you have to balance it out somehow and make it smoother. 850 00:31:55,867 --> 00:31:58,000 I can't wait to see what they're gonna do with that. 851 00:31:59,166 --> 00:32:00,467 [Sieger] I'm looking at all these ingredients 852 00:32:00,467 --> 00:32:01,700 and I'm thinking, 853 00:32:01,767 --> 00:32:03,667 gotta do something with some cream to help 854 00:32:03,667 --> 00:32:05,200 knock down all the sweetness. 855 00:32:05,266 --> 00:32:06,767 -Chef Sieger. -[Sieger] Chef! 856 00:32:06,767 --> 00:32:08,467 What are you making this round for us? 857 00:32:08,467 --> 00:32:10,400 Uh, guava mousse, 858 00:32:10,467 --> 00:32:10,802 with caramel dragéed mochi donuts, 859 00:32:10,802 --> 00:32:14,367 with caramel dragéed mochi donuts, 860 00:32:14,367 --> 00:32:16,967 and vanilla frosting somewhere. 861 00:32:16,967 --> 00:32:19,700 [Nilou] A guava mousse sounds really, really lovely to me. 862 00:32:19,767 --> 00:32:21,700 Like, it feels like the right vehicle-- 863 00:32:21,767 --> 00:32:22,967 -Elegant, decadent. -For... yeah. 864 00:32:22,967 --> 00:32:24,867 For... For... For a guava flavor. 865 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:27,634 [Sieger] To make this mousse, 866 00:32:27,634 --> 00:32:29,667 I get cream, milk, and guava in a pot, 867 00:32:29,667 --> 00:32:30,867 and I wanna get this to a simmer, 868 00:32:30,867 --> 00:32:32,867 just so it thickens a little bit more. 869 00:32:32,867 --> 00:32:35,266 Mochi donuts are gonna be the texture of this dish, 870 00:32:35,266 --> 00:32:37,467 so I chop them up and get them in the oven to dry out. 871 00:32:37,467 --> 00:32:39,100 Once they're nice, dry and crispy, 872 00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:40,802 they're gonna go into a pan with caramel. 873 00:32:40,802 --> 00:32:41,300 they're gonna go into a pan with caramel. 874 00:32:41,367 --> 00:32:43,467 Just 14 minutes on the clock. 875 00:32:43,467 --> 00:32:45,200 How you feelin'? 876 00:32:45,266 --> 00:32:47,800 Good feeling. How are you feelin'? You good? 877 00:32:47,867 --> 00:32:49,367 Making way. 878 00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:50,867 About to taste these donuts. 879 00:32:50,867 --> 00:32:53,600 Do they all taste the same? 880 00:32:53,667 --> 00:32:56,200 Mochi donut's similar to a American 881 00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:59,166 or Western-style fried donut, except these are made 882 00:32:59,166 --> 00:33:01,867 with glutenous rice flour and tapioca starch. 883 00:33:01,867 --> 00:33:04,600 It gives them this really unique chewiness. 884 00:33:04,667 --> 00:33:07,967 I think what I would do is steep them in some sort of milk or cream, 885 00:33:07,967 --> 00:33:09,467 kind of like a cereal milk, 886 00:33:09,467 --> 00:33:10,802 -or make a donut milk with it. -[Nilou] Oh. 887 00:33:10,802 --> 00:33:11,166 -or make a donut milk with it. -[Nilou] Oh. 888 00:33:11,166 --> 00:33:13,100 And then turn that into, like, an anglaise, 889 00:33:13,166 --> 00:33:14,667 -or an ice cream. -[Nilou] Ice cream. 890 00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:18,867 [Sam] I broke my mochi donuts apart 891 00:33:18,867 --> 00:33:21,967 and soaked them in a mint simple syrup. 892 00:33:21,967 --> 00:33:25,300 Usually, Haitians eat coffee with bread and, like, dunk it in there. 893 00:33:25,367 --> 00:33:27,000 And so, I wanted to do the same thing 894 00:33:27,066 --> 00:33:28,567 but with the donut. 895 00:33:28,567 --> 00:33:30,100 And then, I throw them in the oven 896 00:33:30,166 --> 00:33:31,667 so they're not too soggy. 897 00:33:35,567 --> 00:33:36,967 [Sieger] I'm gonna start the caramel 898 00:33:36,967 --> 00:33:38,266 that I put the mochi donuts in. 899 00:33:38,266 --> 00:33:40,802 To make this dry caramel, I get sugar, just, in a pan, 900 00:33:40,802 --> 00:33:41,367 To make this dry caramel, I get sugar, just, in a pan, 901 00:33:41,367 --> 00:33:43,567 over high heat and let it go. 902 00:33:46,567 --> 00:33:47,667 Being Chopped champion, 903 00:33:47,667 --> 00:33:49,000 first of all, is a great thing. 904 00:33:49,066 --> 00:33:50,700 Winning the pot of $10,000 doesn't hurt. 905 00:33:50,767 --> 00:33:52,867 And having the bragging rights is great. 906 00:33:52,867 --> 00:33:54,467 That is something that I can, kind of, push it 907 00:33:54,467 --> 00:33:56,066 on my friends and cooks' faces. 908 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,100 [Nilou] Chef Sieger is having a real issue 909 00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:04,667 with his guava mousse, it's not setting. 910 00:34:04,667 --> 00:34:06,066 [Ted] I mean, the idea 911 00:34:06,066 --> 00:34:08,166 of using whipped cream to thicken that mousse, 912 00:34:08,166 --> 00:34:10,100 that might be a good idea, except for the fact 913 00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:10,802 that the mousse, I think, is still hot. 914 00:34:10,802 --> 00:34:13,100 that the mousse, I think, is still hot. 915 00:34:13,100 --> 00:34:15,400 [Sieger] I want a nice, thick, velvety mousse. 916 00:34:15,467 --> 00:34:16,667 But it's still a little loose, 917 00:34:16,667 --> 00:34:18,100 so I'm gonna get it right into the freezer. 918 00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:19,400 Five minutes to go, chefs. 919 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,266 Five minutes. 920 00:34:21,266 --> 00:34:22,567 But I take a look at the caramel... 921 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:24,567 Oops! 922 00:34:24,567 --> 00:34:27,000 And then I realize, my dry caramel burned. 923 00:34:27,066 --> 00:34:29,600 Sorry to whoever has to clean that pan. 924 00:34:29,667 --> 00:34:30,900 [Joe] I see the pan smoking, 925 00:34:30,967 --> 00:34:33,100 which is not a good sign when you're making caramel. 926 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:34,567 [Sieger] I let it go too far, 927 00:34:34,567 --> 00:34:36,367 so now I gotta start everything over. 928 00:34:36,367 --> 00:34:37,600 [Ted] Might work, 929 00:34:37,667 --> 00:34:39,467 but he's barely got enough time to do it. 930 00:34:39,467 --> 00:34:40,802 It's gonna be close. 931 00:34:40,802 --> 00:34:41,400 It's gonna be close. 932 00:34:41,467 --> 00:34:43,767 [Joe] Sieger, gonna make us a ten thousand-dollar dessert? 933 00:34:43,767 --> 00:34:45,100 Yes, chef! 934 00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:46,367 I hope. 935 00:34:57,767 --> 00:34:59,867 All right, so we are quickly running out of time here, 936 00:34:59,867 --> 00:35:01,867 and Sieger's first caramel has burned. 937 00:35:01,867 --> 00:35:03,367 Terrible. He's starting over. 938 00:35:03,367 --> 00:35:05,100 He's got very little time to get this done. 939 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:07,200 He just looks at the clock and he winced, 940 00:35:07,266 --> 00:35:10,200 as if somebody had punched him in the stomach. 941 00:35:10,266 --> 00:35:12,400 [Sieger] I still have to deal with that vanilla frosting. 942 00:35:12,467 --> 00:35:14,066 I wanna use some of the brightness 943 00:35:14,066 --> 00:35:15,467 and the alcohol from the cosmo 944 00:35:15,467 --> 00:35:18,100 to offset the sweetness of the vanilla frosting. 945 00:35:19,467 --> 00:35:21,767 [Joe] Chef Sieger, you got a lot of pans on the stove there. 946 00:35:21,767 --> 00:35:22,255 How are you feeling right now? 947 00:35:22,255 --> 00:35:22,867 How are you feeling right now? 948 00:35:22,867 --> 00:35:24,767 Stressed, comfortable, confident? 949 00:35:24,767 --> 00:35:25,900 [Sieger] Can I get five more minutes? 950 00:35:25,967 --> 00:35:28,100 -[Chris laughs] Okay. -[laughing] 951 00:35:28,100 --> 00:35:29,967 Coming up on three minutes. 952 00:35:29,967 --> 00:35:31,433 [Sieger] Second batch of caramel is a success. 953 00:35:31,433 --> 00:35:33,767 Now I'm ready to put this dried mochi donut in there. 954 00:35:33,767 --> 00:35:36,600 These mochi donuts are gonna add texture to my dish 955 00:35:36,667 --> 00:35:38,367 when I hit them with caramel and buzz them up. 956 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,600 Chefs, you're coming up on two minutes here. 957 00:35:42,667 --> 00:35:44,266 [Nilou] Chef Sam, you can do it! 958 00:35:44,266 --> 00:35:45,166 -Come on, chefs! -[Joe] Let's go, chefs. 959 00:35:45,166 --> 00:35:46,467 -Final countdown. -[Chris] Come on. 960 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,000 $10,000 dessert. No pressure. 961 00:35:50,066 --> 00:35:52,255 I taste the vanilla frosting, and it is way too sweet. 962 00:35:52,255 --> 00:35:53,667 I taste the vanilla frosting, and it is way too sweet. 963 00:35:53,667 --> 00:35:55,667 So I grab some mascarpone 964 00:35:55,667 --> 00:35:58,166 and I whip it into the frosting. 965 00:35:58,166 --> 00:36:00,367 [Ted] You got this, chefs. Get it done, get it done. 966 00:36:01,467 --> 00:36:03,800 Final seconds of the final round, chefs. 967 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,967 -Ten, nine, eight, seven... -[Nilou] Make it beautiful. 968 00:36:08,967 --> 00:36:11,967 -Here we go, chefs. You can do it! -[Ted] ...six, five, four, 969 00:36:11,967 --> 00:36:14,367 three, two, one. 970 00:36:15,867 --> 00:36:17,400 -Time's up! -[judges applauding] 971 00:36:17,467 --> 00:36:18,800 [Nilou] Yes! 972 00:36:20,967 --> 00:36:22,255 [Sam] I think I'm going home a Chopped champion today. 973 00:36:22,255 --> 00:36:24,166 [Sam] I think I'm going home a Chopped champion today. 974 00:36:24,166 --> 00:36:26,767 I got this one in the bag. 975 00:36:26,767 --> 00:36:28,767 [Sieger] I mean, I came out here. I tried super hard. 976 00:36:28,767 --> 00:36:31,300 I just wanna make sure that, like, my final plates shine. 977 00:36:31,367 --> 00:36:33,000 But I know Sam knows what she's doing, too. 978 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:34,100 So it's a toss-up. 979 00:36:37,266 --> 00:36:39,266 [Ted] Chef Sam and Chef Sieger, 980 00:36:39,266 --> 00:36:41,266 very exciting to watch you make desserts 981 00:36:41,266 --> 00:36:44,166 using mochi donuts, guavas, 982 00:36:44,166 --> 00:36:48,100 vanilla frosting, and a craft Cosmopolitan. 983 00:36:48,100 --> 00:36:50,467 Chef Sieger, please tell us about your dessert. 984 00:36:50,467 --> 00:36:52,255 So, what we have here is guava mousse 985 00:36:52,255 --> 00:36:53,166 So, what we have here is guava mousse 986 00:36:53,166 --> 00:36:57,000 set on top of Cosmo and vanilla sauce, 987 00:36:57,066 --> 00:36:59,567 and then mochi crumble on top. 988 00:37:03,166 --> 00:37:06,500 It's rich. I like the way you dosed the sweetness in the bottom 989 00:37:06,567 --> 00:37:08,867 and that your guava mousse isn't so sweet. 990 00:37:08,867 --> 00:37:10,900 So that comes together really nicely. 991 00:37:10,967 --> 00:37:12,800 -Thank you. -[Joe] I would've never thought 992 00:37:12,867 --> 00:37:16,567 to pair a craft Cosmo and vanilla frosting together. 993 00:37:16,567 --> 00:37:18,900 But I feel like that's gonna be a new classic pairing 994 00:37:18,967 --> 00:37:20,867 -in the pastry world now. -[judges laugh] 995 00:37:20,867 --> 00:37:22,255 Uh, because you get that tartness and that acidity 996 00:37:22,255 --> 00:37:23,667 Uh, because you get that tartness and that acidity 997 00:37:23,667 --> 00:37:24,934 from the craft Cosmo 998 00:37:24,934 --> 00:37:28,300 that cuts through that sickly-sweet vanilla frosting. 999 00:37:28,367 --> 00:37:30,066 What I feel like didn't really work 1000 00:37:30,066 --> 00:37:32,200 is this guava mousse. 1001 00:37:32,266 --> 00:37:34,367 It eats more like a bowl of whipped cream. 1002 00:37:34,367 --> 00:37:37,967 I don't get that tart, tangy, sweet guava flavor 1003 00:37:37,967 --> 00:37:38,900 that I'm looking for. 1004 00:37:40,266 --> 00:37:41,900 [Nilou] Chef Sieger, I have to agree. 1005 00:37:41,967 --> 00:37:45,467 But the highlight for me is the mochi crumble. 1006 00:37:45,467 --> 00:37:48,800 -That feels like it's, like, the most successful. -Awesome. Thank you. 1007 00:37:48,867 --> 00:37:50,100 [Ted] Thank you, Chef Sieger. 1008 00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:51,767 Finally, Chef Sam. 1009 00:37:51,767 --> 00:37:52,255 So, what you have in front of you 1010 00:37:52,255 --> 00:37:53,567 So, what you have in front of you 1011 00:37:53,567 --> 00:37:58,000 is soaked mochi donuts with a guava-Cosmo syrup 1012 00:37:58,000 --> 00:37:59,867 and a vanilla mascarpone frosting. 1013 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:08,066 Chef Sam, vanilla frosting in a can is one of my life's guilty pleasures, 1014 00:38:08,066 --> 00:38:10,400 and I didn't think it could get any better. 1015 00:38:10,467 --> 00:38:13,600 But what you created here I think tops that. 1016 00:38:13,667 --> 00:38:16,166 -Thank you. -[Joe] I think it was a great move 1017 00:38:16,166 --> 00:38:18,367 to whip in the mascarpone cheese, 1018 00:38:18,367 --> 00:38:20,967 creating this ganache-like texture, 1019 00:38:20,967 --> 00:38:22,255 which works really well as an anchor 1020 00:38:22,255 --> 00:38:23,000 which works really well as an anchor 1021 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,967 to hold your whole dessert together. 1022 00:38:24,967 --> 00:38:29,100 -Thank you, chef. -I have to concur with the very smart Joe Sasto. 1023 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:31,200 But I wanted more guava. 1024 00:38:31,266 --> 00:38:33,900 I love the hints of raspberry that I got, 1025 00:38:33,967 --> 00:38:36,667 and if there was a way for you to create something 1026 00:38:36,667 --> 00:38:39,500 with the raspberry and guava together, 1027 00:38:39,567 --> 00:38:41,166 it would've been great. 1028 00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:45,200 -Thank you. -For me, it's just very mint-forward 1029 00:38:45,266 --> 00:38:47,166 when I'm really searching for guava, right? 1030 00:38:47,166 --> 00:38:48,100 Yeah. 1031 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:50,667 -[Ted] Chef Sam, thank you. -Thank you. 1032 00:38:52,066 --> 00:38:52,255 [Ted] One runner-up, one champion. 1033 00:38:52,255 --> 00:38:54,166 [Ted] One runner-up, one champion. 1034 00:38:54,166 --> 00:38:58,166 The judges must sort through who has won which title. 1035 00:38:58,166 --> 00:38:59,400 Thank you, chefs. 1036 00:39:04,567 --> 00:39:07,467 Well, judges, should we start with the appetizer round? 1037 00:39:07,467 --> 00:39:09,467 Sam did some really, uh, smart things in the first round. 1038 00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:11,166 I love the way she pickled that watermelon. 1039 00:39:11,166 --> 00:39:13,467 [Joe] I really enjoyed what she did to the goat cheese. 1040 00:39:13,467 --> 00:39:17,000 She whipped it together with the rosemary and some olive oil 1041 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:19,200 that I think tied everything together. 1042 00:39:19,266 --> 00:39:21,567 [Chris] But the ribeye itself was unevenly cooked 1043 00:39:21,567 --> 00:39:22,255 and it lacked seasoning. 1044 00:39:22,255 --> 00:39:22,867 and it lacked seasoning. 1045 00:39:22,867 --> 00:39:24,667 Sieger made us, uh, a larb. 1046 00:39:24,667 --> 00:39:26,800 He did a beautiful job with the knife cuts 1047 00:39:26,867 --> 00:39:30,300 on both the ribeye and on the watermelon from the watermelon cake. 1048 00:39:30,367 --> 00:39:32,200 [Joe] I think he overdressed that salad 1049 00:39:32,266 --> 00:39:34,367 and it just became soggy and wet 1050 00:39:34,367 --> 00:39:36,000 and very hard to eat. 1051 00:39:36,066 --> 00:39:38,266 [Nilou] In the entree round from Sieger, 1052 00:39:38,266 --> 00:39:40,000 he used the Japanese eggplant, 1053 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:41,700 did that double cook technique 1054 00:39:41,767 --> 00:39:43,000 which we were all impressed by. 1055 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,467 It got them a little bit caramelized. 1056 00:39:44,467 --> 00:39:47,166 He did a nice job cooking his Cornish hen, 1057 00:39:47,166 --> 00:39:49,567 although we felt like the cook was a little bit over. 1058 00:39:49,567 --> 00:39:52,200 I love that, uh, Sam leaned into her Haitian roots 1059 00:39:52,266 --> 00:39:54,166 -even further in the entree round... -[Joe] Mmm-hmm. 1060 00:39:54,166 --> 00:39:55,600 [Chris] ...with that amazing marinade 1061 00:39:55,667 --> 00:39:57,100 that she put on her Cornish hen. 1062 00:39:57,166 --> 00:40:00,000 -That was so good. -[Chris] And that wonderful saute of eggplant. 1063 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,367 But the skin separated from the eggplant, 1064 00:40:02,367 --> 00:40:04,867 and they were bitter and they were hard to eat. 1065 00:40:04,867 --> 00:40:07,567 -That round's very close. -I think that round is very close. 1066 00:40:07,567 --> 00:40:10,467 I could make a case that Sieger's dishes were better than hers, 1067 00:40:10,467 --> 00:40:13,867 but her individual flavors in each dish were better than his. 1068 00:40:20,100 --> 00:40:21,567 [Sam] I gave it all I got, 1069 00:40:21,567 --> 00:40:22,255 and at this point, 1070 00:40:22,255 --> 00:40:22,567 and at this point, 1071 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:24,667 I just have to leave it in the judges' hands. 1072 00:40:26,367 --> 00:40:27,200 [Sieger] I'm gonna be super stoked 1073 00:40:27,266 --> 00:40:28,367 if I'm the Chopped champion. 1074 00:40:28,367 --> 00:40:30,266 So I hope the first two dishes 1075 00:40:30,266 --> 00:40:32,467 helped push me across the finish line. 1076 00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:38,266 So, whose dish is on the chopping block? 1077 00:40:48,266 --> 00:40:50,367 Chef Sam, you've been chopped. 1078 00:40:50,367 --> 00:40:51,500 Judges? 1079 00:40:51,567 --> 00:40:52,255 [Chris] Chef Sam, you cooked really well today. 1080 00:40:52,255 --> 00:40:53,400 [Chris] Chef Sam, you cooked really well today. 1081 00:40:53,467 --> 00:40:55,767 The first round, I love that you pickled the watermelon. 1082 00:40:55,767 --> 00:40:59,367 However, the texture of the watermelon was a little off-putting 1083 00:40:59,367 --> 00:41:02,467 and your ribeye itself was unevenly cooked and under-seasoned. 1084 00:41:02,467 --> 00:41:04,066 In the entree round, 1085 00:41:04,066 --> 00:41:05,767 the eggplant saute was delicious, 1086 00:41:05,767 --> 00:41:07,500 but the skin separated, 1087 00:41:07,567 --> 00:41:08,967 and it was bitter and kind of hard to eat. 1088 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:12,467 And so, we had to chop you. 1089 00:41:12,467 --> 00:41:14,266 -Well, thank you. -[Chris] But you did a fantastic job 1090 00:41:14,266 --> 00:41:16,400 and you can walk out of here with your head held high. 1091 00:41:16,467 --> 00:41:19,700 -I wanna give you a hug, 'cause you did that, honey. -Thank you. 1092 00:41:19,767 --> 00:41:22,255 [Sam] What I'm going to take away from this competition is... 1093 00:41:22,255 --> 00:41:22,367 [Sam] What I'm going to take away from this competition is... 1094 00:41:22,367 --> 00:41:24,200 Everybody needs to watch out. [laughs] 1095 00:41:24,266 --> 00:41:25,767 Bye, thank you, guys. 1096 00:41:25,767 --> 00:41:28,767 Like, I really feel like I proved myself today 1097 00:41:28,767 --> 00:41:30,400 as a young Black woman chef. 1098 00:41:32,967 --> 00:41:34,700 That means, Chef Sieger Bayer, 1099 00:41:34,767 --> 00:41:36,567 you are the Chopped champion. 1100 00:41:36,567 --> 00:41:39,667 -Well done. -Thank you so much. Hell, yeah. Thank you. 1101 00:41:39,667 --> 00:41:41,967 [Ted] $10,000 is the prize. 1102 00:41:41,967 --> 00:41:44,467 You really earned this, chef. Way to go. 1103 00:41:44,467 --> 00:41:47,000 Everything in my career has been a step towards this, 1104 00:41:47,066 --> 00:41:49,266 and then just carry this on to the next thing. 1105 00:41:49,266 --> 00:41:50,400 It's been a crazy day 1106 00:41:50,467 --> 00:41:52,255 and a lot of, like, fun challenges and curveballs, 1107 00:41:52,255 --> 00:41:53,000 and a lot of, like, fun challenges and curveballs, 1108 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:56,100 but being a Chopped champion is the vanilla frosting 1109 00:41:56,166 --> 00:41:57,800 on the cake of this great experience.