1 00:00:01,500 --> 00:00:04,767 [Scott] This competition is gonna be legendary. 2 00:00:04,767 --> 00:00:07,000 [Ted] Four iconic Chopped judges 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,400 have each hand-picked 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,367 four All-Star champions in a battle of the best. 5 00:00:12,367 --> 00:00:14,567 [Maneet] I am staking my reputation 6 00:00:14,567 --> 00:00:16,900 on these incredible chefs. 7 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:18,567 [Chris] To become a legendary chef here, 8 00:00:18,567 --> 00:00:20,367 you have to be so bold and so driven. 9 00:00:20,367 --> 00:00:22,567 Pressure makes diamonds, 10 00:00:22,567 --> 00:00:24,200 and in the Chopped kitchen, 11 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,400 pressure makes legends. 12 00:00:26,967 --> 00:00:29,567 ♪♪ And the legend goes on... ♪ 13 00:00:29,567 --> 00:00:32,100 [Scott] You gotta pursue greatness nonstop. 14 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:33,800 [Amanda] They have to push the boundaries. 15 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,000 They have to be ambitious. 16 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,166 -Ooh! -[Alex] Irreverent, unflappable, 17 00:00:38,166 --> 00:00:39,767 -unbasketable. -You see this? 18 00:00:39,767 --> 00:00:42,567 [Ted] These champs who win the preliminary rounds 19 00:00:42,567 --> 00:00:45,400 will return to cook in the tournament's finale 20 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,700 with the judges as their sous chefs. 21 00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:51,467 I can't wait to boss him around. 22 00:00:51,467 --> 00:00:52,800 It's kind of naughty. 23 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,467 [woman] They need to come in guns blazing, 24 00:00:55,467 --> 00:00:56,433 Make me proud! 25 00:00:56,433 --> 00:00:58,467 Now that's some boom-boom right there, girl. 26 00:00:58,467 --> 00:01:01,100 That's the legendary move, like, that's it. 27 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:03,800 [contestant] Everyone is a champion, but there is only one legend. 28 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:06,266 Good enough isn't good enough. 29 00:01:06,266 --> 00:01:09,900 Many champions will fall, but one legend will rise. 30 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:11,800 ♪♪ And the legend goes on ♪ 31 00:01:17,467 --> 00:01:19,100 [Chris] To become a legendary chef here, 32 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:21,100 you have to be very smart with your choices. 33 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:22,600 If you come under pressure, 34 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,667 manage the clock 35 00:01:23,667 --> 00:01:25,500 and celebrate that basket. 36 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:26,767 As an original Chopped judge, 37 00:01:26,767 --> 00:01:29,300 this competition is in my blood and my soul. 38 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:31,467 I've judged 238 episodes. 39 00:01:31,467 --> 00:01:33,100 That's almost 1,000 chefs. 40 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:34,367 My favorite thing of the entire round... 41 00:01:34,367 --> 00:01:35,667 Too much caviar in my portion. 42 00:01:35,667 --> 00:01:37,300 It's really, really under. 43 00:01:37,300 --> 00:01:39,100 I know what these chefs need to do. 44 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:41,900 I have the inside knowledge to create an unbelievable matchup. 45 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:44,700 I'm staking my reputation on it. So, here we go. 46 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:47,266 My first pick, Chef Kat Turner, 47 00:01:47,266 --> 00:01:50,400 who won me over in our "Casino Royale" tournament. 48 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,066 -Chef. -Chef. 49 00:01:52,066 --> 00:01:53,867 [Chris] One taste of her dishes and I knew 50 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:55,400 she had potential legendary status. 51 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,300 The main reason I chose you is because of how creative you can be under fire. 52 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:01,400 I mean, we made a cow eyeball ice cream 53 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:02,800 that was just absolutely delicious. 54 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:04,800 You took a lot of risks, for sure, 55 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,266 but I think you do need to rein that in, 56 00:02:06,266 --> 00:02:08,100 -and be a little more calculated. -Mmm-hmm. 57 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:10,100 [Kat] The other chefs are gonna be good. 58 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:11,300 There's no question about that. 59 00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:14,000 I just have to be the best. 60 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,867 [Chris] Next, I chose Chef Boots Johnson, 61 00:02:16,867 --> 00:02:18,567 a champion I'll never forget. 62 00:02:18,567 --> 00:02:20,300 His cooking and flavors were so bold, 63 00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:21,533 and he was so driven, 64 00:02:21,533 --> 00:02:24,200 -that he won our Indoor Grilling battle. -Yes! Thank you! 65 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:26,000 [grunting] Mmm! 66 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,367 You have a lot more experience 67 00:02:27,367 --> 00:02:29,000 -than the other three chefs you're going up against. -[Boots] Yeah. 68 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,000 [Chris] You've got four competitions under your belt, 69 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,300 so I'm sure you're feeling a little bit nervous right now 70 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:34,567 'cause that's what Chopped does. 71 00:02:34,567 --> 00:02:36,467 But they're even, probably, the more nervous. 72 00:02:36,467 --> 00:02:37,767 Cook with confidence. 73 00:02:37,767 --> 00:02:39,300 Thanks, Chef. Appreciate it. 74 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:41,000 Chris chose me 'cause I'm a badass, 75 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,467 not because I just, you know... 76 00:02:43,467 --> 00:02:45,500 look good. [laughs] 77 00:02:46,467 --> 00:02:48,367 [Chris] Then I chose Chef Lauren Windham 78 00:02:48,367 --> 00:02:50,367 from my "Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef" tournament. 79 00:02:50,367 --> 00:02:53,266 She's a workhorse who never settles for anything less than perfection, 80 00:02:53,266 --> 00:02:54,834 and she knows how to pivot under pressure. 81 00:02:55,667 --> 00:02:57,367 That's how legends are made. 82 00:02:57,367 --> 00:02:59,266 -How are you? Welcome back. -I'm great. How are you? 83 00:02:59,266 --> 00:03:02,166 So I chose you because I really loved your culinary point of view. 84 00:03:02,166 --> 00:03:03,867 I loved the flavors you were able to develop, 85 00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:07,266 -even, sometimes, in a frazzled state. -Thank you, Chef. 86 00:03:07,266 --> 00:03:09,000 [Chris] My biggest advice for you is that, you know, 87 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,300 if you find yourself feeling like you're being overwhelmed or whatever, 88 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:13,100 like, you just got to brush it off and keep moving forward 89 00:03:13,100 --> 00:03:15,667 because you definitely can win the whole thing. 90 00:03:15,667 --> 00:03:18,867 [Lauren] My strategy is to not overthink the ingredients. 91 00:03:18,867 --> 00:03:21,500 I've put in the work and I'm ready. 92 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:23,266 [Chris] And finally, I picked Zuri Resendiz. 93 00:03:23,266 --> 00:03:25,767 I'm a huge fan of Zuri's because of his amazing 94 00:03:25,767 --> 00:03:27,266 storytelling abilities with food, 95 00:03:27,266 --> 00:03:29,300 and his immense skill at building flavors. 96 00:03:29,300 --> 00:03:31,266 So what made him stand out in our "Playing with Fire" tournament 97 00:03:31,266 --> 00:03:33,300 and I know he's gonna bring the heat here now. 98 00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:34,767 What happened to the dreadlocks? 99 00:03:34,767 --> 00:03:36,767 I opened the food truck, and the space is super small, 100 00:03:36,767 --> 00:03:39,166 -so I had to cut them off. -[both laughing] 101 00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:42,400 [Chris] The reason I chose you was really your flavor development, 102 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,266 and you were like a master saucier in there. 103 00:03:44,266 --> 00:03:45,634 Thank you, Chef. Yeah. 104 00:03:45,634 --> 00:03:48,700 [Zuri] Being chosen by one of the greatest chefs in America, 105 00:03:48,700 --> 00:03:50,066 maybe even of the world, 106 00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:52,000 my confidence is all the way to the roof, 107 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,300 and I'm here to prove him right. 108 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:56,133 Let's go. 109 00:03:59,567 --> 00:04:01,967 -[Tiffani] Here they are. Hey! -[Ted] Welcome Champions! 110 00:04:01,967 --> 00:04:04,767 So, Boots has a great deal of experience in this kitchen. 111 00:04:04,767 --> 00:04:06,767 [Tiffani] I remember Kat from "Casino Royale." 112 00:04:06,767 --> 00:04:08,667 We watched her cook with precision. 113 00:04:08,667 --> 00:04:10,900 Lauren was in our "Desperately Seeking Sous-Chefs" competition, 114 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:13,166 and she you crushed it in her opening round. 115 00:04:13,166 --> 00:04:15,300 -[Marc] Nice choice, Chris. -[Chris] Thanks. 116 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:16,767 Welcome back, champions! 117 00:04:16,767 --> 00:04:18,734 -Thanks, Ted. -[chuckles] Great to be back. 118 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:20,266 Open the baskets. 119 00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:23,400 -We're getting to that. -[all laughing] 120 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,367 [Ted] Chris chose you four champions 121 00:04:25,367 --> 00:04:27,500 because he truly believes in you. 122 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:30,667 He's putting his reputation in your hands. 123 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:34,367 If you win here, you'll move on to our tournament's grand finale. 124 00:04:34,367 --> 00:04:36,867 At stake, the rarefied title 125 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:38,700 of "Chopped Legend." 126 00:04:40,567 --> 00:04:44,000 Chris, anything you'd like to say to these champs before we open the baskets? 127 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,600 Yes. Chefs, I chose all four of you because you all possess 128 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,166 a particular set of skills 129 00:04:48,166 --> 00:04:49,567 that are different from each other. 130 00:04:49,567 --> 00:04:50,867 Use them to your advantage. 131 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:52,967 Do what you do well and do it better than you've ever done it. 132 00:04:52,967 --> 00:04:56,300 All righty. Let's see this first group of ingredients. 133 00:04:59,867 --> 00:05:01,400 Open them up. 134 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,400 -Ooh. -[laughs] 135 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,066 [Ted] And for your appetizer basket, 136 00:05:05,066 --> 00:05:08,000 Chris has chosen French dip sliders... 137 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,200 That pastrami, and that sauce bring a lot of salt to the party. 138 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:12,600 They're gonna need to really balance their seasoning. 139 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:13,767 [Ted] ...daikon... 140 00:05:13,767 --> 00:05:15,000 I didn't see this coming. 141 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,467 [Ted] ...tuna loin... 142 00:05:16,467 --> 00:05:18,367 -Ooh, yeah. -[Chris] Very tricky basket. 143 00:05:18,367 --> 00:05:21,066 Cooked meat and raw tuna. And you say, "Well, what am I gonna do?" 144 00:05:21,066 --> 00:05:22,500 [Ted] ...and the bacon roses. 145 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:24,367 Obviously, everyone knows my love for bacon. 146 00:05:24,367 --> 00:05:25,767 Chris, you shouldn't have. 147 00:05:25,767 --> 00:05:27,867 [all laughing] 148 00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:30,533 The 20-minute test of your talents... 149 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,867 starts now. 150 00:05:32,867 --> 00:05:35,500 -[judges cheering] -All right, guys. Do it for Chris! 151 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,867 [Ted] All right, Chris Santos, you chose these four chefs. 152 00:05:43,867 --> 00:05:47,500 Why? Do they truly have the potential to be Chopped Legends? 153 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:48,700 [Zuri] Right behind, chefs. 154 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:50,700 All four have a lot of perseverance. 155 00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:53,100 The thing for me is the creative, 156 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:55,000 outside-the-box thinking that all four chefs bring. 157 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:56,800 [Tiffani] So... the things you chose for the baskets, 158 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,100 are they your favorite things or things that reflect you? 159 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:01,767 [Chris] So one of my favorite dishes is, um, vitello tonnato, 160 00:06:01,767 --> 00:06:04,400 which is, uh, thin slices of veal with the tuna sauce. 161 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,600 And I've done variations on that my whole career, 'cause I just love it. 162 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,300 So that was the jumping off point. 163 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:11,567 How are they gonna balance the tuna with bacon and the pastrami? 164 00:06:11,567 --> 00:06:14,767 So, it might be the most difficult basket of the three that I curated. 165 00:06:14,767 --> 00:06:16,266 I think you have to keep the tuna raw. 166 00:06:16,266 --> 00:06:17,967 It's cooked meat on the slider. 167 00:06:17,967 --> 00:06:19,266 Cooked meat in the bacon. 168 00:06:19,266 --> 00:06:21,200 There's gonna be some need for freshness. 169 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,166 Um, I think also, the French dip sliders, 170 00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:24,567 I think I would just use the bread. 171 00:06:24,567 --> 00:06:26,767 I don't think you need that extra protein. 172 00:06:26,767 --> 00:06:28,467 Right behind, chefs. 173 00:06:28,467 --> 00:06:30,266 [Boots] To be a legend, you have to be aggressive. 174 00:06:30,266 --> 00:06:32,767 You have to, like, make that basket sing. 175 00:06:32,767 --> 00:06:34,767 And they say, "Lean into it. 176 00:06:34,767 --> 00:06:36,166 Lean into it." 177 00:06:36,166 --> 00:06:38,266 Chef Boots, what's the plan for the dish? 178 00:06:38,266 --> 00:06:41,467 I'm a Southern boy, so we got to do some, um... 179 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:44,000 some grits, put some seared tuna on there. 180 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,233 Okay. Seared tuna on grits. 181 00:06:45,233 --> 00:06:47,367 -Yeah. Let's have some fun, guys. -[Tiffani] I like that. 182 00:06:47,367 --> 00:06:50,300 [Boots] I see the French dip and bacon roses... 183 00:06:50,667 --> 00:06:51,767 bacon gravy. 184 00:06:51,767 --> 00:06:54,867 I take the gravy from the French dip, 185 00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:58,467 and pour it into the bacon fat. 186 00:06:58,467 --> 00:07:00,500 [Marc] You know, I would say the easiest ingredient here 187 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:01,533 is probably that daikon. 188 00:07:01,533 --> 00:07:03,300 You can just slice that, throw some vinegar on it, 189 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:05,467 and then you've got a nice pickled daikon that's great. 190 00:07:05,467 --> 00:07:07,567 [Chris] Absolutely. Boots is playing the loosest. 191 00:07:07,567 --> 00:07:08,867 He's having the most fun in there. 192 00:07:08,867 --> 00:07:10,567 -[Marc] It seems so. -And that's who he is. That's how he cooks. 193 00:07:10,567 --> 00:07:12,500 -[Marc] He's come up with an ingenious idea... -[Tiffani] Yeah. 194 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:14,100 -and very out of the box. -Yeah. 195 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:16,166 Behind. I'm behind you. 196 00:07:16,166 --> 00:07:18,967 Chris is literally and metaphorically, 197 00:07:18,967 --> 00:07:21,166 like, in my ear the whole time. 198 00:07:21,166 --> 00:07:23,166 The man is a legend in his own right. 199 00:07:23,166 --> 00:07:25,266 So I'm like, "What would Chris do?" 200 00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:26,834 "What would Chris do?" [chuckles] 201 00:07:27,467 --> 00:07:28,734 -Chef Kat! -[Kat] Yo! 202 00:07:28,734 --> 00:07:30,967 -[Tiffani] What's the plan? -I'm gonna use these little buns 203 00:07:30,967 --> 00:07:32,900 and, kind of, make like a little, uh... 204 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:34,367 like, brioche crostini, 205 00:07:34,367 --> 00:07:35,867 then I'm gonna do a little, uh, 206 00:07:35,867 --> 00:07:38,467 tuna and, uh, bacon tartare. 207 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:40,367 -Okay. -Okay. I like that. 208 00:07:40,367 --> 00:07:43,000 [Kat] So for the tartare, I grabbed scallions, 209 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,367 I grabbed cilantro, 210 00:07:44,367 --> 00:07:45,700 rice wine vinegar, 211 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:47,834 sambal and some fresh limes. 212 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:50,467 I decided I'm going to incorporate 213 00:07:50,467 --> 00:07:54,100 all of my basket ingredients into this tartare. 214 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,567 The jus, it almost has like a soy sauce kind of, quality to it, 215 00:07:57,567 --> 00:07:59,066 so instead of adding salt to it, 216 00:07:59,066 --> 00:08:00,600 I add the jus. 217 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,166 I need fresh, acidic hit 218 00:08:03,166 --> 00:08:05,367 to kind of cut through the bacon and the tuna. 219 00:08:05,367 --> 00:08:08,300 So, I'm going to pickle some of the daikon... 220 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:10,667 some agaves and a little bit of salt. 221 00:08:10,667 --> 00:08:12,333 Let's go! 222 00:08:12,467 --> 00:08:13,333 Head down! 223 00:08:13,333 --> 00:08:14,967 [Chris] I have such high expectations. 224 00:08:14,967 --> 00:08:16,300 I would say, in terms of confidence, 225 00:08:16,300 --> 00:08:19,300 Boots and Zuri right now, are cooking with the most confidence. 226 00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:20,867 It's really pretty. 227 00:08:20,867 --> 00:08:22,800 I definitely feel that extra pressure 228 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,000 of wanting to make Chris proud. 229 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,767 Bacon can be extremely overpowering. 230 00:08:27,767 --> 00:08:30,000 Tuna loin is very delicate, 231 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,767 and so, my goal is to find a nice balance. 232 00:08:33,767 --> 00:08:35,900 Lauren, what is your dish? 233 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:39,300 I'm gonna do, like, a warm bacon vinaigrette, 234 00:08:39,300 --> 00:08:41,467 some little pickled daikon radishes, 235 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:43,467 tossed with some of the tuna. 236 00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:44,500 [Tiffani] Excellent. 237 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:46,467 [Lauren] I'm gonna use the French dip sliders 238 00:08:46,467 --> 00:08:48,834 to make a breadcrumb topping. 239 00:08:50,867 --> 00:08:52,500 For my warm bacon vinaigrette, 240 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:54,467 I've rendered the fat off my bacon, 241 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:57,166 and then I add the pickled daikon radishes 242 00:08:57,166 --> 00:08:58,734 as well as the vinegar. 243 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:02,166 Coming down. Coming down. 244 00:09:02,166 --> 00:09:04,467 [Zuri] Chopped Legend is more than just a title, you know. 245 00:09:04,467 --> 00:09:06,367 It means that you are the best of the best. 246 00:09:06,367 --> 00:09:08,266 All the chefs that I'm going against, 247 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:10,467 they know what they're doing, and that's great. 248 00:09:10,467 --> 00:09:11,734 I'm excited. 249 00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:14,266 I'm taking a risk here by mixing beef stock with fish stock. 250 00:09:14,266 --> 00:09:17,200 But Chris already said that my sauces and my flavors are the best, 251 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,200 so I have to take the risk. I have to make a legendary sauce. 252 00:09:20,667 --> 00:09:21,834 -Zuri? -[Zuri] Yes? 253 00:09:21,834 --> 00:09:24,700 -You got a good plan for a dish in a hurry? -[Zuri] Yes. 254 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:27,467 We're doing a ceviche. 255 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:29,000 We're gonna do it for the first time, 256 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,100 a gravy leche de tigre. 257 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:32,667 So, you're gonna use the French dip gravy 258 00:09:32,667 --> 00:09:34,467 -to make leche de tigre? -[Zuri] Yeah, and then we're gonna finish with a crumble 259 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:37,266 with the bread and the bacon right on top of it for some crunch. 260 00:09:37,266 --> 00:09:40,367 -I love it. -[Tiffani] You have chosen some risky fighters. 261 00:09:40,367 --> 00:09:43,467 The start of this dish has to be my leche de tigre. 262 00:09:43,467 --> 00:09:44,400 Some seafood stock, 263 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,166 daikon, jalapenos, 264 00:09:46,166 --> 00:09:48,000 cilantro, lime juice 265 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,333 and the French dip. 266 00:09:49,867 --> 00:09:51,033 Perfect. 267 00:09:51,033 --> 00:09:54,000 [Tiffani] Zuri's tuna is already in the leche de tigre. 268 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,467 There's a ton of lime juice in there. 269 00:09:55,467 --> 00:09:57,166 It is going to cook, cook, cook. 270 00:09:57,166 --> 00:09:59,767 -[Chris] Do you fear it's going to cook too much? -[Tiffani] Yeah. 271 00:09:59,767 --> 00:10:01,967 I think you're absolutely right, but I think if you're gonna use the tuna, 272 00:10:01,967 --> 00:10:03,767 you should probably dice it pretty big. 273 00:10:03,767 --> 00:10:05,000 -Yeah. -Poke big. 274 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,133 [Marc] Yeah. So, you can still keep it 275 00:10:06,133 --> 00:10:07,433 -to that temperature in the middle. -[Tiffani] Agreed. 276 00:10:07,433 --> 00:10:09,166 But if there's someone that can make it work, Zuri can. 277 00:10:09,166 --> 00:10:12,266 Lots of good flavors, great culinary point of view. 278 00:10:12,266 --> 00:10:15,166 [Lauren] Because my tuna poke is flavored pretty mildly, 279 00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:18,100 I feel like chard radicchio is gonna bring 280 00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:20,400 the bitterness component to the dish. 281 00:10:21,467 --> 00:10:24,367 All right, chefs, five minutes to get it done. 282 00:10:24,367 --> 00:10:27,700 [Lauren] Everyone's plating, and I don't have anything plated yet. 283 00:10:28,767 --> 00:10:30,200 And I'm feeling a little bit flustered. 284 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,367 Oh, man. It's crazy. 285 00:10:32,367 --> 00:10:34,467 [Tiffani] When Lauren was here for "Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef," 286 00:10:34,467 --> 00:10:36,166 she got really frazzled in her last round, 287 00:10:36,166 --> 00:10:37,266 and that's how she got chopped. 288 00:10:37,266 --> 00:10:38,767 She is, once again, frazzled. 289 00:10:38,767 --> 00:10:40,166 Come on. Come on. 290 00:10:40,166 --> 00:10:41,734 [Chris] Go, Lauren, you got this. 291 00:10:41,734 --> 00:10:44,266 [Lauren] If I don't go ahead and get some of my components on my plates, 292 00:10:44,266 --> 00:10:46,300 it's gonna end like it did last time. 293 00:10:46,300 --> 00:10:48,133 [Chris] Oh, boy! 294 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:52,834 [Boots] Lauren just seems, 295 00:10:52,834 --> 00:10:54,367 like, she's like, really nervous. 296 00:10:54,367 --> 00:10:56,467 I can feel the tension next to me. 297 00:10:56,467 --> 00:10:58,500 [Lauren] Coming into this competition, 298 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:01,266 Chris told me, "If you I feel like you're..." 299 00:11:01,266 --> 00:11:02,767 -[dishes clattering] -[Lauren] "...a little in over your head, 300 00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:05,367 take a deep breath. Keep going. Don't give up." 301 00:11:05,367 --> 00:11:07,600 I'm going to take Chris' advice. 302 00:11:08,667 --> 00:11:11,667 Chefs, here's your two-minute warning. 303 00:11:11,667 --> 00:11:15,266 [Chris] Kat and Zuri seem completely in control of what they're doing. 304 00:11:15,266 --> 00:11:16,667 Plenty of time to finish their dishes. 305 00:11:16,667 --> 00:11:18,000 I'm a little bit worried about Boots. 306 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,200 He's just getting his plates out. 307 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,667 Boots, you gotta... gotta move, man. 308 00:11:20,667 --> 00:11:22,500 You-- Minute 20. 309 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:24,967 [Boots] I start plating. I didn't wanna get too much. 310 00:11:24,967 --> 00:11:28,166 It's an appetizer around. Two bites at the max. 311 00:11:28,166 --> 00:11:31,000 Get those flavors, so they all melt together, 312 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,166 and have a sexy plate. 313 00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:35,767 Come on, guys. Let's go! Let's go! 314 00:11:35,767 --> 00:11:36,800 -Let's go! Let's go! -[Kat] Boots, we gotta go. 315 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,767 -[Boots] Get it done, chefs. -[Kat] Lauren, push! 316 00:11:38,767 --> 00:11:40,200 [Ted] Step on it, chefs. 317 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,233 The clock is not gonna stop! 318 00:11:42,667 --> 00:11:45,600 Ten, nine, eight, 319 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,600 seven, six, five, 320 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,700 four, three, two, one... 321 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,767 Time's up. Please step back. 322 00:11:55,767 --> 00:11:56,934 [judges clapping] 323 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:01,100 [Tiffani] Boots' tuna looks great. 324 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:02,667 Medium rare, almost medium. 325 00:12:02,667 --> 00:12:05,100 Like, really nice sear, with all the spices on the outside. 326 00:12:05,100 --> 00:12:06,667 -[Chris] Yeah. -[Tiffani] Looks good. 327 00:12:06,667 --> 00:12:08,767 [Boots] You know, I feel like... it felt pretty good 328 00:12:08,767 --> 00:12:10,200 till I got to 30 seconds, 329 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:11,467 and I'm like, "Ughhh!" 330 00:12:11,467 --> 00:12:13,166 I didn't garnish it all the way. 331 00:12:13,166 --> 00:12:15,100 This presentation is not legendary. 332 00:12:17,367 --> 00:12:19,166 [Chris] As a mentor, I preach patience. 333 00:12:19,166 --> 00:12:21,367 But I hope I can give these chefs the advice they need 334 00:12:21,367 --> 00:12:23,700 to advance them to the next round. 335 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:26,900 Chefs, what did you do with that appetizer basket 336 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:29,533 of French dip sliders, daikon, 337 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,000 tuna loin, and bacon roses? 338 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,367 Chef Lauren, please tell us all about it. 339 00:12:35,367 --> 00:12:37,800 Today, I've made for you a tuna poke 340 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,166 with radicchio seared in bacon fat 341 00:12:41,166 --> 00:12:44,567 and topped with a warm bacon vinaigrette 342 00:12:44,567 --> 00:12:46,300 and pickled daikon. 343 00:12:47,667 --> 00:12:50,300 [Chris] As always, I like your culinary point of view. 344 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:52,200 You always tend to look at the basket 345 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,367 in a much different way than your competitors. 346 00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:56,767 And I think this radicchio, the way you featured it, 347 00:12:56,767 --> 00:12:58,767 almost as much as you feature the basket ingredients, 348 00:12:58,767 --> 00:12:59,667 that's you, that's what you do. 349 00:12:59,667 --> 00:13:00,767 And... and so, I like it. 350 00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:02,266 But because you left it whole, 351 00:13:02,266 --> 00:13:05,300 the radicchio takes over 'cause it's so bitter. 352 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:08,467 The one thing that does tie it together is the pickled daikon. 353 00:13:08,467 --> 00:13:09,900 The acid does help. 354 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:11,467 The daikon is used perfectly. 355 00:13:11,467 --> 00:13:13,400 The bacon vinaigrette is delicious. 356 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:14,767 You know, if you're gonna take the sliders 357 00:13:14,767 --> 00:13:17,667 and really only use the bread on it, 358 00:13:17,667 --> 00:13:19,000 it needs to be crunchy on top. 359 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,066 And I think it's, kind of, getting smooshed 360 00:13:21,066 --> 00:13:22,800 -into the bacon vinaigrette. -[Lauren] Okay. 361 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,400 Thank you, chefs. 362 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,967 Next up, Chef Boots. 363 00:13:25,967 --> 00:13:28,367 Well, I made my version of fish and grits 364 00:13:28,367 --> 00:13:30,900 with a bacon French dip gravy, 365 00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:32,800 and creamy grits. 366 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,767 [Chris] Let's talk presentation first. 367 00:13:37,767 --> 00:13:40,200 You kind of struggled to finish in time, which I was surprised at. 368 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,767 -Right. -[Chris] The way you've built this up, 369 00:13:42,767 --> 00:13:45,266 this is really just the wrong plate for it. 370 00:13:45,266 --> 00:13:46,767 The tuna, it's fine, that you give us a slice, 371 00:13:46,767 --> 00:13:48,000 but we, in turn, have to cut that. 372 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,967 And it's just really hard to work around this tiny little-- 373 00:13:49,967 --> 00:13:50,900 Yep. Yep. 374 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:52,900 [Chris] I think that your grits are great. 375 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:54,467 Um, what did you pickle the daikon in? 376 00:13:54,467 --> 00:13:56,266 -Apple cider vinegar and sugar. Yeah. -[Chris] Okay. Yeah. 377 00:13:56,266 --> 00:13:57,867 Yeah, I love it. 378 00:13:57,867 --> 00:13:59,867 The pickling of the daikon is so delicious, 379 00:13:59,867 --> 00:14:01,367 like, I just got it all on my shirt 380 00:14:01,367 --> 00:14:02,767 because I kept eating it. 381 00:14:02,767 --> 00:14:05,166 I love this French dip and bacon gravy. 382 00:14:05,166 --> 00:14:07,867 For me, a legendary dish is something I think about a lot, 383 00:14:07,867 --> 00:14:09,500 that I wanna go keep going back to. 384 00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:11,367 And that has this quality. 385 00:14:11,367 --> 00:14:13,300 I think it's a great concept for that basket. 386 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:15,667 The cook on the tuna... is really great. 387 00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:17,000 The daikon is a little heavy. 388 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,967 I got a lot less than everybody else. 389 00:14:18,967 --> 00:14:22,100 It must have been in the four-three-two-one process. 390 00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:23,266 Thank you. 391 00:14:23,266 --> 00:14:25,166 Next up, Chef Zuri. 392 00:14:25,166 --> 00:14:29,000 I did a ceviche with a gravy and ginger leche de tigre, 393 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,767 finished with a bacon French dip crumble. 394 00:14:32,767 --> 00:14:36,266 How did it feel when you learned that you'd been selected by Chris? 395 00:14:36,266 --> 00:14:38,367 You know, it's an honor to be selected by a great chef, 396 00:14:38,367 --> 00:14:40,100 and just having the idea in the back 397 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:42,867 that I can compete with him next to me, 398 00:14:42,867 --> 00:14:44,600 just feels fantastic. 399 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,367 So, every single move that I make has to be correct. 400 00:14:47,367 --> 00:14:48,467 [Chris] Right on. 401 00:14:48,467 --> 00:14:51,000 The thing that I like the most in here is the daikon. 402 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,600 Beautiful break from all of the other, 403 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,567 like, heaviness of this dish. 404 00:14:55,567 --> 00:14:58,700 I think it's so brave and so cool 405 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,767 to try and use French Zip slider jus 406 00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:03,100 as a base for the leg de tigre. 407 00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:04,400 But the tuna, if you're gonna do that, 408 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,200 it needs to be cut in, like, really larger pieces, 409 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,800 so that it doesn't cook completely in the leche de tigre. 410 00:15:10,066 --> 00:15:13,000 Yeah, and all that bread absorbed the sauce, 411 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,900 and then it kind of got a little heavy and weighted down. 412 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,467 Everything's, sort of, just mushy, mushy. 413 00:15:18,467 --> 00:15:21,166 Yeah, I mean, I think the issue with this dish 414 00:15:21,166 --> 00:15:22,567 is time management. 415 00:15:22,567 --> 00:15:24,867 You wanting to do, sort of, a complex ceviche, 416 00:15:24,867 --> 00:15:26,800 this speaks to exactly who you are. 417 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,266 But I might have wanted to eliminate a couple of steps. 418 00:15:28,266 --> 00:15:31,266 I have so much red onion. 419 00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:34,133 The ratio of tuna to onion is like... 420 00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:36,266 sixty-forty. It's just too much. 421 00:15:36,266 --> 00:15:37,634 Yes, Chef. 422 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,367 Finally, Chef Kat. 423 00:15:39,367 --> 00:15:43,367 Uh, this is a tuna tartare and bacon toast 424 00:15:43,367 --> 00:15:45,400 with pickled daikon. 425 00:15:46,266 --> 00:15:48,800 How does it feel to be representing Mr. Santos? 426 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:49,967 [Kat] It's an honor. 427 00:15:49,967 --> 00:15:51,567 Chris, you are a legend... 428 00:15:51,567 --> 00:15:52,567 Oh, stop. 429 00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:53,734 [Kat] ...with your restaurants. 430 00:15:53,734 --> 00:15:56,767 I was in culinary school, living on Ludlow and Stanton, 431 00:15:56,767 --> 00:15:58,500 -when Stanton Social opened. -Oh, my God. 432 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:00,767 Um, I remember the first time I went in and had 433 00:16:00,767 --> 00:16:02,800 -the French onion soup dumplings. -[Chris] Mmm-hmm. 434 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:03,934 I mean, I still taste them. 435 00:16:03,934 --> 00:16:06,600 -Wow. -And so to be standing here, representing you, 436 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,100 it's... very, very cool. 437 00:16:09,100 --> 00:16:12,100 [Chris] Um, I think the tartare is... is delightful. 438 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:14,367 I think you've just done a really good job of balancing... 439 00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:15,967 -You used the jus, you said? -Mmm-hmm. 440 00:16:15,967 --> 00:16:17,500 [Chris] ...the tuna and the bacon. 441 00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:19,100 [Tiffani] Actually, I like the cilantro 442 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:20,600 and the big pieces of daikon on top. 443 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,100 I do think you need something kind of visually that pops, 444 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:26,500 that brings you away from, like, the red-brown thing going on. 445 00:16:26,767 --> 00:16:27,967 Thank you. 446 00:16:27,967 --> 00:16:29,700 [Marc] I think that it's a little bit on the heavier side, 447 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:32,867 so maybe even the daikon, a little bit bigger in there would have been good, too, 448 00:16:32,867 --> 00:16:35,800 to give a little bit more balance, but it's good. 449 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,400 Thank you. 450 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,200 I think for me, this is the most successful dish of the first round. 451 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:44,467 Thank you, Chef. 452 00:16:44,467 --> 00:16:47,967 Four champions, but just three spots in the next round. 453 00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:48,934 Thank you, chefs. 454 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,667 I'm feeling a little unconfident. [chuckles] 455 00:16:52,667 --> 00:16:55,867 Time got away from me, which never happens. 456 00:16:55,867 --> 00:16:58,367 [Lauren] I'm glad that I got all the ingredients on my plate, 457 00:16:58,367 --> 00:17:00,667 but I know I could have done better. 458 00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:03,567 I'm not incredibly proud of my plate. 459 00:17:03,567 --> 00:17:05,200 [Kat] I think Lauren's radicchio 460 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,667 really threw off the judges, 461 00:17:07,667 --> 00:17:09,166 so I'm worried 462 00:17:09,166 --> 00:17:12,100 that my only other girl might get you chopped. 463 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,000 So, whose dish is on the chopping block? 464 00:17:31,066 --> 00:17:32,934 Chef Zuri, you've been chopped. 465 00:17:32,934 --> 00:17:36,100 Chef Zuri, it brings me no pleasure to chop you. 466 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:37,834 You actually made a legendary move. 467 00:17:37,834 --> 00:17:39,767 That leche de tigre with the jus from the... 468 00:17:39,767 --> 00:17:41,600 from the French dip slider was excellent. 469 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,600 Unfortunately, the tuna was cut so small 470 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,667 that the acid completely broke down the tuna, 471 00:17:45,667 --> 00:17:47,033 and it was, like, really mushy. 472 00:17:47,033 --> 00:17:50,300 And the ratio of onions to tuna was just way off. 473 00:17:50,300 --> 00:17:51,934 And so, we had to chop you. 474 00:17:51,934 --> 00:17:53,233 Thank you. 475 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,300 Nobody likes to lose, but it's okay. 476 00:17:58,834 --> 00:18:00,500 I met some great chefs today. 477 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:01,667 I'm learning from them, too, 478 00:18:01,667 --> 00:18:03,867 and I'll just keep getting the experience, 479 00:18:03,867 --> 00:18:05,567 and that's the way you have to see it. 480 00:18:07,834 --> 00:18:11,000 I think it's pretty clear that Kat did really well in the first round, 481 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,066 and you guys did not do as well as you're capable of. 482 00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:14,567 I've seen it. I know what you guys can do. 483 00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:16,066 Put a little pressure on her this round, okay? 484 00:18:16,066 --> 00:18:17,333 -[Boots] Got it. -[Lauren] Got it, Chef. 485 00:18:19,066 --> 00:18:20,767 Champions, you've proved that you have 486 00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:22,667 the mental toughness and the skills 487 00:18:22,667 --> 00:18:24,867 to slay basket after basket here. 488 00:18:24,867 --> 00:18:27,266 Do you think this round will be any different? 489 00:18:27,266 --> 00:18:28,867 -No. -I'm ready to bring it. 490 00:18:28,867 --> 00:18:32,133 All right, Chris's entree ingredients are right here. 491 00:18:35,166 --> 00:18:36,200 Check them out! 492 00:18:37,667 --> 00:18:38,834 Oh, wow! 493 00:18:38,834 --> 00:18:41,400 [Ted] All right, you've got that classic pantry staple, 494 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,200 cream of mushroom soup... 495 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,066 My mother cooked with this all the time. 496 00:18:45,066 --> 00:18:47,667 [Chris] Cream of mushroom soup is extremely nostalgic. 497 00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:48,967 It brings me back to my childhood and... 498 00:18:48,967 --> 00:18:50,367 and hanging out at my grandmother's house. 499 00:18:50,367 --> 00:18:51,133 And that's what we'd have. 500 00:18:51,133 --> 00:18:53,266 [Ted] ...along with bok choy... 501 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:54,600 Big old bok choy. 502 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:55,867 [Ted] ...bavette steak... 503 00:18:55,867 --> 00:18:57,867 [sighs] Yes. 504 00:18:57,867 --> 00:18:59,967 Oh, my God, wait, are these picklebacks? 505 00:18:59,967 --> 00:19:01,266 [Ted] ...and pickleback shots. 506 00:19:01,266 --> 00:19:02,467 Thanks. Thanks. 507 00:19:02,467 --> 00:19:05,967 -Don't look at me. My name's not Chris. -[chefs laughing] 508 00:19:05,967 --> 00:19:07,967 Thirty more minutes of culinary brilliance... 509 00:19:09,266 --> 00:19:10,100 clock starts now. 510 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:12,100 [Tiffani] All right, guys, let's go! 511 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:14,700 -[Chris] Let's have a legendary round. -[Tiffani] Let's go! 512 00:19:15,467 --> 00:19:18,133 This round is so important for these chefs. 513 00:19:18,133 --> 00:19:20,066 You know, two of them didn't have the best first round. 514 00:19:20,066 --> 00:19:22,367 In the appetizer round, Kat did well. 515 00:19:22,367 --> 00:19:24,867 This round makes it or breaks it for them. 516 00:19:24,867 --> 00:19:27,266 [Chris] I knew I wanted to do a steak in the entree round 517 00:19:27,266 --> 00:19:28,567 because so many chefs come in here 518 00:19:28,567 --> 00:19:30,767 and either cook the steak properly, but it's not seasoned well, 519 00:19:30,767 --> 00:19:32,166 or it's seasoned well, but it's not cooked properly. 520 00:19:32,166 --> 00:19:33,967 But then, specifically, you don't wanna 521 00:19:33,967 --> 00:19:36,033 really cook that past medium rare plus. 522 00:19:36,033 --> 00:19:38,100 Um, so I'm really looking to see if they understand that, 523 00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:40,266 and that they're able to execute it. 524 00:19:40,266 --> 00:19:43,066 [Kat] I feel like I came out strong in the first round. 525 00:19:43,066 --> 00:19:44,867 Can opener. Can opener. 526 00:19:44,867 --> 00:19:46,367 [Kat] One of the things Chris is known for 527 00:19:46,367 --> 00:19:50,066 is giving you this sense of nostalgia through his food. 528 00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:53,200 And cream of mushroom soup is definitely nostalgic. 529 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,767 Wow. Whoo! Wow. 530 00:19:54,767 --> 00:19:57,266 Look, I'm a Wisconsin girl... meat and potatoes. 531 00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:59,500 I can make a really great steak au poivre. 532 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:01,300 Kat, what do you think you're making there? What do you got? 533 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:03,567 I think I'm gonna do, like, a kind of a riff on a steak au poivre. 534 00:20:03,567 --> 00:20:04,834 -[Marc and Tiffani] Ooh! -Oh. 535 00:20:04,834 --> 00:20:07,066 [Marc] What a smart idea! 536 00:20:07,066 --> 00:20:09,567 [Kat] I'm also making a bok choy 537 00:20:09,567 --> 00:20:11,867 and russet potato hash. 538 00:20:11,867 --> 00:20:13,967 Kat really deciphered that basket. 539 00:20:13,967 --> 00:20:16,266 Making a steak au poivre, sort of, rendition 540 00:20:16,266 --> 00:20:19,166 and using that cream of mushroom soup as your cream in there, 541 00:20:19,166 --> 00:20:21,600 really good idea. And also using the whisky 542 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,300 into the deglazing of that sauce. 543 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,233 [Tiffani] Like, you watch her cooking, 544 00:20:25,233 --> 00:20:28,967 she looks like an absolute legend, like a pro. 545 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,266 [breathes heavily] 546 00:20:31,266 --> 00:20:34,567 [Boots] I have to redeem myself from that last round. 547 00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:36,600 I am the Memphis Grill Masters champion. 548 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:38,867 Why am I legendary? 549 00:20:38,867 --> 00:20:40,600 My sauce. 550 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:42,367 Boots, making us something good? 551 00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:44,400 I am going back to my barbecue roots. 552 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,100 Got a pickleback barbecue sauce happening. 553 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:49,500 I got some, uh, cream bok choy, 554 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:52,166 potatoes with grilled bavette steak. 555 00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:54,266 [Chris] I love hearing that. They need to play to their strengths. 556 00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:56,100 Any time he leans into that, kind of, 557 00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,467 Southern roots barbecue, he crushes it. 558 00:20:58,467 --> 00:21:01,133 So, these are the moments that legends are made of. 559 00:21:01,133 --> 00:21:03,166 So this barbecue sauce is all the sweet notes 560 00:21:03,166 --> 00:21:04,467 of the Memphis barbecue sauce. 561 00:21:04,467 --> 00:21:07,166 I grab some ketchup, molasses, 562 00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:10,500 the whiskey, brown sugar. 563 00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:12,967 So, I know that it's gonna go great with the steak. 564 00:21:12,967 --> 00:21:15,000 Right now, I have enough time to cook it 565 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,867 to a nice med-rare. 566 00:21:17,867 --> 00:21:19,867 Behind, behind, behind. 567 00:21:19,867 --> 00:21:22,200 Looks like Lauren has a dough of some kind. 568 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,133 -[Tiffani] What? -[Marc] That's pretty remarkable. 569 00:21:24,133 --> 00:21:25,734 Chef Lauren, what are you making us? 570 00:21:25,734 --> 00:21:28,500 I am making a flatbread 571 00:21:28,500 --> 00:21:32,867 with, like, a Persian spice-rubbed bavette steak, 572 00:21:32,867 --> 00:21:35,567 and some sort of bok choy salad. 573 00:21:35,567 --> 00:21:36,667 [Marc] A really good idea. 574 00:21:36,667 --> 00:21:38,467 We'll be looking forward to it. 575 00:21:38,467 --> 00:21:40,667 Lauren actually did put some of the cream of mushroom soup 576 00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:42,166 inside of that flatbread. 577 00:21:42,166 --> 00:21:44,367 [Tiffani] That's smart in terms of gameplay 578 00:21:44,367 --> 00:21:46,033 and strategy to put the basket ingredient 579 00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:47,266 in Lauren's flatbread. 580 00:21:47,266 --> 00:21:48,967 [Lauren] Once my steak's in the pan, 581 00:21:48,967 --> 00:21:52,367 I'm adding the whiskey from the pickleback shot. 582 00:21:52,367 --> 00:21:54,567 I'm not sure Lauren's going in the right direction here. 583 00:21:54,567 --> 00:21:56,567 I mean, I could see dicing up the steak 584 00:21:56,567 --> 00:21:58,500 if you were maybe doing a really quick dice 585 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:00,567 and maybe making some type of a stir fry, maybe. 586 00:22:00,567 --> 00:22:01,834 I'd rather cook the steak like steak... 587 00:22:01,834 --> 00:22:03,867 -[Tiffani] And then slice it. Exactly. -...and then slice it. 588 00:22:03,867 --> 00:22:06,367 15 minutes on the clock, chefs. Halfway in. 589 00:22:06,367 --> 00:22:07,734 Behind, behind, behind. 590 00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:10,400 [Kat] The steak au poivre is kind of like leaning 591 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,000 into a little bit of a French vibe. 592 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,567 I don't want to go super-Asian with my bok choy. 593 00:22:15,567 --> 00:22:18,266 So I do shallot and garlic, 594 00:22:18,266 --> 00:22:20,367 and I hit it with pickle juice 595 00:22:20,367 --> 00:22:22,867 to give it a little bit of like funk and acidity. 596 00:22:22,867 --> 00:22:24,867 We're already at 14.5 minutes. 597 00:22:24,867 --> 00:22:26,467 Kat has a screaming-hot pan, 598 00:22:26,467 --> 00:22:28,600 but she needs to get that steak on 599 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,400 and then get it off to rest. 600 00:22:30,967 --> 00:22:32,033 [Kat] I hear the judges. 601 00:22:32,033 --> 00:22:33,867 "She better get that steak on there." 602 00:22:33,867 --> 00:22:36,266 I'm like, "Oh, my God, I have to get the steak going." 603 00:22:37,367 --> 00:22:41,166 [Boots] I go dive into creamy bok choy. 604 00:22:41,166 --> 00:22:44,667 I salted some portobello and some button mushrooms 605 00:22:44,667 --> 00:22:47,000 to really enhance that mushroom flavor. 606 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,834 Using the bok choy and that creamy mushroom soup 607 00:22:49,834 --> 00:22:51,867 just kind of like puts it together. 608 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:54,867 Literally pickle juice. 609 00:22:54,867 --> 00:22:57,600 I'm gonna use the pickle juice from the pickleback shot 610 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,166 as part of my bok choy salad dressing 611 00:23:00,166 --> 00:23:02,300 for that salty vinegar component. 612 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,500 After I've let my flatbread rest, 613 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:08,200 it's time to go ahead and get in the pan 614 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:09,600 and start it cooking. 615 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,200 I'm hoping that they get cooked all the way through. 616 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,800 They're a little bit thicker than I want them to be. 617 00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,500 All right, chefs, coming up on 5 minutes. 618 00:23:21,667 --> 00:23:23,133 [Kat] Get the steaks off, Kat. 619 00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:25,533 It needs to rest, and it's not gonna have enough time. 620 00:23:28,166 --> 00:23:30,200 [Boots] I feel like my entree needs a little bit of texture, 621 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,567 so I grab an onion to make some onion strings. 622 00:23:33,567 --> 00:23:35,767 Kat's making steak and potatoes as well, 623 00:23:35,767 --> 00:23:39,200 so I need to make sure that mine is prettier than hers. 624 00:23:40,867 --> 00:23:42,133 [Marc] Less than a minute. 625 00:23:42,133 --> 00:23:44,200 Lauren and Kat are just struggling 626 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:45,567 to get everything on the plate. 627 00:23:45,567 --> 00:23:46,500 [Tiffani] Come on, legends. 628 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,867 All four basket ingredients. 629 00:23:48,867 --> 00:23:50,667 -Come on, come on, come on, come on. -[Chris] Let's go. 630 00:23:50,667 --> 00:23:51,867 Let's go, Lauren. You got this. 631 00:23:51,867 --> 00:23:53,066 Yes, Chef. 632 00:23:53,066 --> 00:23:54,667 This is where legends are made. 633 00:23:54,667 --> 00:23:55,867 Push! 634 00:23:55,867 --> 00:23:58,867 [Ted] Ten, nine, eight, 635 00:23:58,867 --> 00:24:05,533 seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. 636 00:24:06,734 --> 00:24:08,000 Time's up. 637 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:14,200 Oh, my gosh, it's so much pressure being here. 638 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,767 Selected by Chef Chris, 639 00:24:15,767 --> 00:24:17,367 I kind of went with ingredients 640 00:24:17,367 --> 00:24:18,867 that I know taste good. 641 00:24:18,867 --> 00:24:22,100 I tried to have the difference in textures, 642 00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:24,266 and hopefully that translates to the judges. 643 00:24:25,300 --> 00:24:26,467 I feel good. 644 00:24:26,467 --> 00:24:28,500 I feel good. I got into a zone. 645 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:30,266 Went back to my barbecue roots. 646 00:24:33,133 --> 00:24:35,500 Uh, plating. I didn't do a great plate last time. 647 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:36,667 And most of all, I just wanted to make sure 648 00:24:36,667 --> 00:24:38,133 I had enough room to draw. 649 00:24:38,133 --> 00:24:39,200 I'm looking down at my plate, 650 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,367 thinking about what I'm gonna make for dessert, 651 00:24:41,367 --> 00:24:43,600 because this plate is knocking out one of these ladies. 652 00:24:52,867 --> 00:24:54,500 [Chris] I think one of my strongest skills 653 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:55,667 is my mentoring ability. 654 00:24:55,667 --> 00:24:57,934 And so to be able to take these four great top champions 655 00:24:57,934 --> 00:24:59,467 and hopefully get one of them all the way 656 00:24:59,467 --> 00:25:00,867 to win this entire thing, 657 00:25:00,867 --> 00:25:02,600 that's just a privilege and an honor. 658 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,567 Champions, you opened up your entree basket 659 00:25:04,567 --> 00:25:07,934 and found that Chris had given you cream of mushroom soup, 660 00:25:07,934 --> 00:25:10,834 bok choy, bavette steak, 661 00:25:10,834 --> 00:25:12,467 and pickleback shots. 662 00:25:12,467 --> 00:25:13,867 Starting with you, Chef Kat. 663 00:25:13,867 --> 00:25:16,266 So this is a bavette steak 664 00:25:16,266 --> 00:25:19,033 with a cream of mushroom poivre sauce. 665 00:25:19,033 --> 00:25:22,500 And there is whiskey in the poivre sauce. 666 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:26,767 And a bok choy and russet potato hash. 667 00:25:26,767 --> 00:25:30,667 I added the pickle juice to the bok choy 668 00:25:30,667 --> 00:25:32,667 to kind deglaze it. 669 00:25:32,667 --> 00:25:34,367 How is the pressure after having made 670 00:25:34,367 --> 00:25:36,166 a pretty strong showing in the first round? 671 00:25:36,166 --> 00:25:39,467 I'm competing with other potential legends here. 672 00:25:39,467 --> 00:25:40,600 The pressure is high. 673 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,100 And I want to make Chris proud and represent him well. 674 00:25:43,100 --> 00:25:45,600 In this kitchen, pressure makes legends. 675 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,066 And it's how you respond to that pressure 676 00:25:47,066 --> 00:25:48,600 that really shows up. 677 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:52,367 Opening that basket and coming up with this concept 678 00:25:52,367 --> 00:25:54,200 to put the cream of mushroom soup 679 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,867 into an au poivre sauce, 680 00:25:55,867 --> 00:25:57,567 it's a genius dish, I think. 681 00:25:57,567 --> 00:25:58,867 Oh. Thank you. 682 00:25:58,867 --> 00:26:01,500 I agree. The steak is seasoned perfectly. 683 00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:03,133 But it could've been rested a little bit longer. 684 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,166 Yeah, and I don't know 685 00:26:05,166 --> 00:26:06,667 where we're going with the bok choy. 686 00:26:06,667 --> 00:26:08,033 Like, it's kind of sauteed 687 00:26:08,033 --> 00:26:11,066 and then with the potatoes that aren't crispy. 688 00:26:11,066 --> 00:26:14,100 It's using the bok choy, but it's not celebrating the bok choy. 689 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:15,367 But this sauce is so good, 690 00:26:15,367 --> 00:26:16,867 and it's such an excellent way 691 00:26:16,867 --> 00:26:18,400 to highlight the cream of mushroom 692 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,200 and also with the whiskey. 693 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:21,567 There's something really comforting 694 00:26:21,567 --> 00:26:24,200 and elegant at the same time about this dish. 695 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,500 And that sauce signs that painting. 696 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:27,600 Thank you. 697 00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:29,867 Next up, Chef Boots. 698 00:26:29,867 --> 00:26:32,100 I went back to my-- to my barbecue roots. 699 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:33,367 Made steak and potatoes. 700 00:26:33,367 --> 00:26:35,734 Made a cool whiskey barbecue sauce. 701 00:26:35,734 --> 00:26:37,066 I used cream and mushroom soup 702 00:26:37,066 --> 00:26:39,200 as I tossed the bok choy greens. 703 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:40,934 Fried some onions for some texture. 704 00:26:40,934 --> 00:26:42,567 And enjoy. 705 00:26:42,567 --> 00:26:43,934 [Ted] What would it mean to you 706 00:26:43,934 --> 00:26:46,133 to be the first Chopped Legend? 707 00:26:46,133 --> 00:26:49,166 That's some-- some huge bragging rights for my brand 708 00:26:49,166 --> 00:26:50,867 and my restaurants. 709 00:26:50,867 --> 00:26:52,166 All right, give it to me. 710 00:26:52,166 --> 00:26:53,300 I'll tell you what I love, up front. 711 00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:55,767 And that's using the cream of mushroom soup 712 00:26:55,767 --> 00:26:57,867 to turn this bok choy into creamy bok choy. 713 00:26:57,867 --> 00:26:59,867 I think it's smart. It's very simple. 714 00:26:59,867 --> 00:27:02,467 And I love this like frizzled onion ring. 715 00:27:02,467 --> 00:27:03,300 It adds really great texture 716 00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:05,133 and a nice salt element to your dish. 717 00:27:05,133 --> 00:27:06,100 My least favorite thing on this plate 718 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:07,000 is your barbecue sauce. 719 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,266 No! 720 00:27:08,266 --> 00:27:09,600 Yeah, it's just too sweet. 721 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,266 If I get chopped on barbecue sauce, man, 722 00:27:11,266 --> 00:27:12,500 that's gonna kill me. 723 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:14,467 [Marc] I was gonna say the exact same thing. 724 00:27:14,467 --> 00:27:16,133 I think it's a delicate steak. 725 00:27:16,133 --> 00:27:17,500 It can take flavor, 726 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:18,967 but sweet's not one of them, 727 00:27:18,967 --> 00:27:20,166 -I think. -[groans] 728 00:27:20,166 --> 00:27:21,567 And the meat is seasoned. 729 00:27:21,567 --> 00:27:23,467 The potatoes are cooked perfectly. 730 00:27:23,467 --> 00:27:25,934 Yeah, these sort of crispy bit crunchy edges, 731 00:27:25,934 --> 00:27:26,967 we live for that. 732 00:27:26,967 --> 00:27:29,100 Yep. Heard, heard, heard. 733 00:27:29,100 --> 00:27:30,200 Finally, Chef Lauren. 734 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,033 I have prepared for you a griddled mushroom flatbread 735 00:27:34,033 --> 00:27:36,867 with Persian spiced bavette steak 736 00:27:36,867 --> 00:27:39,500 and fresh bok choy salad. 737 00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:40,734 [Chris] When I put this basket together, 738 00:27:40,734 --> 00:27:42,100 I was thinking of all the possible dishes 739 00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:43,133 you guys could come up with. 740 00:27:43,133 --> 00:27:44,100 This was not it. 741 00:27:45,467 --> 00:27:48,066 This is an incredibly unique point of view. 742 00:27:48,066 --> 00:27:49,567 [Marc] I love the concept of the dish. 743 00:27:49,567 --> 00:27:50,967 I love the freshness. 744 00:27:50,967 --> 00:27:54,467 I love all those warm spices coming out. It's beautiful. 745 00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:55,734 Thank you, Chef. 746 00:27:55,734 --> 00:27:57,400 And the steak has great flavor, 747 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:58,567 but it's just-- it's a bit chewy, 748 00:27:58,567 --> 00:27:59,934 because you just went so far it. 749 00:27:59,934 --> 00:28:01,000 Okay. 750 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:01,767 [Tiffani] This is Legends. 751 00:28:01,767 --> 00:28:03,300 Your entree course in this round 752 00:28:03,300 --> 00:28:04,734 needs to be a showstopper. 753 00:28:04,734 --> 00:28:07,166 And this feels like a really nice version 754 00:28:07,166 --> 00:28:09,300 of something I would get at lunch in like midtown. 755 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:10,066 I'm struggling with the bread. 756 00:28:10,066 --> 00:28:12,367 Using the cream of mushroom soup, 757 00:28:12,367 --> 00:28:13,667 you've got to roll it a little bit thinner. 758 00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:15,533 This is like a giant pancake. 759 00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:18,200 I thinking also, the use of the actual pickleback 760 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:19,834 in your vinaigrette is really smart. 761 00:28:19,834 --> 00:28:21,367 You get great acid that way. 762 00:28:21,367 --> 00:28:23,166 The bok choy, I love the way you just sliced it 763 00:28:23,166 --> 00:28:24,300 and left it nice and delicate. 764 00:28:24,300 --> 00:28:25,867 I mean, like I said, I love the flavors of this dish. 765 00:28:25,867 --> 00:28:27,467 -I truly do. -Thank you. 766 00:28:27,467 --> 00:28:31,467 Okay. It's clear that Chris chose his champions wisely, 767 00:28:31,467 --> 00:28:34,166 but soon we must send another one home. 768 00:28:34,166 --> 00:28:35,967 [Boots] I'm the barbecue Chopped champion. 769 00:28:35,967 --> 00:28:39,367 I can't get exed on a barbecue sauce. 770 00:28:39,367 --> 00:28:42,567 [Kat] I made some errors in round two. 771 00:28:42,567 --> 00:28:44,467 I should have cooked my steak earlier. 772 00:28:44,467 --> 00:28:46,367 I should have just let it rest. 773 00:28:46,367 --> 00:28:48,200 I feel... 774 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,166 Aah! 775 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,934 [Ted] Two of Chris Santos' favorite Chopped champs 776 00:28:58,934 --> 00:29:00,867 will duel in the dessert round. 777 00:29:00,867 --> 00:29:04,500 So whose dish is on the chopping block? 778 00:29:16,266 --> 00:29:17,233 Jeff Lauren, 779 00:29:17,233 --> 00:29:18,367 you've been chopped. 780 00:29:18,767 --> 00:29:20,834 Chef Lauren, you know, 781 00:29:20,834 --> 00:29:22,467 one of the reasons why I chose you to come back 782 00:29:22,467 --> 00:29:25,500 is because of your ability to coax amazing flavor. 783 00:29:25,500 --> 00:29:28,467 The rub that you put on the bavette steak, loved it. 784 00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:31,300 But the bavette steak was just overcooked. 785 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:32,967 The flatbread itself was a little dense, 786 00:29:32,967 --> 00:29:34,600 and so we had to chop you. 787 00:29:34,734 --> 00:29:35,967 Thank you. 788 00:29:35,967 --> 00:29:37,100 -Y'all, good luck. -[Boots chuckles] 789 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:39,133 [Lauren] Walking away from the Chopped kitchen, 790 00:29:39,133 --> 00:29:42,767 I feel proud of myself, no matter what. 791 00:29:42,767 --> 00:29:43,967 -Good luck to you. -Thank you. 792 00:29:43,967 --> 00:29:45,533 I can leave with my head held high. 793 00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:51,567 [Kat] My heart is pounding. 794 00:29:51,567 --> 00:29:53,133 I cannot believe that I am here, 795 00:29:53,133 --> 00:29:55,500 not only for legendary status, 796 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,166 but to compete against Boots. 797 00:29:58,166 --> 00:30:00,834 He's his own version of champion. 798 00:30:00,834 --> 00:30:03,767 I need to be laser-focused. 799 00:30:03,767 --> 00:30:05,567 [Boots] This pressure is really, really high. 800 00:30:05,567 --> 00:30:07,934 Kat's a great competitor, and I've got to bring it. 801 00:30:07,934 --> 00:30:11,000 Like, really show that I belong in the finale. 802 00:30:12,867 --> 00:30:15,033 Chris, what are you looking for in this final round? 803 00:30:15,033 --> 00:30:17,600 I'm looking for both of our chefs to finish really strong 804 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,667 so that whoever emerges victorious in this round 805 00:30:19,667 --> 00:30:22,300 can go into the finale with me with tons of confidence. 806 00:30:22,300 --> 00:30:24,300 You heard him. Dig in. 807 00:30:24,867 --> 00:30:26,700 -Oh. -[laughing] 808 00:30:26,767 --> 00:30:28,567 Yo! 809 00:30:28,567 --> 00:30:32,700 [Ted] And what can you make with a cereal treat tower? 810 00:30:33,033 --> 00:30:34,166 That's crazy. 811 00:30:34,166 --> 00:30:36,000 [Ted] Chris eats one of those for breakfast every day. 812 00:30:37,467 --> 00:30:38,667 Lychee. 813 00:30:38,667 --> 00:30:40,066 Which are beautiful. 814 00:30:40,166 --> 00:30:41,266 Wow. 815 00:30:41,266 --> 00:30:42,967 [Ted] Habanero hot sauce. 816 00:30:43,266 --> 00:30:44,600 It's a corn dog? 817 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:46,400 [Ted] And a chocolate corn dog. 818 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,233 I love corn dogs. I love state fairs. 819 00:30:48,233 --> 00:30:49,233 I love chocolate. 820 00:30:49,233 --> 00:30:50,500 [Boots] This is something. 821 00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:53,066 -[Kat laughing] -Thanks, Chef. [laughs] 822 00:30:53,066 --> 00:30:54,700 [Ted] 30 minutes on the clock. 823 00:30:55,567 --> 00:30:56,500 Time starts now. 824 00:30:56,500 --> 00:30:57,667 -[Tiffani] All right! -[Marc] Here we go. 825 00:30:57,667 --> 00:30:59,367 -This is the last round. -This is it. 826 00:30:59,367 --> 00:31:00,867 -[Chris] This is it. -[Ted] Push through! 827 00:31:00,867 --> 00:31:02,934 -Push through! -[Tiffani] Make it legendary. 828 00:31:02,934 --> 00:31:05,367 [Ted] Chris, kudos on another very interesting basket. 829 00:31:05,367 --> 00:31:07,500 What are you trying to test these chefs with, 830 00:31:07,500 --> 00:31:08,734 using these ingredients? 831 00:31:08,734 --> 00:31:09,500 [Chris] For this tournament, 832 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:11,100 I wanted to ask the question of, 833 00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:12,734 "Can these chefs balance?" Right? 834 00:31:12,734 --> 00:31:13,834 And so we've got the habanero hot sauce, 835 00:31:13,834 --> 00:31:16,600 but that cereal treat tower is so incredibly sweet. 836 00:31:17,500 --> 00:31:18,834 [Marc] What are you making with this? 837 00:31:18,834 --> 00:31:20,867 Like an ice cream sundae or a banana split. 838 00:31:20,867 --> 00:31:22,667 I would make a banana lychee sundae. 839 00:31:22,667 --> 00:31:23,767 Behind, behind. 840 00:31:23,767 --> 00:31:25,567 [Chris] I think that Kat's still got a lead here, 841 00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:26,500 but I think that Boots, 842 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:28,166 he's certainly within striking distance. 843 00:31:28,166 --> 00:31:29,166 -[Tiffani] Yeah. -Kat, 844 00:31:29,166 --> 00:31:31,066 She's acting like she's playing from behind, 845 00:31:31,066 --> 00:31:32,166 which is great. 846 00:31:32,166 --> 00:31:33,767 I mean, if somebody's gonna be a Chopped legend, 847 00:31:33,767 --> 00:31:36,033 they're not gonna stop even though they're ahead. 848 00:31:36,033 --> 00:31:38,066 They're gonna push all the way through. 849 00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:41,066 [Kat] The person that wins this competition, 850 00:31:41,066 --> 00:31:44,400 they need to come in all three rounds guns blazing. 851 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,266 You have to be able to make good savory, 852 00:31:46,266 --> 00:31:48,433 but you have to be able to make great desserts. 853 00:31:49,834 --> 00:31:50,700 Kat, what are you making? 854 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:55,233 Um, I am going to make a cereal churro. 855 00:31:55,367 --> 00:31:56,667 Ooh. 856 00:31:56,667 --> 00:31:59,767 I'm also baking the lychee in strawberry sauce 857 00:31:59,767 --> 00:32:02,266 and a habanero chocolate cream. 858 00:32:02,266 --> 00:32:04,467 [Marc] Kat's putting the cereal treat in her churros. 859 00:32:04,467 --> 00:32:06,467 -Correct. -That's sort of taking care of that one ingredient. 860 00:32:06,467 --> 00:32:09,266 [Tiffani] The danger in that is the sugar content in the treat, 861 00:32:09,266 --> 00:32:10,967 that there's already marshmallows, 862 00:32:10,967 --> 00:32:12,166 so much sugar in that. 863 00:32:12,166 --> 00:32:14,834 If that cereal treat goes into the churro, 864 00:32:14,834 --> 00:32:16,767 it's highly likely that it will burn while it fries. 865 00:32:16,767 --> 00:32:17,767 [Marc] Well, the other thing 866 00:32:17,767 --> 00:32:19,233 you have to really be careful with the churros, 867 00:32:19,233 --> 00:32:21,266 -actually making the batter properly. -Correct. 868 00:32:21,266 --> 00:32:22,133 [Marc] If you don't get the eggs 869 00:32:22,133 --> 00:32:23,767 and get everything right temperature, 870 00:32:23,767 --> 00:32:25,734 it's something you have to be used to making. 871 00:32:25,734 --> 00:32:27,667 [Tiffani] You want to make sure you're giving yourself enough time 872 00:32:27,667 --> 00:32:29,667 for, like, any mishaps that might happen 873 00:32:29,667 --> 00:32:30,934 or having to do it over again. 874 00:32:30,934 --> 00:32:32,533 [Kat] How's it going over there, Boots? 875 00:32:33,166 --> 00:32:34,834 Oh, it's coming together. 876 00:32:34,834 --> 00:32:35,967 -Yeah? -How you feeling? 877 00:32:35,967 --> 00:32:38,500 I feel like I'm coming to butter your biscuits, baby. 878 00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:40,834 [laughs] Bring it on, baby. 879 00:32:40,834 --> 00:32:42,934 [Kat] Once my dough is done, I get it in the piping bag. 880 00:32:42,934 --> 00:32:44,834 I set it aside for a little bit. 881 00:32:44,834 --> 00:32:46,367 [Tiffani] Smart strategy for Kat. 882 00:32:46,367 --> 00:32:48,000 [Marc] It looks like Kat found the mixture. 883 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,233 -That batter looks perfect. -[Tiffani] She's done this a couple-- 884 00:32:51,133 --> 00:32:52,667 [Boots] Chris made this basket pretty hard 885 00:32:52,667 --> 00:32:54,834 because it was the final round before the finale. 886 00:32:54,834 --> 00:32:56,166 I have to come up with something 887 00:32:56,166 --> 00:32:58,233 that speaks to my strengths. 888 00:32:58,233 --> 00:33:00,066 I started my biscuit company during the pandemic. 889 00:33:00,066 --> 00:33:01,667 My biscuits are legendary. 890 00:33:01,667 --> 00:33:03,367 I mean, I beat Bobby Flay with them. 891 00:33:04,033 --> 00:33:05,734 Hey, Boots, what are you making? 892 00:33:05,734 --> 00:33:08,867 I'm making a cereal biscuit. 893 00:33:08,867 --> 00:33:12,000 [chuckles] I knew a biscuit was coming out at some point. 894 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:13,667 I got some little habanero inside of here. 895 00:33:13,667 --> 00:33:14,734 What else? 896 00:33:14,734 --> 00:33:18,233 Then we're gonna do like a lychee cream on top of it. 897 00:33:19,133 --> 00:33:20,467 Boots is known for his biscuits. 898 00:33:20,467 --> 00:33:21,500 He's got a reputation for having 899 00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:23,667 some of the greatest biscuits in all of Harlem. 900 00:33:23,667 --> 00:33:26,166 I gave them advice to play to their strengths, right? 901 00:33:26,166 --> 00:33:28,166 Some could see it as being playing safe, though. 902 00:33:28,166 --> 00:33:29,133 I don't know. 903 00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:31,367 [Kat] Boots is famous for his biscuits. 904 00:33:31,367 --> 00:33:34,600 I need to bring the best churro I've ever made. 905 00:33:36,767 --> 00:33:39,000 [Marc] The lychee is such a great ingredient. 906 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:40,734 They're a pain in the butt to peel. 907 00:33:40,734 --> 00:33:41,600 Not a ton of meat. 908 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:43,367 And there's a big pit in all of them. 909 00:33:43,367 --> 00:33:45,834 -[Marc] And they're slippery and slimy and-- -And they're slippery! 910 00:33:45,834 --> 00:33:47,066 Oh, lychees. 911 00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:49,066 You can make a beautiful fruit salad with that. 912 00:33:49,066 --> 00:33:50,567 Like, lychees and strawberries, 913 00:33:50,567 --> 00:33:51,967 lychees and bananas. 914 00:33:51,967 --> 00:33:54,400 [Kat] I'm gonna make a lychee strawberry jam 915 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,934 for my churro dip. 916 00:33:56,934 --> 00:33:59,467 These guys are slippery, slippery little guys. 917 00:33:59,467 --> 00:34:01,967 I am peeling them. 918 00:34:01,967 --> 00:34:03,166 It's labor-intensive. 919 00:34:04,734 --> 00:34:05,834 [Boots] My plan for the lychees 920 00:34:05,834 --> 00:34:07,834 is to make like a lychee milk 921 00:34:07,834 --> 00:34:10,133 that can soak up some of the biscuit. 922 00:34:11,567 --> 00:34:13,233 I crack open the chocolate corn dog 923 00:34:13,233 --> 00:34:14,567 to make a chocolate cream. 924 00:34:14,567 --> 00:34:15,567 Take the inside out. 925 00:34:15,567 --> 00:34:18,000 I got some cream cheese with powdered sugar. 926 00:34:21,967 --> 00:34:24,400 [Marc] Guys, I'm getting a little nervous here with Kat 927 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,567 because there's only 8 minutes left 928 00:34:26,567 --> 00:34:28,867 and the churros have not been cooked yet. 929 00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:31,734 [Kat] I know that I want to serve each judge three churros, 930 00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:34,767 so I am like piping up directly into the hot oil, 931 00:34:34,767 --> 00:34:36,867 and I just set it and forget it. I walk away. 932 00:34:37,767 --> 00:34:40,834 So I'm making a habanero chocolate cream 933 00:34:40,834 --> 00:34:42,767 as another dipping sauce. 934 00:34:42,767 --> 00:34:45,567 Chocolate and habaneros both have fruity components. 935 00:34:45,567 --> 00:34:47,400 It just feels like a good combo, to me. 936 00:34:48,567 --> 00:34:50,467 Five minutes left, chefs. 937 00:34:50,467 --> 00:34:52,567 [Tiffani] Kat understandably left her churros in the fryer 938 00:34:52,567 --> 00:34:53,400 to go do something else. 939 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:54,767 But they're really, really brown. 940 00:34:54,767 --> 00:34:55,967 [Marc] Those churros need to come out. 941 00:34:55,967 --> 00:34:57,867 Don't make a legendary mistake, Kat. 942 00:35:05,166 --> 00:35:06,467 Those churros need to come out. 943 00:35:06,467 --> 00:35:08,033 She waited too long. 944 00:35:08,033 --> 00:35:10,166 [Kat] I hear the judges freaking out, 945 00:35:10,166 --> 00:35:11,867 but I feel confident. 946 00:35:11,867 --> 00:35:13,033 I'm not worried. 947 00:35:13,033 --> 00:35:15,834 The churros are getting gold and crispy on both sides. 948 00:35:15,834 --> 00:35:16,767 I pull them out, 949 00:35:16,767 --> 00:35:18,734 and then I get them in the cinnamon sugar. 950 00:35:20,767 --> 00:35:21,967 [Boots] I check my biscuits. 951 00:35:22,867 --> 00:35:24,033 Boom, done. 952 00:35:24,033 --> 00:35:25,767 These biscuits are perfect. 953 00:35:25,767 --> 00:35:27,400 [Ted] All right, chefs, you got this. 954 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:29,567 Keep going, chefs. Get it done. 955 00:35:29,567 --> 00:35:30,667 [Kat] Time is winding down 956 00:35:30,667 --> 00:35:34,166 and I am making sure that my plate is well composed. 957 00:35:34,166 --> 00:35:35,500 Chef, do you have mint over there? 958 00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:37,066 I do. Right here. 959 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:39,467 [Marc] 30 seconds. 960 00:35:39,467 --> 00:35:42,100 [Tiffani] This is where we find out what legends are made of! 961 00:35:42,100 --> 00:35:43,433 -Come on! -Yep. 962 00:35:43,433 --> 00:35:45,567 -[Ted] Let's go, chefs. Get it on a plate. -[Chris] Finish strong! 963 00:35:45,567 --> 00:35:47,467 -[Tiffani] Come on, legends! -[Ted] All right, chefs, this is it. 964 00:35:47,467 --> 00:35:48,500 Final seconds of the final round! 965 00:35:48,500 --> 00:35:49,834 -[Tiffani] All the basket ingredients. -Ten... 966 00:35:49,834 --> 00:35:52,266 -Make it beautiful. -...nine, eight... 967 00:35:52,266 --> 00:35:53,333 -Come on! Come on! -...seven... 968 00:35:53,333 --> 00:35:54,367 -Come on! Come on! -...six, 969 00:35:54,367 --> 00:35:56,600 -five, four... -[Chris] Let's go! You got this! 970 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:58,467 -...three, two... -Who's hiring me as a sous-chef? 971 00:35:58,467 --> 00:36:00,367 -...one. -[Tiffani] Come on, legends! 972 00:36:00,367 --> 00:36:01,100 [Ted] Time's up. 973 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:03,266 [Kat] I feel like I did bring 974 00:36:03,266 --> 00:36:05,467 a lot of my personality into this dish. 975 00:36:05,467 --> 00:36:06,667 It's super-fun. 976 00:36:06,667 --> 00:36:08,667 Chris can't turn me down because I'm fun, 977 00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:10,834 I bring skill, I bring speed. 978 00:36:10,834 --> 00:36:11,967 I bring intention, 979 00:36:11,967 --> 00:36:12,967 I bring focus. 980 00:36:12,967 --> 00:36:15,400 I bring everything that you want in a partner. 981 00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:19,066 [laughs] That was-- that was hard. 982 00:36:19,066 --> 00:36:20,767 This pressure is really high. 983 00:36:20,767 --> 00:36:22,166 We're both very passionate about it. 984 00:36:22,166 --> 00:36:23,467 We're both very, you know, 985 00:36:23,467 --> 00:36:25,133 excited about working with him. 986 00:36:25,133 --> 00:36:27,033 So it's gonna come down to who Chris feels 987 00:36:27,033 --> 00:36:29,000 is gonna team up with him best. 988 00:36:30,133 --> 00:36:31,567 [Ted] Chef Kat and Chef Boots, 989 00:36:31,567 --> 00:36:34,867 you had one more round to show why you should be 990 00:36:34,867 --> 00:36:38,166 representing Chris Santos in the Legends finale. 991 00:36:38,166 --> 00:36:40,066 Your goal was to make great desserts 992 00:36:40,066 --> 00:36:42,400 using a cereal treat tower, 993 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:43,467 lychees, 994 00:36:43,467 --> 00:36:45,233 habanero hot sauce, 995 00:36:45,233 --> 00:36:47,500 and chocolate corn dogs. 996 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:48,667 Chef Boots. 997 00:36:48,667 --> 00:36:49,867 So what you have in front of you 998 00:36:49,867 --> 00:36:53,066 is a fun play on cereal biscuit and milk. 999 00:36:53,066 --> 00:36:54,500 So open up the biscuit, 1000 00:36:54,500 --> 00:36:56,567 get some of the chocolate cream, 1001 00:36:56,567 --> 00:36:58,066 dunk it in the lychee milk. 1002 00:36:58,066 --> 00:36:59,867 There's also the habanero hot sauce 1003 00:36:59,867 --> 00:37:01,200 inside the buttermilk. 1004 00:37:01,266 --> 00:37:02,367 Enjoy. 1005 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:04,266 I'm a biscuit fanatic. 1006 00:37:04,266 --> 00:37:05,166 It's a good biscuit. 1007 00:37:05,166 --> 00:37:07,367 The marshmallow in the cereal treat tower 1008 00:37:07,367 --> 00:37:09,734 was so delicious and crispy on the outside. 1009 00:37:09,734 --> 00:37:10,767 It's great. 1010 00:37:10,767 --> 00:37:12,166 [Chris] I think the biscuit's good. 1011 00:37:12,166 --> 00:37:13,200 You played to your strengths, 1012 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:14,667 which is something that I advised you guys to do. 1013 00:37:14,667 --> 00:37:16,467 So I appreciate you taking the advice there. 1014 00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:18,667 The cream cheese frosting, um, is good. 1015 00:37:18,667 --> 00:37:20,066 Could use a little bit more chocolate. 1016 00:37:20,734 --> 00:37:22,166 I know you used all the chocolate 1017 00:37:22,166 --> 00:37:23,734 in the chocolate corn dog, 1018 00:37:23,734 --> 00:37:25,734 but we've got a lot more chocolate in that pantry. 1019 00:37:25,734 --> 00:37:27,834 I like the heat from the habanero, 1020 00:37:27,834 --> 00:37:30,734 but I feel like, you know, the lychee milk is good, 1021 00:37:30,734 --> 00:37:33,367 but I wish you had highlighted the lychee a little bit more. 1022 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:35,834 Finally, Chef Kat. 1023 00:37:35,834 --> 00:37:38,600 These are breakfast cereal churros 1024 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:40,333 with a little cinnamon sugar 1025 00:37:40,333 --> 00:37:42,467 and then a lychee and strawberry sauce 1026 00:37:42,467 --> 00:37:45,734 and a habanero chocolate cream. 1027 00:37:47,233 --> 00:37:48,367 [Chris] The churros are excellent. 1028 00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:49,367 They are light. 1029 00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:50,600 They're really, really great. 1030 00:37:51,233 --> 00:37:52,567 The only thing I would say, 1031 00:37:52,567 --> 00:37:54,600 I put the habanero in the basket for a reason. 1032 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:55,667 I want to sense it. 1033 00:37:55,667 --> 00:37:57,133 It's really-- it's really not there. 1034 00:37:57,367 --> 00:37:58,567 Okay. 1035 00:37:58,567 --> 00:38:00,367 [Marc] I did take a big spoonful of the chocolate sauce, 1036 00:38:00,367 --> 00:38:03,367 and the habanero does come, but it's at the end 1037 00:38:03,367 --> 00:38:04,567 and it's got a little bit of heat. 1038 00:38:04,567 --> 00:38:05,967 When you eat it with the churro, 1039 00:38:05,967 --> 00:38:07,767 it's not quite as prominent. 1040 00:38:07,767 --> 00:38:09,467 Could have turned it up just a bit more. 1041 00:38:09,967 --> 00:38:10,900 Mm-hmm. 1042 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:13,100 I like the lychee strawberry sauce a lot. 1043 00:38:13,100 --> 00:38:16,867 This is a really good example of the basket 1044 00:38:16,867 --> 00:38:20,000 expertly and elegantly folded into a dish 1045 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:21,500 without it being showy. 1046 00:38:21,767 --> 00:38:23,033 Thank you. 1047 00:38:23,767 --> 00:38:27,467 Okay, who still has a shot at legendary status? 1048 00:38:27,467 --> 00:38:29,400 The judges need some time to decide. 1049 00:38:29,667 --> 00:38:31,100 Thank you, chefs. 1050 00:38:34,867 --> 00:38:37,834 Judges, there's nothing like having champions back here. 1051 00:38:37,834 --> 00:38:39,266 They know this competition 1052 00:38:39,266 --> 00:38:41,567 and they serve you incredible food. 1053 00:38:41,567 --> 00:38:43,066 The first basket was very difficult, 1054 00:38:43,066 --> 00:38:44,367 a lot of protein in there, 1055 00:38:44,367 --> 00:38:47,000 but Boots really found a great way 1056 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:48,467 to use all the ingredients. 1057 00:38:48,467 --> 00:38:49,967 I thought that the tuna, 1058 00:38:49,967 --> 00:38:52,000 the way he cooked it, was really perfect. 1059 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,166 I agree. His choice of his plate was terrible. 1060 00:38:54,166 --> 00:38:55,467 It was very difficult to eat. 1061 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,467 But putting both the French dip jus 1062 00:38:57,467 --> 00:38:59,500 and the bacon roses into that gravy 1063 00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:01,133 I thought was delicious. 1064 00:39:01,133 --> 00:39:04,367 And Kat's use of the French dip jus 1065 00:39:04,367 --> 00:39:08,166 and the bacon roses in her tartare, genius. 1066 00:39:08,166 --> 00:39:10,867 [Marc] Yeah. For me, the tartare was a little heavy. 1067 00:39:10,867 --> 00:39:12,100 Some more pickled daikon 1068 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:14,033 would have really elevated that dish. 1069 00:39:14,033 --> 00:39:15,767 [Chris] But Kat, by a wide margin, 1070 00:39:15,767 --> 00:39:17,367 beat out those other three chefs in that round. 1071 00:39:17,367 --> 00:39:18,333 She did. 1072 00:39:18,333 --> 00:39:20,100 Which put Boots in the position 1073 00:39:20,100 --> 00:39:22,133 of having to come out really strong in the entree round. 1074 00:39:22,133 --> 00:39:23,467 [Tiffani] Boots came through fighting 1075 00:39:23,467 --> 00:39:24,967 with that cream bok choy. 1076 00:39:24,967 --> 00:39:26,133 I really, really loved it. 1077 00:39:26,133 --> 00:39:27,200 I thought it was so delicious. 1078 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,166 And I thought the cook on the potatoes for Boots, 1079 00:39:29,166 --> 00:39:30,834 so much better than Kat's. 1080 00:39:30,834 --> 00:39:32,867 [Marc] Boots also really stuck to his roots 1081 00:39:32,867 --> 00:39:34,967 because he did that steak with the barbecue sauce. 1082 00:39:34,967 --> 00:39:36,767 I unfortunately think his barbecue sauce 1083 00:39:36,767 --> 00:39:39,133 was the downfall of his main course. 1084 00:39:39,133 --> 00:39:40,467 [Chris] Against a delicate bavette steak, 1085 00:39:40,467 --> 00:39:41,934 it was just way too sweet. 1086 00:39:41,934 --> 00:39:44,166 And with Kat, the bavette steak didn't rest. 1087 00:39:44,166 --> 00:39:46,467 [Marc] But I thought the bavette on Kat's dish 1088 00:39:46,467 --> 00:39:48,467 was seasoned to perfection. 1089 00:39:48,467 --> 00:39:50,467 Using both the cream of mushroom soup 1090 00:39:50,467 --> 00:39:52,166 and the whiskey from the pickleback shots 1091 00:39:52,166 --> 00:39:54,767 in that au poivre sauce was delicious. 1092 00:39:54,767 --> 00:39:57,600 I wanted to lick the plate. 1093 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:00,734 Okay. Do you know which champ is finale-bound? 1094 00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:03,600 We do. 1095 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:04,700 All right. 1096 00:40:07,500 --> 00:40:08,567 [Boots] I'm a seasoned veteran. 1097 00:40:08,567 --> 00:40:09,967 I've done a lot of competitions. 1098 00:40:09,967 --> 00:40:11,667 And, you know, it's always 1099 00:40:11,667 --> 00:40:15,367 just put your best plate out in front of the judges. 1100 00:40:15,367 --> 00:40:16,734 And I feel I did that. 1101 00:40:17,767 --> 00:40:19,567 [Kat] I brought a really great first round. 1102 00:40:19,567 --> 00:40:21,133 My appetizer... 1103 00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:24,166 was loved by all three judges. 1104 00:40:24,166 --> 00:40:27,734 And I do think that I brought 1105 00:40:27,734 --> 00:40:31,000 a really whimsical skilled dessert. 1106 00:40:31,667 --> 00:40:34,000 I 100% deserve to be a Legend. 1107 00:40:34,667 --> 00:40:38,300 So whose dish is on the chopping block? 1108 00:40:49,266 --> 00:40:50,367 Chef Boots, 1109 00:40:50,367 --> 00:40:51,467 you've been chopped. 1110 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:52,567 Judges. 1111 00:40:52,567 --> 00:40:54,967 [Chris] Oh, Boots, Boots, Boots. 1112 00:40:55,467 --> 00:40:56,567 In the appetizer round, 1113 00:40:56,567 --> 00:40:58,033 you did a play on shrimp and grits. 1114 00:40:58,033 --> 00:40:59,367 We thought that was so fun. 1115 00:40:59,367 --> 00:41:00,200 But the choice of plate 1116 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:02,166 made it a little bit hard to eat. 1117 00:41:02,166 --> 00:41:03,567 Having said that, you came out in the second round, 1118 00:41:03,567 --> 00:41:05,567 and loved that you took the cream of mushroom soup 1119 00:41:05,567 --> 00:41:06,867 and made creamed bok choy. 1120 00:41:06,867 --> 00:41:08,667 But, I'm sorry, but, dude, 1121 00:41:08,667 --> 00:41:11,567 that barbecue sauce, it was just too sweet. 1122 00:41:11,567 --> 00:41:13,800 So it pains me to say we had to chop you. 1123 00:41:14,567 --> 00:41:15,734 Well, thank you so much. 1124 00:41:15,734 --> 00:41:16,900 You got a good partner here. 1125 00:41:18,867 --> 00:41:19,734 No. 1126 00:41:19,734 --> 00:41:21,066 When you put your heart on the plate, 1127 00:41:21,066 --> 00:41:22,200 you don't have any regrets 1128 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:24,667 because I'm still going out on a high note, you know? 1129 00:41:24,667 --> 00:41:25,767 -We'll talk soon. -Definitely. 1130 00:41:25,767 --> 00:41:26,967 [Chris] Great to see you. 1131 00:41:32,567 --> 00:41:34,600 [Ted] And that means, Chef Kat Turner, 1132 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:36,834 you are the Chopped champion. 1133 00:41:36,834 --> 00:41:38,500 -Congratulations. -[Tiffani] Yeah, buddy! 1134 00:41:38,500 --> 00:41:39,867 Whoo! 1135 00:41:39,867 --> 00:41:41,333 [laughs] 1136 00:41:41,333 --> 00:41:42,467 I came to win! 1137 00:41:42,467 --> 00:41:45,066 And I am so excited to be here. 1138 00:41:45,066 --> 00:41:47,767 I cannot wait to crush everyone. 1139 00:41:47,767 --> 00:41:49,567 Like, really, let's go! 1140 00:41:49,567 --> 00:41:53,233 I am so excited to be working with Chris in the finale. 1141 00:41:53,233 --> 00:41:55,567 The fact that he's my sous-chef is so insane. 1142 00:41:55,567 --> 00:41:56,600 Whoo-hoo! 1143 00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:58,066 I'm ready to go into the finale 1144 00:41:58,066 --> 00:41:59,166 and just nail it.