Ep 5. Ultimate Champions: Celebrities

In season 21, episode 5 of Chopped, four famous celebrities are put to the ultimate test as they compete for the title of "Ultimate Champion." With $50,000 on the line for their chosen charity, the stakes are high and the competition fierce.

The celebrities include Kaitlyn Bristowe, a former star of The Bachelorette turned podcast host; Jeremy Sisto, an actor known for his roles in Clueless and Six Feet Under; Paige VanZant, a former UFC fighter turned Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship competitor; and Jose Andres, an award-winning chef and humanitarian.

As the competitors walk into the Chopped kitchen, they are greeted by host Ted Allen and judges Maneet Chauhan, Marcus Samuelsson, and Chris Santos. The judges waste no time in introducing the basket ingredients for the first round, which include pickled pigs feet, bison ribs, preserved duck eggs, and a common household item that throws the competitors for a loop.

The celebrities scramble to create a dish that showcases the unique ingredients while still highlighting their culinary skills. With only 30 minutes on the clock, tensions run high as the clock ticks down to zero.

As the judges taste the dishes, some stand out for their creativity and execution, while others fall short. One celebrity fails to properly utilize the pickled pigs feet, leaving the judges disappointed. In the end, one celebrity is chopped and sent home, leaving the remaining three to battle it out in the next round.

Round two brings a new set of challenging basket ingredients, including a unique type of mushroom, fiddlehead ferns, chocolate-covered cherries, and a type of bird that causes some concern among the competitors.

Once again, the celebrities must think on their feet and create a dish that incorporates all of the basket ingredients, while still impressing the judges. One celebrity makes a bold move and turns the chocolate-covered cherries into a savory sauce, while another struggles with properly preparing the fiddlehead ferns.

As the judges taste the dishes, they are blown away by the creativity and execution of some, while others fall short. In the end, another celebrity is chopped and sent home, leaving only two to compete in the final round.

For the final round, the remaining two celebrities must create a dessert that includes a unique type of fruit, a popular Asian condiment, and a type of dairy product. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the competitors must quickly come up with a dessert that showcases each ingredient and impresses the judges.

Both celebrities take different approaches, with one opting for a traditional dessert while the other thinks outside of the box. As time ticks down, tensions run high as the competitors rush to finish their dishes.

In the end, the judges are blown away by the creativity and execution of both dishes, making it a tough decision. In a nail-biting finish, the winner is announced and awarded $50,000 for their chosen charity.

Throughout the episode, the competitors show off their culinary skills and creativity, impressing the judges with their unique takes on the basket ingredients. With high stakes and intense competition, this episode of Chopped brings the ultimate challenge to a group of celebrity competitors.