Ep 7. Love Bites

In episode 7 of season 28 of Chopped, entitled "Love Bites," four chefs compete to impress the judges and take home a cash prize. The challenge for this episode is to create three romantic courses utilizing a selection of mystery ingredients. The competitors are given 30 minutes to create an appetizer, then 30 minutes to make an entree, and finally 30 minutes to whip up a dessert.

The judges for this episode are Maneet Chauhan, Amanda Freitag, and Aarón Sánchez. As the contestants race against the clock to create their dishes, the judges provide commentary on each chef's choices and techniques. They are looking for creativity, presentation, and most importantly, taste.

The mystery ingredients in this episode include some unique and unexpected items. For the appetizer round, the chefs must use chicken hearts, blood oranges, dates, and a bottle of sparkling wine. In the entree round, they must make use of lamb chops, fennel, dried cherries, and an interesting surprise ingredient that poses a significant challenge to one of the contestants. Finally, for dessert, they must work with rhubarb, mascarpone cheese, gingersnaps, and red wine.

Throughout the competition, tensions rise as the chefs struggle to balance the different flavors and textures of their mystery ingredients. One chef's dessert is particularly unconventional, leading the judges to question whether they played it too safe in the earlier rounds. Another contestant goes for bold flavors and executes a dish that is both beautiful and delicious.

As the clock runs down and the final plates are presented to the judges, the competitors wait anxiously for the verdict. The judges offer their critiques and ultimately, only one chef will be crowned the winner of "Love Bites."

Overall, this episode of Chopped is filled with drama, suspense, and truly impressive culinary creations. Whether you're a fan of the show or just love good food, "Love Bites" is sure to deliver an exciting and enjoyable viewing experience.