Ep 4. Banana, Collard Greens, Grits

In Chopped season 1 episode 4, titled "Banana, Collard Greens, Grits," four chefs faced off against each other in a battle for culinary supremacy. Each round was comprised of appetizers, entrées, and desserts. The chefs had to form creative combinations of their ingredients, which in this episode included collard greens, banana, and grits.

The first round began with the chefs having 20 minutes to create an appetizer. The contestants scrambled around the kitchen, grabbing ingredients such as shrimp, mango, and bacon, all while trying to incorporate the mandatory ingredients in a cohesive and delicious way. The judges tasted each dish, which ranged from traditional collard green soup to a unique banana fritter with grits. Ultimately, one chef was chopped from the competition.

The remaining three chefs then moved on to the entrée round, where they had to create a dish out of mystery basket ingredients and the additional challenge of incorporating collard greens, banana, and grits. The dishes they created were varied, with one chef making a banana and collard green stuffed chicken breast, while another opted for a shrimp and grits dish. The judges had a tough time choosing a winner for this round, but eventually one chef was deemed the weakest link and was chopped.

In the final round, the two remaining chefs had to create a dessert incorporating the mandatory ingredients. They were given 30 minutes to prepare their dishes, and emerged with imaginative treats such as a banana bread pudding with a grits crumble and a collard green-infused ice cream. However, one chef's dish did not impress the judges and they were ultimately chopped, leaving the remaining chef as the winner of the episode.

Overall, "Banana, Collard Greens, Grits" was a challenging and exciting episode of Chopped. The chefs on the show had to think outside the box and use unusual ingredients in creative ways, resulting in some truly unique and delicious dishes. The competition was intense and the judges had some difficult decisions to make, but in the end, only one chef could win the title of Chopped Champion.