Ep 1. Grilltastic!

In season 11's first episode of Chopped, titled Grilltastic!, four talented chefs compete in a grilling competition for the chance to win $10,000. The judges for this episode are Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, and Geoffrey Zakarian.

In the appetizer round, the chefs are given a challenging combination of ingredients that includes frozen margarita, jumbo shrimp, purple carrots, and blue corn tortilla chips. The chefs have twenty minutes to cook their dishes and present them to the judges. One chef is eliminated based on their performance in this round.

For the entree round, the three remaining chefs are given forty-five minutes to make the best dish possible with lamb chops, grilled yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, and macadamia nuts. The judges are looking for creativity, flavor, and presentation, and the chefs must use their grilling skills to bring out the best in each ingredient.

Finally, the two remaining chefs face off in the dessert round, where they must use grilled peaches, basil, coconut chips, and creme fraiche to create a delicious and unique dessert. Both chefs pull out all the stops, grilling, sautéing, and mixing their ingredients to make a final dish that will impress the judges and win them the prize money.

Throughout the episode, the chefs exhibit impressive culinary skills and creativity, tackling tough ingredients and grilling challenges with ease. The judges provide insightful commentary and feedback, praising the chefs for their standout dishes and offering critique where necessary. Ultimately, only one chef will come out on top and be awarded the title of Chopped Champion.

Overall, Grilltastic! delivers an exciting and intense cooking competition that showcases the best grilling techniques and ingredient combinations in creative and unexpected ways. The high stakes and skilled competitors make for a thrilling and entertaining episode that any fan of Chopped will enjoy.