Ep 14. Holiday Cooking

Four chefs enter the Chopped kitchen with holiday cheer in their hearts and cravings for indulgent holiday dishes on their minds. In this special holiday episode, the competitors must showcase their culinary skills by creating a three-course meal that reflects the festive season.

The first round challenges the chefs to use classic holiday ingredients, such as candy canes and eggnog, in creative ways to create appetizers. With only 20 minutes on the clock, the chefs scramble to transform traditional holiday flavors into unique and delicious bites. Judges keep a close eye on the chefs' presentations and flavor combinations, knowing that there will be something in each dish that speaks to the holiday spirit.

In the second round, the chefs must highlight their protein skills by cooking up a holiday main dish using a mysterious meat ingredient. The ingredient is revealed to be a festive fowl, and the chefs must butcher and prepare it within 30 minutes. With a variety of traditional and non-traditional cuts available, the chefs hone their knowledge of poultry preparation to make their dish stand out. Guest judge Martha Stewart, a holiday cooking icon, watches closely as the chefs try to impress her with their creativity and culinary expertise.

The final round is the dessert challenge, and the chefs are faced with a basket of holiday-themed ingredients that range from gingerbread cookies to peppermint bark. They must create a sweet and decadent dish that incorporates all these flavors. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the chefs face difficult decisions about which ingredients to incorporate and how to make them stand out. As the dessert course is one of the most important and personal parts of a holiday meal, judges place great weight on the chefs' ability to use these ingredients in inventive and unexpected ways.

As always, Chopped judges Maneet Chauhan, Marcus Samuelsson, and Martha Stewart carefully evaluate the dishes as they are presented, basing their final decision on presentation, taste, and creativity. The holiday twist in this episode makes for a particularly fun and festive atmosphere as the chefs try to make their creations match the spirit of the season.

Throughout the episode, viewers get a glimpse into each chef's personal journey with holiday cooking. Some have fond memories of traditional family recipes while others are inspired by more free-form approaches to holiday meals. Regardless of their individual histories, all the chefs bring their passion for cooking and mastering their craft to the Chopped kitchen.

Chopped season 25 episode 14: Holiday Cooking is a festive and fun episode that highlights the creativity and culinary expertise of four talented chefs. With holiday-inspired ingredients and a panel of judges who know their way around a festive meal, the episode is a delight to watch and offers plenty of inspiration for holiday cooking at home. Whether you are looking for new ways to use peppermint or want to try a different take on the holiday bird, this episode has something for everyone.