Ep 24. Snail Snafus

Chopped season 29, episode 24, titled "Snail Snafus," features four talented chefs who must navigate their way through a basket of mystery ingredients, including snails. The show, which is hosted by Ted Allen, follows a unique format in which the chefs are given 20 minutes to create an appetizer, 30 minutes for an entree, and 30 minutes for a dessert.

After a quick introduction, the chefs are presented with their baskets of ingredients and start to work feverishly to come up with a creative and delicious dish. The judges for the episode are celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, cookbook author and TV host Martha Stewart, and food critic and writer Amanda Kludt.

In the first round, the chefs have to work with snails, which presents a challenge for some of them who have never cooked with this ingredient before. The chefs scramble to come up with unique appetizers that will impress the judges. Some of the dishes that the chefs come up with include escargot fritters with a roasted garlic aioli and a snail and vegetable stir-fry.

In the second round, the chefs must create an entree using lamb racks, mustard greens, canned tuna, and clementines. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the pressure is on to create a dish that is both delicious and visually appealing. The chefs get creative with their dishes, with some of them using the canned tuna to create a flavorful sauce and others making a clementine reduction to add a sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.

Finally, in the dessert round, the chefs have to use cocoa nibs, mini cocktail shakers, cherries, and a crispy rice cereal bar to create a sweet and satisfying dessert. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the chefs are racing against the clock to create an impressive dessert that will win over the judges.

Throughout the episode, the judges are impressed with the creativity and culinary skills of the chefs. They offer feedback on each dish and ultimately choose the winner of the competition based on taste, presentation, and originality.

In the end, one chef emerges as the winner, while the others are sent home. The winning chef takes home a prize of $10,000 and the admiration of the judges and viewers alike.

Overall, "Snail Snafus" is an exciting and entertaining episode of Chopped that showcases the talents of four skilled chefs. With its unique format, mystery ingredients, and talented judges, this episode is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.