Ep 10. Gold Medal Games: Frying

In this exciting episode of Chopped, the contestants are challenged to show off their frying skills. The theme for this episode is Gold Medal Games, and the chefs have to prepare dishes that are worthy of winning a gold medal. The ingredients they have to work with are a mix of classic and unexpected items, such as pork schnitzel, corn tortillas, cactus pear, and a favorite fried food- doughnuts!

The episode kicks off with the chefs getting their first basket of mystery ingredients and having just 20 minutes to create a dish using all of them. The chefs scramble to work with not only the unlikely ingredients but also the fried aspect, trying to construct something innovative.

The second round challenges the chefs to create a dish using pork schnitzel, cactus pear, snow fungus, and coconut oil. The chef's creativity comes out as they try to make the perfect crispy schnitzel with a surprising tropical twist by using the cactus pear and coconut oil. The judges unexpectedly weight the chefs by emphasizing on the texture, and technique of frying.

The third round brings an even greater level of difficulty with the challenge of making a dish using doughnuts, corn tortillas, white asparagus, and tomatillos. The chefs lose track of time while indulging in the sweet and savory combination of doughnuts and Mexican inspired dishes. The judges encourage the contestants to tackle the basket's frying element while still interpreting every other item on the dish.

Throughout the episode, the judges were looking for creativity, skill, and balancing the flavors of every item given. All chefs pushed their frying skills to the limit, some innovating their own techniques to make their plates stand out. With each course, it becomes apparent that frying is much more than just people's guilty pleasure. It's an art form, and these chefs got to prove it.

The judges had a challenging time deciding which chef had the best dish in every round, and only one chef will take home the gold medal for frying. The viewers of the show get their fix of excitement with every plate while the contestants fight for the title and prove what they have in their frying game.

At the end of the episode, the winner takes home the gold medal and proves their mettle in frying. With every new episode, Chopped season 36, provides all levels of entertainment from, chefs zeroing in on their creativity, the surprise of cooking time limits, and astonishing food combinations. This episode is no exception, showing off chefs' skills and creativity in a way that leaves viewers impressed and craving for more!