Chopped Season 36 Episode 12 Gold Medal Games: Fast!

In this episode of Chopped, titled "Gold Medal Games: Fast!", four talented chefs compete to create winning dishes that will secure them a spot in the final round of the competition. The episode features the show's signature format of three rounds of intense cooking challenges, with each round requiring the chefs to use specific ingredients and techniques in order to impress the judges.

The first round of the episode begins with the chefs being given only twenty minutes to create appetizers that incorporate smoked salmon, grapefruit, dates, and mini pitas. The chefs must work quickly and strategically to balance the acidity of the grapefruit with the sweetness of the dates, while also ensuring that the flavors of the smoked salmon and mini pitas are present and well-balanced in the dish.

In the second round, the chefs are given just thirty minutes to prepare entrees using ingredients such as lamb chops, baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes, and guava paste. This round proves to be a bit more challenging, as the chefs must find ways to incorporate the subtle flavors of the guava paste into their dishes without overwhelming the other ingredients. They must also carefully handle the delicate baby artichokes and ensure that the lamb chops are cooked to perfection.

Finally, in the last round of the episode, the remaining chefs have forty minutes to create desserts that make use of ingredients such as rhubarb, candied ginger, frozen waffles, and creme fraiche. The chefs must use their creativity and culinary skills to turn these ingredients into flavorful and attractive desserts that will win over the judges.

Throughout the episode, the judges provide their expert opinions on each dish, evaluating the chefs on factors such as presentation, taste, and creativity. As the competition heats up, tensions rise, and each chef must stay focused and stay on top of their game in order to come out on top.

In the end, only one chef will be declared the winner of this episode of Chopped, earning a spot in the final rounds of the competition. With intense challenges, creative ingredient combinations, and expert judging, "Gold Medal Games: Fast!" is a thrilling and exciting episode of this popular culinary series.