Ep 8. Fat Chance

The episode "Fat Chance" of Chopped season 37 episode 8 presents four contestants with a challenging task to prepare three courses with the provided ingredients in just thirty minutes. Each course has to be presented within thirty minutes, and the contestants have to use all of the ingredients in each dish.

The episode begins with host Ted Allen introducing the panel of judges, consisting of Marc Murphy, Amanda Freitag, and Chris Santos. The first round of competition features appetizers, which include chicken wings, waffles, brussels sprouts, and smoked trout. The contestants use their culinary expertise to create different styles of chicken wings, along with the flavors of waffles and brussels sprouts.

In the second round, the contestants are asked to prepare entrees using main ingredients, including fried chicken, cornmeal, pickled peppers, and oyster mushrooms. The creativity of the contestants come to the forefront in this round, as they have the challenging task of creating an entree that complements all of the ingredients provided while making the dish taste exquisite.

The final round of the competition concentrates on desserts, with the contestants having to prepare a dish using key flavors, including blackberries, chocolate chips, mascarpone cheese, and sweet cream. With only thirty minutes on the clock, the challenge is to use the ingredients in all three rounds while keeping the dishes innovative, attractive, and delicious.

The episode is filled with surprises, as one contestant focuses on creating beautifully presented dishes. The judges are impressed by the dish's appearance but note the meal's lack of flavor, leading to their elimination. Two other contestants impress the judges with their creativity and bold flavors, ultimately to compete in the final round.

In the final round, the contestants nail the sweet dish, with the judges impressed with every presentation. But with one contender having a slight edge over the other, it was difficult for the judges to choose the winner.

The episode showcases how innovative cooking ideas make all the difference in the judged competition. It’s not about using unique ingredients, but how a packed combination of different flavors can create an excellent dish. The episode encourages the contestants to think out of the box, use their imaginations, and experiment with new flavors.

Overall, the episode is captivating; every round presents a new challenge where the contestants must prove their culinary expertise. The judges are perfect as they offer constructive critiques pleasantly, highlighting the best dish that comes from the contestant's creative minds. The show demonstrates that culinary art is much in demand on TV and proves to be an excellent watch for food lovers, where contestants show their innovative ways to serve delicious food.