Ep 6. Whiz Kid Cooks

In the 39th season of Chopped, episode 6 is titled "Whiz Kid Cooks." In this episode, four young culinary professionals compete against each other to become the Chopped Champion.

The first contestant is a 23-year-old chef who began his culinary journey at just 13 years old. He's worked in several high-end restaurants and aspires to open his own farm-to-table restaurant. The second competitor is a 22-year-old culinary student who started cooking at a very young age and is now pursuing her passion for cooking by studying at a prestigious culinary school. The third contestant is a 25-year-old chef who has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants and incorporates her cultural background into her food. The fourth and final contestant is a 21-year-old culinary professional who has already worked in several well-known restaurants and enjoys fusing different techniques and flavors in his dishes.

As usual, the contestants face three rounds of cooking: appetizer, entree, and dessert. In each round, they are given a basket of surprise ingredients that they must use to create a dish within a limited amount of time. The judges, consisting of well-known chefs and food critics, evaluate each dish based on taste, presentation, and creativity.

In the appetizer round, the contestants are given a basket of ingredients that include braised goat, sweet potato soup, plums, and fried lentils. The young chefs are quick to jump into action, but it's clear that some of them struggle with the surprise ingredients. One contestant decides to puree the sweet potato soup and use it as a sauce for the goat, while another makes a plum salsa to accompany their dish. However, one of the contestants encounters a few setbacks, including overcooking their goat and burning their lentils.

In the entree round, the contestants are given a basket of ingredients that include halibut, blood oranges, butternut squash, and nori. The contestants have to work quickly to create a well-rounded dish that incorporates all the ingredients while adding their personal flair. One contestant decides to make a halibut ceviche with blood oranges, while another is confident in their ability to cook the perfect halibut and decides to fry it to add some crunch. The judges are impressed with some of the contestants' creativity, but they also notice a few mistakes, such as overcooking the fish or having too much nori in the dish.

Finally, the contestants reach the dessert round, where they are given a basket of ingredients that include avocado, candied ginger, green tea powder, and biscotti. The young chefs are given free rein to create any dessert they want, as long as they incorporate all the ingredients in the basket. One contestant decides to make an avocado mousse with candied ginger crumble, while another makes a green tea biscotti with an avocado-lime cream. The judges are impressed with the contestants' ability to create delicious desserts using such unique ingredients.

At the end of the episode, one contestant emerges as the clear winner, having impressed the judges with their creativity and ability to balance the surprise ingredients. The young culinary professional earns the title of Chopped Champion and a cash prize. The show once again proves that cooking is an art form that requires creativity, skill, and passion.