Ep 13. Crunch Time

In the 13th episode of season 4 of Chopped, titled "Crunch Time," four talented chefs were challenged to create delicious dishes using a variety of mystery ingredients. Hosted by Ted Allen, the episode began with the appetizer round, where the chefs had 20 minutes to create a dish using ground veal, stinging nettles, navy beans, and mini champagne bottles.

The chefs were off to a good start, showcasing their creativity and skill as they whipped up unique appetizers that impressed the judges. Chef Chris, for instance, created a delicious veal and navy bean croquette with stinging nettle pesto, while Chef Meghann prepared a crispy veal and bean fritter with a nettle and champagne vinaigrette.

Next up was the main course, where the remaining three chefs were tasked with creating dishes using lamb loin chops, baby artichokes, canned jackfruit, and mini hot sauce bottles. The chefs had 30 minutes to create their dishes, and they did not disappoint.

Chef Lear, for instance, created a delectable lamb chop dish with a jackfruit and artichoke ragout, while Chef Marcos prepared a spicy braised lamb with artichoke puree and jackfruit salsa. Chef Jennifer, meanwhile, took a different approach, using the jackfruit to prepare a vegetarian dish of artichoke and jackfruit gyros with spicy hot sauce.

Finally, it was time for the dessert round, where the two remaining chefs had just 30 minutes to create a sweet dish using marshmallow cereal treats, lychees, fresh pumpkin, and mini blender bottles. This round proved to be the most challenging yet, as the chefs struggled to incorporate the unique ingredients into their desserts.

Chef Marcos created an impressive pumpkin and lychee tiramisu, impressing the judges with his use of the marshmallow cereal treats as a crunchy topping. Chef Jennifer, on the other hand, went for a more unconventional approach, creating a pumpkin lychee roulade with a marshmallow filling and blender bottle caramel sauce.

In the end, the judges were tasked with choosing a winner based on the chefs' overall performance throughout the competition. Each chef had pushed themselves to their limits, creating unique and delicious dishes using a range of unusual ingredients. In the end, only one chef could be crowned the winner of "Crunch Time," and it was a tough decision for the judges to make.

Overall, "Crunch Time" was a thrilling episode of Chopped, showcasing the immense talent and creativity of the competing chefs. With unexpected ingredients and tight time limits, the chefs demonstrated their ability to think on their feet and create culinary masterpieces out of the most unconventional ingredients.