Ep 2. Thanksgiving Pie, Oh My!

In this episode of Chopped, titled Thanksgiving Pie, Oh My!, four chefs will face off in the kitchen to create a three-course meal using mystery basket ingredients. But this isn't just any episode of Chopped, as the holiday season is in full swing and the chefs will be challenged to create dishes inspired by Thanksgiving pies.

As per the usual format of the show, the chefs will be given a basket of mystery ingredients at the start of each round and will need to incorporate them into their dishes. This time, they'll be challenged to include traditional Thanksgiving pie flavors like pumpkin, apple, and pecan. But as always, there's a twist: the chefs will also need to include a savory element in each dish, and not just make dessert.

The first round will see the chefs creating appetizers, and they'll have just 20 minutes to impress the judges with their creations. One chef starts off by making a pumpkin and beef empanada with a spicy dipping sauce, while another goes with a roasted butternut squash soup with apple and bacon bits. There's a lot of creativity among the chefs, with some putting a modern twist on classic Thanksgiving flavors, while others take more traditional approaches.

Moving on to the entree round, the chefs are challenged to create a main dish that incorporates mystery basket ingredients like turkey breast, sweet potato, and cranberry sauce. Again, they'll have just 30 minutes to prepare their dishes. One chef decides to make a turkey pot pie, while another goes with an Indian-inspired turkey curry. Judges are impressed with the level of skill on display, but as always, only three chefs can move on to the final round.

In the dessert round, the three remaining chefs are tasked with creating a Thanksgiving-inspired pie using mystery basket ingredients like persimmon, quince, and sage. They're given 30 minutes to create their pies, and the results are truly impressive. One chef makes an apple and quince pie topped with sage-infused whipped cream, while another goes with a pecan pie with a surprise ingredient that shocks the judges.

Overall, the Thanksgiving Pie, Oh My! episode of Chopped is filled with creativity, skill, and holiday spirit. With each challenge, the chefs are pushed to the limit as they balance traditional Thanksgiving flavors with unexpected ingredients. While only one chef can come out on top, each one proves that they have the talent and ingenuity to create truly memorable dishes.