Ep 12. Breaksfast, Lunch and Dinner!

As the contestants enter the kitchen for episode 12 of season 44 of Chopped, they are informed that they will be cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in one episode. The challenge is to create three dishes in 30 minutes for each mealtime - a total of 9 dishes for the entire episode.

The first basket contains ingredients that could be used for any meal. The contestants find smoked salmon, figs, grits, and a carton of eggs. This basket causes some concern for the chefs as they have to ensure they create three unique dishes for each meal. Some decide to go with traditional dishes such as smoked salmon and eggs for breakfast while others experiment with unique combinations like fig and grits.

Moving on to lunch, the basket contains ingredients that are common for this meal - a sliced baguette, deli-style roast beef, mixed greens, and mustard. The chefs have to think quickly and come up with a perfect lunch dish in just 30 minutes. Some chefs decide to make classic sandwiches, while others go for a salad that uses the baguette slices as croutons.

As the dinner round begins, the basket contains ingredients commonly found in Indian cuisine - lamb chops, naan bread, turmeric, and cumin. The chefs are given an additional 5 minutes for this round, giving them a total of 35 minutes to create a perfect dinner dish. Some create classic Indian recipes while others put a fusion twist on their dishes by incorporating flavors from other cuisines.

The judges have a tough time deciding on the best dishes from each round. For breakfast, one chef creates a smoked salmon eggs benedict with fig compote while another creates a savory grits bowl with sauteed salmon and a poached egg. For lunch, one chef creates a roast beef and cheddar sandwich with a mustard and mixed greens salad on the side while another creates a French dip sandwich with a baguette crouton salad.

For dinner, the flavors are diverse and exciting. One chef creates lamb kebabs with turmeric and cumin with a side of naan bread while another creates a lamb curry with naan bread on the side. The judges are impressed with the unique flavor combinations present in each dish and congratulate the chefs on their creativity.

After much deliberation, the judges decide on the winner of the episode. The winner is a chef who created a smoked salmon, fig, and grits bowl for breakfast, a roast beef sandwich with a mixed greens salad for lunch, and a lamb kebab with cumin and turmeric for dinner. The judges were impressed with the unique yet cohesive flavors of the dishes and the chef's ability to create three unique meals in a limited amount of time.

Overall, the episode proves to be a challenging one for the chefs. They are required to create three unique dishes with a limited amount of time for each mealtime. However, they rise to the challenge and create exciting and delicious meals that leave the judges impressed. The episode showcases the creativity and skills of the chefs and leaves viewers satisfied with the variety of meals presented.