Ep 3. A Pretty Pickle Pizza

In Chopped season 45 episode 3, titled "A Pretty Pickle Pizza," four new chefs compete for a chance to advance to the next round and possibly take home the grand prize of $10,000. The first round of the competition is all about pizza - but with a twist. The chefs are tasked with creating a unique pizza using pickled ingredients as the main topping. From pickled onions to pickled jalapeños, the chefs have to get creative with their toppings while still making sure the pizza tastes delicious.

As the chefs get to work, the judges - consisting of well-known chefs and culinary experts - watch closely, critiquing each chef's technique and ingredient choices. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the chefs must work quickly to get their pizzas finished on time. Some chefs opt for classic pizza toppings, such as pepperoni and cheese, while others try more adventurous combinations, such as pickled shrimp and goat cheese.

As the first round comes to a close, one chef is eliminated, and the remaining three move on to the entree round. In this round, the chefs are tasked with creating a dish using a mystery protein - in this episode, it's duck. The chefs must also incorporate yellow squash and a spiced apple mixture into their dishes. This round proves to be more challenging than the first, with each chef struggling to balance the flavors in their dish.

As the clock ticks down, the judges taste each dish and offer their critiques. Some chefs are praised for their bold flavor choices, while others are criticized for a lack of seasoning or a poorly executed cooking technique. In the end, one chef is eliminated, leaving two to compete in the dessert round.

For the final round of the competition, the chefs must create a sweet and savory dessert using sweet potatoes, cashews, and leftover pizza dough. With the clock ticking down, the chefs work quickly to produce unique and delicious desserts. One chef opts for a sweet potato cashew tart with a pizza dough crust, while the other creates a cashew brittle with a sweet potato puree and pizza dough crisps. The judges taste each dessert and give their final verdict, selecting the winner of the competition and awarding them the grand prize of $10,000.

Overall, "A Pretty Pickle Pizza" is an exciting and challenging episode of Chopped, pushing the chefs to think outside of the box while still producing delicious dishes. With the competition growing increasingly intense as each round progresses, viewers are sure to be on the edge of their seats, watching to see who will come out on top.