Ep 4. Frozen Fries with That?

In season 9, episode 4 of Chopped, titled "Frozen Fries with That?" four chefs are faced with the challenge of creating unique and delicious dishes using a basket of mystery ingredients in just 30 minutes. The theme of the episode is frozen foods, and the chefs must incorporate frozen fries into their dishes in some way.

The first round begins with a basket containing frozen fish sticks, tater tots, cranberry sauce, and dandelion greens. The chefs quickly get to work, some choosing to batter the fish sticks and use the tater tots as a base, while others opt to make a salad with the dandelion greens and top it with the cranberry sauce. One chef struggles to properly cook their fish sticks, putting them at a disadvantage.

Moving into the second round, the remaining chefs must incorporate frozen buffalo wings, frozen peas, frozen coconut meat, and waffle cones into their dishes. One chef decides to create a coconut and pea puree to accompany their buffalo wings, while another uses the waffle cones to create a sweet and savory dish. One chef experiences a mishap with their blender, delaying their progress and causing them to be rushed at the end of the round.

In the final round, the two remaining chefs must create a dessert using frozen French fries, frozen cherries, frozen cheesecake, and black garlic. One chef decides to use the french fries as a topping for their cheesecake, while the other creates a unique cherry and black garlic compote. The judges are impressed with both desserts and have a difficult time deciding on a winner.

At the end of the episode, only one chef is named the winner, having successfully overcome the challenges of using frozen foods in creative and delicious ways. The other chefs are left to reflect on their performances and what they could have done differently. Overall, "Frozen Fries with That?" showcases the culinary creativity and skill of the contestants as they successfully navigate the challenges of the competition.