Great Chocolate Showdown Season 3 Episode 2 Mad About Choux

In the second episode of season 3 of Great Chocolate Showdown, titled "Mad About Choux", the six remaining contestants face a new set of challenges as they continue to compete for the grand prize of $50,000 and the title of Canada's top chocolatier.

The contestants are tasked with making creative and delicious desserts using choux pastry - a light, airy pastry that can be used to make a variety of sweets such as cream puffs, eclairs, or churros. The judges - master chocolatier Christophe Bonzon, pastry chef Anna Olson, and food critic and writer Mijune Pak - will be looking for unique flavor combinations, technical execution, and overall creativity in the contestants' desserts.

The first challenge of the episode is a blind taste test, where the contestants must identify three different types of pastry creams using only their sense of taste. The pastry creams will later be used in their choux pastry desserts, so this challenge tests their ability to recognize different flavors and identify them later in their own creations.

For the main challenge, the contestants must make a stunning dessert tower using choux pastry and pastry cream. They have just three hours to create their towers and must incorporate flavors and ingredients that truly make their desserts stand out. The height, structure, and overall design of their towers will be crucial, as the judges will be looking for impressive visual presentations as well as great taste.

As the contestants get to work, they face a range of obstacles and setbacks. Some struggle with the technical aspects of making choux pastry, while others have trouble getting their towers to stand up straight. One contestant in particular, who has been struggling since the beginning of the season, faces a meltdown when her pastry cream fails to set and she must start over with just an hour left on the clock.

Despite the challenges, the contestants create some truly impressive desserts. One contestant makes a tower inspired by Japanese flavors, using green tea and yuzu in her pastry cream and topping it with delicate cherry blossom decorations. Another contestant opts for a more playful approach, creating a circus-themed tower complete with colorful macarons and caramel popcorn.

In the end, the judges must make the tough decision of which contestant to send home. While each dessert had its strengths and weaknesses, ultimately one contestant failed to meet the judges' expectations and must bid farewell to the competition.

"Mad About Choux" is a thrilling and intense episode of Great Chocolate Showdown, showcasing the contestants' creativity, skill, and determination in the face of difficult challenges. With just five contestants remaining, the competition is heating up and the pressure is on for the chocolatiers to bring their best to each challenge.