Ep 17. Everything From Scratch

In season 18, episode 17 of Guy's Grocery Games, titled Everything From Scratch, contestants are challenged to create meals entirely from scratch using ingredients found in Guy Fieri's grocery store. The competitors are asked to cook a delicious breakfast using only pantry staples, followed by a round where they must incorporate fresh herbs into their dishes. The third round finds the contestants creating an entrée using a surprise ingredient, and the winner of that round gets to launch a shopping spree where they can grab any ingredients they need to prepare a dessert course.

With a $20,000 prize on the line, the competition is fierce and the contestants are determined to impress the judges with their culinary skills. Guy himself provides some guidance and advice throughout the show, offering tips and tricks for making the most of the ingredients available.

One of the key challenges in this episode is for the contestants to create meals without relying on pre-packaged or pre-made ingredients. They are encouraged to use fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and other ingredients to create dishes that truly showcase their cooking talents.

The breakfast round presents a particular challenge, as the contestants must use only pantry staples like flour, sugar, and eggs to create a morning meal. However, the judges are impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of some of the contestants, who turn these basic ingredients into delicious dishes like cornbread waffles with crispy fried chicken.

In the herb round, the contestants are tasked with using fresh herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary to enhance the flavors of their dishes. This round is especially challenging for those who are not familiar with using fresh herbs in their cooking, but many rise to the occasion and create flavorful meals that impress the judges.

The surprise ingredient in the entrée round is revealed to be octopus, which some of the contestants have never cooked with before. However, they quickly adapt and create dishes that highlight the unique flavor and texture of the seafood. The winner of this round, as mentioned before, gets to launch a shopping spree that allows them to grab any additional ingredients they need to create a dessert course.

In the dessert round, the contestants must use their creativity to create sweet treats that incorporate the ingredients they have collected throughout the competition. Some go for classic desserts like chocolate cake or apple pie, while others opt for more unique creations like avocado ice cream or sweet potato cheesecake.

As always, the judges are tough but fair, evaluating each dish on taste, presentation, and creativity. Ultimately, the contestant who impresses the judges the most with their culinary talent and skill will take home the $20,000 prize and be named champion of Guy's Grocery Games season 18, episode 17.