Chopped is a unique cooking show that airs on the Food Network. The show begins with four contestants, who must cook an appetizer from several mystery ingredients that are brought out of a picnic basket at the beginning of the challenge. The chef with the worst appetizer is then chopped, or eliminated from the show.
Next, the three remaining contestants are issued a new challenge with new ingredients. They must prepare a dinner for each of the three judges. Once again, the chef with the least appealing dinner is chopped.
The final stage of the competition is a showdown between the two remaining contestants, who must create a delicious dessert from the mystery ingredients. The chef with the best dessert wins the show.
I don't normally sit and watch cooking show after cooking show, but I can certainly sit for a marathon of Chopped. I think what grabs my attention the most is the strange ingredients that are pulled from the basket. Many of the items are foods that I have never even heard of. Some are just foods that I have never had the chance to prepare.
During Chopped, many of the chefs explain why they choose to create a certain dish with the ingredients that were presented to them. They inform us viewers about complimentary foods. I believe that information is going to help me prepare more scrumptious meals for my family.
I don't personally have the Food Network, but I do get to watch episodes online via Hulu. Last night I watched one of the All-Stars episodes. I loved it because I recognized most of the chefs and loved seeing them in competition with each other.