“Chopped” is another Food Network must see

Looking for an exciting cooking show but don’t have time to devote to an entire season? “Chopped” may be just what you’re looking for. Premiering on the Food Network in January, “Chopped” has proven to be a great new concept in culinary entertainment. “Chopped” is a fast-paced, one-hour competition for four contestants who are all up-and-coming chefs. Each chef is given a mystery basket filled with the same, very unusual items that they must use all of to make three courses: an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert, but unlike other competition shows, on “Chopped” each course is judged by three judges and someone is then immediately “chopped.” What is nice about this show is that you do not have to watch week after week to find out who is eliminated and ultimately, who will win. In one short hour you have three eliminations and one winner, who takes home a $10,000.00 prize.

Hosted by Ted Allen (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”), “Chopped” is now nearing the end of its second season, and in its twenty-two episodes so far has already had some eclectic ingredients presented in the mystery baskets for the chefs to turn into edible masterpieces. We have seen the likes of jumbo shrimp, edamame, golden raisins, flank steak, coffee liqueur, avocado, boiled gingko nuts, a honeycomb, grape juice, octopus and animal crackers show up in the baskets. Some of the creations look wonderful, while others do not even look edible. I give the judges a lot of credit for trying some of it, because personally I do not think I could eat a flank steak that was swimming in a cream sauce with pink peppercorns floating in it. Given the time constraints of each challenge though, it is a miracle they can get anything that even resembles a course assembled.

The Season 2 multi-part finale of “Chopped” begins on September 8th on the Food Network and will feature past “Chopped” champions competing against one another. If you find yourself bored watching the same thing week after week, check out “Chopped.” It’s fun, it is entertaining, it is only an hour and you know whichever day you turn it on you will not be trying to follow a show that you may have missed the first week or two of.