In this sadistic episode of savory sabotage, we'll find out if the chefs can make a winning pork chops and applesauce dish ... without the use of pork chops or apples! Then we'll see a literal meltdown, as the chefs compete to make the perfect mac and cheese. And finally, one chef has to swim upstream as they're forced to whip up fish and chips without use of a fryer.
Tuscany vow renewal preparations are in full swing when Debi Mazar gets a call that her dress probably won't be ready. She begins to panic, but Gabriele Corcos swoops in to calm her down with a special treat, Affogato, a warm espresso drink topped with rich vanilla ice cream. Their wedding stress calls for homemade Tuscan comfort food and the two decide to make their traditional Three-meat Lasagna, or Lasagne alla Bolgnese, and sit down for a romantic dinner.
Boot Camp is transformed into "Cafe Worst Cooks" as the celebrities learn how to make classic crepes. The main challenge proves to be a lot scarier for these novice cooks when they have to butcher whole chickens, grill them, and create their own unique side dishes. The two least successful recruits go head-to-head in a chicken challenge, and one recruit is sent packing.
Pikachu and the rest of the Pokemon inspire one of the most intense baking battles of all time! Four champion bakers battle for their cake to be the centerpiece of the party, but only one will remain undefeated and collect $10,000. Elvin Gee, marketing manager for Pokemon, joins the judging panel.
Alton Brown shares the scientific theory behind capturing meaty goodness in liquid form and why the pressure cooker makes a great Beefy Broth (Don't worry, they don't explode any more).
Roger Mooking is letting barbecue pork sandwiches hog the spotlight. He bites off as much as he can chew at Hoodoo Brown Barbeque in Ridgefield, Conn., where they serve a meaty masterpiece loaded with pork belly, pulled pork and shaved pork ribs. Then Roger heads to Bigmista's Barbecue and Sammich Shop in Long Beach, Calif., for succulent barbecue pork stuffed inside sweetened soft buns. At Pecan Lodge in Dallas, Roger gets a taste of The Pitmaster with brisket, pulled pork and chorizo sausages, and he finds Tex-Mex flavor in a pork burrito with fire-roasted green chile sauce at Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, S.C. Finally, Roger visits Top Hat Barbecue in Blount Springs, Ala., where they've been selling smoky pulled pork shoulder sandwiches with tangy barbecue sauce for 50 years.
With two spots left in the $50,000 Ultimate Champions Grand Finale, the Chopped Kitchen welcomes back four incredible cooking heroes -- two firefighters, a police officer and an army vet. In the appetizer round, the hero champs must get creative in order to make savory dishes with pineapple and fruit and nut bars. Then in the entree round, the champs find some lovely stalks of spring garlic in the basket, as well as some beautiful lamb chops. And an unpleasantly purple ingredient that the cooks must work into a dessert makes for a challenging last round.
This week, Justine and Rev Run are treated like VIPs as Russy joins them in the kitchen to make a dinner inspired by a luxury hotel room service menu. Together, they design a savory gourmet club sandwich, crisp and golden onion rings, and end the night with a chocolate cake that dreams are made of. This hotel-worthy meal is one they'll want to enjoy over and over again.
It's that ooey-gooey goodness in the middle that we just can't get enough of, so we're heading straight to the middle of things to see what greatness awaits. Jeff Mauro indulges in a 100-layer vanilla creme doughnut that's full of surprises. Antonia Lofaso cracks the yolk on ricotta and egg ravioli in Los Angeles, and Chef Lee Anne Wong heads to Hawaii for a unique and irresistible quesadilla that packs a powerful punch.