New round of culinary masters enter the kitchen to battle it out in 'Chopped All-Stars'

Fourth season of all-star tournament premieres Tuesday, April 28, on Food Network

With a $75,000 grand prize for charity on the line, 16 culinary stars enter the "Chopped" kitchen for a new round of "Chopped All-Stars," premiering Tuesday, April 28 (10 p.m. ET/PT), on Food Network.

The five-part competition series, hosted by Ted Allen, includes four chefs going head-to-head each week over three rounds - appetizer, entrée and dessert - as each chef creates a unique and delicious dish using the mystery ingredients within the "Chopped" basket.

The dishes are judged by a rotating roster of "Chopped" judges, including Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Aarón Sánchez, Chris Santos and Geoffrey Zakarian, to determine which chefs will advance to face off in the finale, with a chance to win the $75,000 grand prize for a charity of choice.

"In its fourth season, this tournament brings together the most talented group of chefs to compete in the 'Chopped' kitchen for causes that are near and dear to their hearts," said Bob Tuschman, general manager and senior vice president of programming at Food Network. "Not only do the chefs put their reputations out there, but with a $75,000 grand prize, these culinary masters don't hold anything back as they compete for their charities."

Ted Allen hosts. Visit FoodNetwork.com/Chopped for exclusive video, interviews, photos and more.

Episodes include:

•Premiering Tuesday, April 28: "All-Stars Tournament: Part 1"

In this first of four competitions, top talent converges in the "Chopped" kitchen to fight it out for a spot in the $75,000 finale. And with a former "Chopped" grand champion in the mix, the stage is set for an epic matchup. In the first round, a slimy ingredient gets some disgusted responses from competitors and judges. Then in the entrée round, the beautiful fish in the basket leads the chefs to make a few surprising mistakes. And when the two finalists go in totally different directions in the dessert round, it's up in the air which approach will be more pleasing to the judges.

Competitors:Madison Cowan, Eric Greenspan, Brian Malarkey, Art Smith

Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag

•Premiering Tuesday, May 5: "All-Stars Tournament: Part 2"

Competing for a spot in the grand finale, four competitors open the appetizer basket and find a soup and a sour surprise. Then in the entrée round, a cheesy party food must be matched with some expensive offal. And the two all-stars who make it to the dessert round are challenged to make delicious sweet dishes using a refreshing drink and some airy cookies.

Competitors:Anne Burrell, Hung Huynh, Mary Sue Milliken, Dale Talde

Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos

•Premiering Tuesday, May 12: "All-Stars Tournament: Part 3"

Four new all-stars strut into the "Chopped" kitchen with sights set on the grand finale. In the first round, a special Spanish meat must be paired with an airy cookie. Then in the entrée round, the all-stars face a sizeable challenge when they encounter a huge ingredient to butcher and some tiny, sour fruits to tame. And flavored water and clarified butter are part of the culinary puzzle that the last two chefs have to solve as they create desserts.

Competitors:Cat Cora, Antonia Lofaso, Michael Psilakis, Marcel Vigneron

Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarón Sánchez, Geoffrey Zakarian

•Premiering Tuesday, May 19: "All-Stars Tournament: Part 4"

The judges are curious to see how one famous chef with no competition experience will do in this fierce fight, as the all-stars open the appetizer baskets and find succulent seafood and an Asian pastry. Then in the entrée round, there's not enough time to cook a perfect piece of beef in the traditional way, so the chefs get creative, with varying degrees of success. And some fish-shaped snacks meet some crystals that go pop in the dessert round.

Competitors:Rocco Dispirito, Jet Tila, Lee Anne Wong, Fabio Viviani

Judges: Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Aarón Sánchez

•Premiering Tuesday, May 26: "All-Stars Tournament: Grand Finale"

When the four winning all-stars return to the "Chopped" kitchen for the grand finale, the judges are set to enjoy a masterful meal. With $75,000 on the line for somebody's favorite charity, the competitors open the appetizer basket to find something purple and something fishy. Then in a tense entrée round, a seafood tower threatens to topple the competitors' cool. And the two all-stars who manage to make it to the dessert round must handle a super-hot pepper and conquer a cookie cake before someone is awarded the biggest charitable prize in "Chopped" history.

Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian