5-part tournament premieres Tuesday, July 31, on Food Network
Grill masters from four popular barbecue regions across the country are entering the "Chopped" kitchen for a fiery new season of "Chopped Grill Masters," premiering Tuesday, July 31 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Food Network. Over five episodes, four top-notch grill masters from Kansas City (Missouri), North Carolina, Memphis and Texas compete for a cash prize and hometown bragging rights.
Hosted by Ted Allen, and featuring a rotating panel of "Chopped" and special guest judges - Including Moe Cason, Scott Conant, Melissa Cookston, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Elizabeth Karmel, Myron Mixon, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos, Ernest Servantes and Geoffrey Zakarian - each regional episode challenges the grill masters to showcase their skills over three rounds - appetizer, entrée and dessert - as they utilize the mystery basket of ingredients to create unique and delicious dishes that will wow the judges. Each episode will also include a hometown specialty in one of the baskets, giving the competitors the opportunity to really bring the competition home. The winner from each regional heat will go on to compete in the finale on Tuesday, Aug. 28, for the $50,000 grand prize.
On the first episode, the best grill masters from Kansas City showcase their skills to see who will advance to the finale. Twenty minutes in the appetizer round does not seem long enough to deal with the double-cut pork chops in the appetizer basket. A bubbly surprise in the entrée basket prompts the chefs to bring the sweet to their dishes. And pineapple and banana are two of the flavors that must be married on the last two competitors' dessert plates.
Other episodes during the tournament feature a creepy, crawly, crunchy surprise that challenges the chefs in the appetizer basket; a state-fair treat and an iconic Texas meat in the entrée basket; and some Southern favorites in the dessert basket that gives competitors a head start in bringing Carolina flavors to their sweet plates.
Then, in the finale showdown, the individual winners from the Kansas City, Memphis, North Carolina and Texas heats return to compete for ultimate bragging rights. A wild, smoky ingredient in the appetizer basket kicks things off, while the judges expect magnificent meat-and-potatoes entrée plates from the three remaining champs. The very last basket of the tournament is packed with sugary, festive ingredients, but which champion can pull off a sweet victory and walk away with the $50,000 prize?
Get to know the grill masters, browse photos of the action, and watch video highlights all tournament long at
FoodNetwork.com/Chopped. Share your ideas for grilling with the mystery basket ingredients by using the hashtag #Chopped.
