Ep 6. Chocolate Showdown

In the sixth episode of season 29 of Beat Bobby Flay, titled Chocolate Showdown, two talented chefs compete to earn the opportunity to take on culinary legend Bobby Flay. The focus of this battle is chocolate – both chefs must incorporate the decadent ingredient into every dish they create.

The episode begins with the introduction of the two competing chefs: Chef Victoria Dearmond and Chef Michael Jenkins. Chef Dearmond hails from Indiana and works as the executive chef at Historic Bonge's Tavern. She is known for her unique style of cuisine which blends traditional French techniques with modern, American flavors. Chef Jenkins is from Charlotte, NC and is the executive chef of the Queen Park Social restaurant. His culinary approach is focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients and elevating classic comfort foods.

As per the rules of the show, Chef Dearmond and Chef Jenkins must first compete against each other in a preliminary round. They are given 20 minutes to create a unique chocolate dish that will impress the judges. The judges for this episode are restaurateur Drew Nieporent and pastry chef Zac Young. Both chefs present their dishes, and the judges deliberate before selecting a winner.

The winner of the preliminary round advances to the main challenge, where they will compete against Bobby Flay. In this episode, the challenge is to create a three-course meal that incorporates chocolate in each dish. Both chefs have an hour to prepare their meals, and they are allowed to use any additional ingredients they desire.

Chef Dearmond creates an appetizer of crispy prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin, with a chocolate mole sauce and garnished with candied bacon. Her main course is a grilled ribeye steak topped with a spicy chocolate rub and served with roasted Brussels sprouts and a white chocolate truffle puree. For dessert, she serves a dark chocolate and hazelnut tart with salted caramel ice cream.

Chef Jenkins' appetizer is a savory Belgium waffle with crispy fried chicken, slathered in a spicy chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream and raspberries. His main course is a pan-seared duck breast served with a dark chocolate cherry sauce, roasted carrots, and a creamy parsnip puree. Lastly, for dessert, he creates a chocolate bread pudding served with an espresso-infused mascarpone cream.

The judges taste each dish and provide their feedback. They are impressed with the creativity and execution of both chefs and ponder over which dish outshines the other. Finally, they declare a winner. But the episode ends with a final twist – the winner must then face off against Bobby Flay in a one-on-one cook-off.

Overall, Beat Bobby Flay, Season 29, Episode 6, is a thrilling and delicious episode that showcases two talented chefs' skills in the kitchen. The focus on chocolate adds an extra layer of difficulty and intrigue to the competition, and it's exciting to see how each chef incorporates the ingredient into their dishes. Both Chef Victoria Dearmond and Chef Michael Jenkins showcase their impressive culinary abilities and provide an engaging battle to determine who will ultimately challenge Bobby Flay.