Ep 11. All-Stars Tournament: Finale!

In the final episode of the All-Stars Tournament, four returning champions compete for a chance to win $50,000 for their charity of choice. The competitors are all experienced chefs who have proven themselves on previous episodes of Chopped, but only one can come out on top.

The first round begins with an unusual mystery basket that includes kelp noodles, watermelon radishes, chicken hearts, and cherry cola. The chefs have just 20 minutes to create an appetizer using these disparate ingredients, and they all approach the challenge in different ways. One chef uses the cola to make a glaze for the hearts, while another sears them and serves them over a bed of kelp noodles. The judges are impressed with the creativity and flavors on display, but they ultimately have to send one chef home based on their least successful dish.

The second round features monkfish tails, quail eggs, rapini, and tahini. The chefs have more time to work with these ingredients, but they still have to think on their feet in order to make them work together. One chef makes a spicy tahini sauce to complement the monkfish, while another poaches the quail eggs and serves them alongside the rapini. It's a tight race, but the judges have to make the tough decision of which chef will not make it to the final round.

The final two chefs are given the mystery basket of the night, which includes lamb loin chops, figs, stinging nettles, and Chinese black beans. This round is do or die - the chefs have just 30 minutes to create a dish that will impress the judges and win them the title of All-Stars champion. Both chefs work frantically to get their dishes done on time, pulling out all the stops and using every trick in the book to elevate their flavors.

In the end, the judges are faced with a tough decision - both chefs have created exceptional dishes, but only one can win the coveted title of All-Stars champion and the $50,000 prize for their charity. The judges deliberate, discussing each dish in turn and weighing the pros and cons of each one. Finally, they come to a decision and call the chefs back into the room to announce the winner.

With the competition over and the winner crowned, the chefs congratulate each other and reflect on their experience. For the All-Stars champion, it's a moment of celebration and triumph, but for all the competitors, it's been an amazing opportunity to showcase their skills and raise money for causes close to their hearts. It's been a thrilling season of Chopped, full of surprises, challenges, and exceptional cooking - and it's a season that won't soon be forgotten.