Ep 7. I'm Your Huckleberry

In season 9 episode 7 of Chopped, the chefs are tasked with creating dishes featuring huckleberry in every round. The episode is appropriately titled "I'm Your Huckleberry," a reference to the iconic line from the movie Tombstone.

As the competition begins, the chefs must quickly adapt to the unique ingredients and flavors of huckleberry. They must create appetizers using huckleberry compote, huckleberry-infused sausage, and a variety of other huckleberry-based ingredients.

Some of the chefs struggle to incorporate the tartness of the huckleberry into their dishes, while others embrace the opportunity to get creative with this unique fruit. The judges are particularly impressed by one chef's huckleberry vinaigrette, which perfectly complements a salad topped with seared scallops.

Moving on to the entree round, the chefs are given a more challenging basket of ingredients, including huckleberry soda, huckleberry BBQ sauce, and huckleberry ice cream. They must create dishes that showcase huckleberry in a savory context, while also incorporating protein and other necessary ingredients.

One chef decides to make huckleberry-glazed duck breast, while another opts for a huckleberry-braised short rib served with creamy polenta. The judges are impressed by the creativity of the dishes, but some of the chefs struggle with the sweetness of the huckleberry soda and ice cream, which can be difficult to balance with savory flavors.

Finally, the dessert round sees the chefs creating sweet treats featuring huckleberry jam, huckleberry liqueur, and candied huckleberries. One chef decides to make a huckleberry crumble with a caramel sauce, while another opts for a huckleberry tart with a whipped cream topping.

The judges are impressed by the chefs' ability to create desserts that are both sweet and tart, incorporating huckleberry in creative and unexpected ways. The winner of the episode is announced, and the chefs leave the kitchen with newfound respect for this unique and flavorful fruit.

Overall, "I'm Your Huckleberry" is a fun and challenging episode of Chopped, showcasing the creativity and skill of the chefs as they work with a unique and sometimes challenging ingredient. Fans of the show will no doubt enjoy watching the chefs push themselves to come up with new and innovative ways to incorporate huckleberry into their dishes, and seeing which chef ultimately comes out on top.