Ep 1. My So-called Trifle

Cutthroat Kitchen is a cooking competition show in which four chefs battle it out to create the best dishes while sabotaging each other with twists and turns that can earn or cost them money. In season 12 episode 1, titled "My So-called Trifle," the contestants have to create the ultimate trifle dessert while facing some of the show's toughest challenges yet.

The episode starts with the four chefs arriving in the kitchen and getting their initial $25,000 budget for the day. Host Alton Brown introduces them to the theme of the episode, which is trifle. He explains that in order to make the best trifle, they will have to face three rounds of sabotage battles. As he unveils the first round's sabotage battle, the contestants gasp in shock.

The first challenge is all about presentation, and the contestants have to present their trifle desserts on a five-foot tower. But there's a catch - Alton provides only three-foot ladders for them to climb up to the top of the tower to place their trifle. The contestants scramble to make it up the ladder without spilling their trifle, risking losing money in the process.

In the second round of the episode, the sabotage battle gets even tougher. Alton introduces a fake ingredient that doesn't belong in trifle: cheddar cheese. The contestants have to include it in their trifle and make it taste good. They also have to use a blowtorch to melt the cheese on the top of their trifle. This challenge throws the chefs off kilter and puts their culinary skills to the test.

The final round of the episode is the most challenging of them all. Alton instructs the contestants to come up with a trifle that's made to look like a savory dish. For the sabotage battle, he provides them with only one mixing bowl that they have to share. There's also a time limit of only ten minutes for them to complete the task. The contestants struggle to come up with creative ideas and work collaboratively, while also dealing with the pressure of the ticking clock.

Throughout the episode, tensions run high and the contestants compete fiercely to stay in the game. Some chef's strategies pay off, while others are left with disappointment. At the end of each round, the least successful chef is eliminated from the competition, leaving only one winner.

The contestants in "My So-called Trifle" are some of the most talented and innovative chefs the show has ever seen. They are passionate about their food and determined to win at any cost. The twists and turns in the sabotage battles put their skills to the test and challenge their creativity. Who will come out on top and take home the grand prize?

Tune in to Cutthroat Kitchen season 12 episode 1 to find out!