Tonight on Chopped, Ted Allen introduces the four chefs that will be competing for $10,000 and the title of “Chopped Champion.”  The chefs must use chocolate in all three rounds from their mystery baskets to get the $10,000 tonight.

The judges for tonight’s competition are as follows;

• Amanda Freitag
• Alex Guarnaschelli
• Marc Murphy

The Chefs competing for the title and $10,000 tonight are as follows;

• Chef Christina Olivarez
• Chef Zach Meloy
• Chef Taryn Mumpower
• Chef Richard Ingraham

Ted Allen told the Chefs that they will be judged on Creativity, Taste and Presentation and they must use all of the ingredients in the basket in some way.

APPETIZER ROUND
He tells them that they have 20 minutes to complete the round and has them open their baskets which includes the following ingredients;

• Button Mushrooms
• Dried Dates
• Duck Hearts
• Chocolate Covered Cherries

After the Chefs completed their dishes they were presented to the Judges and given the following critiques;

Chef Taryn prepared Stuffed Dates w/ Goat Cheese & Sauted Duck Hearts w/ Port Wine and Mushroom Sauce. The judges said the hearts were over-cooked and the dates were scorched on the bottom but the sauce was good. Her salad was under-dressed.

Chef Richard prepared Stuffed Mushrooms w/ Chocolate Sauce. The judges said the sauce was a bit too sweet and everything else was grossly under-seasoned.

Chef Zach prepared Pan Roasted Duck Hearts w/ Molee Sauce. The judges said the hearts were too rare. They said the dates went well with the hearts. The dish needed more salt.

Chef Christina prepared Crispy Duck Hearts w/ Chocolate Mushroom Sauce. The judges loved the hearts. The sauce was more of a marinara. They could not taste the cherries or dates in her dish.

After careful deliberation the judges chopped Chef Taryn for the reasons above.

ENTREE ROUND
Ted Allen told the Chefs they have 30 minutes to complete the round and has them open their baskets which includes the following ingredients;

• Chocolate Wine
• Escarole
• Chateaubriand
• Rainbow Carrots

After the Chefs completed their dishes they were presented to the Judges and given the following critiques;

Chef Zach prepared Roasted Briand W/ Chocolate Compound Butter & Escarole Puree & Carrots. The judges were mixed on the butter but liked the puree. The steak was cooked very good. Needed more salt.

Chef Richard prepared Roasted Briand w/ Chocolate Wine Sauce & Sauted Escarole & Ginger Carrots. The judges said the sauce did not work but loved his steak. They said the vinegar in the escarole washed away the bacon flavor. They said the orange zest in his first two dishes was a bit much.

Chef Christina prepared Roasted Briand w/ Sauted Escarole & Carrots & Chocolate Wine Sauce. The judges said she took risks and they worked. They said her first two sauces were very similar. They said her carrots were hidden and not featured.

After careful deliberation the judges chopped Chef Richard for the reasons above.

DESSERT ROUND
Ted Allen told the Chefs they have 30 minutes to complete the round and has them open their baskets which includes the following ingredients;

• Marzipan
• Membrillo (quint paste)
• Lady Fingers
• Chocolate Lips (usually seen at Halloween)

After the Chefs completed their dishes they were presented to the Judges and given the following critiques;

Chef Christina prepared Membrillo & Apple Sorbet w/ Lady Finger Crumble w/ Almond Chocolate Sauce. The judges said the dessert was very good and the sorbet velvety. They said the chocolate and marzipan countered each other.

Chef Zach prepared Marzipan Truffles w/ Rum Chantilly & Membrillo Caramel. The judges said the caramel was the best thing on the plate and they loved the black salt on the truffles, but the dish was far too sweet.

After careful deliberation the judges chopped Chef Zach and told Chef Christina Olivarez she was the winner of $10,000 and the title of Chopped Champion.

images courtesy of foodnetwork.com