Chopped (Season 3)

A high energy, fast paced cooking competition that challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets “chopped” by our panel of esteemed culinary luminaries until the last man or woman left standing claims victory.

When Chefs Collide (Episode 1)
Air date: 2009-10-13
Overview: The chefs must use kumquats and croissants in their appetizers; green beans and ground pork in their entrées; and grits in their desserts.
Oh My Goshy, Umeboshi (Episode 2)
Air date: 2009-10-20
Overview: Featured ingredients include eel, umeboshi, parsnips and soda crackers.
Judge Knows Best (Episode 3) 1.0
Air date: 2009-10-27
Overview: The chefs must work with a fish that's traditionally used for sushi in the appetizer round. Then, they find an unfamiliar condiment in the entrée basket and prosecco is used to make dessert.
A Nori Story (Episode 4)
Air date: 2009-11-03
Overview: The chefs must use graham crackers in their appetizers; puffed-rice cereal and chorizo in their entrées; and coffee beans in their desserts.
Sticking To It (Episode 5)
Air date: 2009-11-10
Overview: The chefs must use graham crackers in their appetizers; puffed-rice cereal and chorizo in their entrées; and coffee beans in their desserts.
Season's Choppings (Episode 6)
Air date: 2009-12-08
Overview: The chefs must cook with the holidays in mind when working with the mystery ingredients, which include venison and marshmallows.
Flower Power (Episode 7)
Air date: 2010-01-05
Overview: The chefs must incorporate zucchini blossoms into their appetizers; burdock root into their entrées; and chickpeas into their desserts.
Sweet Redemption (Episode 8)
Air date: 2010-01-12
Overview: Four previous runners-up return and compete again in hopes of finally being named a "Chopped" champion.
Winging It (Episode 9)
Air date: 2010-01-19
Overview: The chefs must work with chicken wings in the appetizer round; catfish in the entrée round; and cherry tomatoes in the dessert round.
In a Pinch (Episode 10)
Air date: 2010-01-26
Overview: A challenging piece of meat poses problems for the chefs in the entrée round. They also must use soft-shell crabs in their appetizers and peppermint sticks in their desserts.
Raw Enthusiasm (Episode 11)
Air date: 2010-02-16
Overview: The chefs must use raw oysters in their appetizers; a rare fruit in their entrées; and miso in their desserts.
Against the Tide (Episode 12)
Air date: 2010-03-02
Overview: The chefs must combine fish with chocolate in the appetizer round. Then, a trendy root vegetable shows up in the entrée round and violet mustard is used to make desserts.
Chopped Liver (Episode 13)
Air date: 2010-03-09
Overview: The chefs must use liver in their appetizers; pasta sheets in their entrées; and cactus pears in their desserts.