The Chopped Grill Masters finale is tonight with the final 4 competing for the $50,000 prize. Below are the competitors that won the first 4 episodes to get to the final, and a quick bio on each:
Episode 1 Winner - Ray Lampe aka Dr. BBQIf you think you recognize Ray from being on the Food Network before, you would be right. He has been on Tailgate Warriors with Guy Fieri, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He has also been on many other TV shows and radio stations as a BBQ expert. Ray has written 5 cookbooks and has won over 300 BBQ awards.
Episode 2 Winner - Sam ChoySam has also been on the Food Network before. He competed on Iron Chef America in 2005 against Cat Cora in which he lost a battle with the secret ingredient of clams. Sam is from Hawaii, has written 16 cookbooks and has won a James Beard Award in 2004. He specializes in Hawaiian cuisine and also has a cooking show that airs in Hawaii.
Episode 3 Winner - Ernest ServantesErnest is the executive chef at Texas Lutheran University. He credits his grandmother for his cooking inspiration and his passion is for BBQ. I would say Ernest is the biggest surprise in the final when looking at the resumes of the others.
Episode 4 Winner - Kent RollinsKent is the owner and chef of Red River Ranch Chuck Wagon Catering, which does catering around the country. He has actually competed against Bobby Flay in an episode of Throwdown and won with his chicken-fried steak. Kent has also been on many other TV shows as a guest.
Also, right after the episode, the third season of The Great Food Truck Race with Tyler Florence begins with each team competing to win their own food truck and $50,000. This year all of the competitors have never owned or operated a food truck in the past, so are competing to start their own food truck business.
UPDATE - Ernest Servantes took down all of the BBQ veterans and won the Chopped Grill Masters final to take home the $50,000.
I seriously must call "bullcrap!" on Earnest winning tonight. A previous griller was chopped because he didn't grill anything in his dessert, though it was a better plate. Tonight Kent grilled his "icecream cake" but Earnest pan-fried his "Tres Leches" dessert. Kent should have won instead of Earnest.
ReplyDeleteAgree!!! Kent should have won. As a matter of fact suggestion to the Food Network...
ReplyDeleteCowboy Cooking Starring Kent Rollins. He is the male Paula Deen. We fell in love with him. It is refreshing to see a male chef genuine charm and grace.
Kent is the hands down winner - always ingenious and entertaining to watch.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Ernest! Outdoor cooking started with the caballeros (First Cowboys), Good to see the old recepies and techniques are still being handed down, flavor is what its all about. Orale compa...Buen Hecho!!!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I regret never knowing him nor his talents but lemme tell you fell in love with his warm, humble, charismatic, no b/s and downright lovable personality upon seeing him on Chopped Grillmasters. Again, I think he should have won. Here's why. He was thrown a lot of ingrediants that he 'just plain had never met before' and delivered.
ReplyDeleteI think either Food Network or Cooking Channel should fetch him. He is unique and his cooking style is refined but yet just cold-hard grubbin, cowboy style.
Hell. I watch him!
Get over it...It was all cooked on a grill one way or the other. Plus, they said deserts were a tie and Kent's soggy sardines is what chopped him.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Chef Servantes!!!! Truely a BBQ Master~
ReplyDeleteI didn't take notice that Ernest didnt "Grill" any items on his dessert as the show went on. My husband mentioned it too me, and I agree Kent should have won. I LOVED Kent! I enjoyed this style of chopped more that any other. Kent was the most evolved through out. Plus I must mention I have never seen a judge CRY over "chopping" a contestant on any episode. Kent would be a great addition to the shows currently on Food Network. How can you not love the guy for his simple, honest, kind cowboy ways, and style of cooking. I want to see more of Kent! Bring him back!
ReplyDeleteI was going to post a request that Ernest be given a cooking show on the channel, but after reading these comments I guess it's almost a lost cause. Sure, Ken used ingredients he was unfamiliar with, and did a fine job. I thought Ernest was so honest and forthcoming, and his skill was off the charts, that he had won the competition easily. Remember, Ken heated up premade poundcake on the grill as his foundation for the desert.
ReplyDeleteI thought both of them did absolutely fantastic. Congrats to Earnest, though I was rooting for Kent, just by a little. I wish both of them could get a show on food network. Good luck to both of them with their futures.
ReplyDeleteLike other viewers, my boyfriend and I were charmed and delighted by Cowboy Kent...PLEASE give him his own show! If that's not possible, or he thinks he's too cowboy to go completely Hollywood, ask him to compete on more of your shows...
ReplyDeleteLaura
I didn't take notice that Ernest didnt "Grill" any items on his dessert as the show went on. My husband mentioned it too me, and I agree Kent should have won. I LOVED Kent! I enjoyed this style of chopped more that any other. Kent was the most evolved through out. Plus I must mention I have never seen a judge CRY over "chopping" a contestant on any episode. Kent would be a great addition to the shows currently on Food Network. How can you not love the guy for his simple, honest, kind cowboy ways, and style of cooking. I want to see more of Kent! Bring him back!
ReplyDeleteKent was infinitely more likeable.
ReplyDeleteYes, he was charming after I got over the initial shock. PLEASE don't compare him to Paula Deen...he's at least AUTHENTIC.
ReplyDeleteI agree and actually mentioned to my husband before reading these comments....Kent should have his own show!
ReplyDeleteKent should have his own show You can call it Cowboy cooking. Before this show I didnt know much about cowboys but his really impressed me. HIs warmness and honestly not only showed a class man but somebody that most people would love to see again.
ReplyDeletePaula Dee is so fake. I turn the channel everytime I see her show. I dont know what people see in her until you are trying to learn the most fattening and unhealthy food recipes. Her voice and her energy is so irritating.
ReplyDeletemy boyfirend and i love kent. i really wish kent had his own cooking show, he grills like my dad did and i would love to learn that. he brings this comfort level to your home.... cowboy kent homestyle cooking PLEASE BRING HIM BACK. WE LOVE KENT!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a BiG problem with BIG BOY wining I mean HUH!! This was NOT a show that makes any of us that like = D" the show much to begiin with, but to have these 3 judges sitting in and making this decision well it was like eating a un-cooked PANTENE! Cowboy had this hands down! I have just watched these 3 act as if they knew what they were doing! TWO thumbs down!
ReplyDeleteI saw this replay last night and was like there is no way Kent lost! That's total craziness!!!
ReplyDeleteHe was the best
WHERE IS Chef Ernest Servantes from? What small texas town?
ReplyDeletecowboy Kent needs his own show!!! I loved watching and listening to him.
ReplyDeleteWe loved the Chopped Grill Masters Challenge! We too felt that Kent was more true to the title of the show and used the grill and ingredients best. Of course, we would have loved to taste all the dishes. We couldn't be happier for Earnest and his family and wish them the best!
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