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| Photo - Multivu |
The first Chopped Grill Masters tournament was back in 2012 with Ernest Servantes winning the $50,000 prize. If you want to get a look at the contestants competing this year, here is a fan poll from the Food Network site that has their photos.
Episode Descriptions from Multivu are below:
Chopped Grill Masters:
Premiering Tuesday, July 14th at 10:00pm ET/PT - TOURNAMENT PREMIERE!
“Grill Masters: Episode One”
In this explosive first Grill Masters battle, big personalities and old rivalries create a firestorm in the al fresco kitchen. In the first round, the chefs have two different proteins to prepare: pork chops and sausages. Exercising restraint with a sweet basket ingredient in the entrée round is a challenge for some of the chefs. A cheese and a starch are two of the items that the finalists must make sing on the grills in their desserts.
Competitors: Danielle Dimovski, Chris Hart, Staci Graves Jett, Randy Pauly
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Scott Conant, Amy Mills, Chris Santos
Premiering Tuesday, July 21st at 10:00pm ET/PT
“Grill Masters: Episode Two”
In the first round, the Grill Masters find grilling-classics hot dogs and hamburgers in the same basket. Rack of elk is a welcome ingredient in the second basket, but the 30-minute time limit presents some issues. The final two chefs have high hopes for what they can accomplish in the dessert round featuring chocolate cupcakes.
Competitors: Mary Brent Galyean, Stan Hays, Matty Melehes, Candy Sue Weaver
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Tim Love
Premiering Tuesday, July 28th at 10:00pm ET/PT
“Grill Masters: Episode Three”
Two of the competitors in this Grill Masters fight are engaged to be married, but can they both make it to the final round? In the first round, a succulent seafood and an odd ice cream are two of the surprises in the mystery basket. Then in the second round of live-fire cooking, the chefs are shocked to find a live ingredient. When a delicate ingredient flames up on the grill in the dessert round, can one chef’s dish be salvaged?
Competitors: Donna Fong, Leslie Roark Scott, Harry Soo, Tom Spaulding
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Tim Love
Premiering Tuesday, August 4th at 10:00pm ET/PT
“Grill Masters: Episode Four”
Four grilling experts compete for a final spot in the grand finale, for a chance at winning $50,000. Spare ribs play the lead role in the appetizer basket. Then a specially-sourced, whole fish barely fits into the entrée baskets. And following the round that the judges were not thrilled with how an ingredient was being used, the judges are plum happy to see plums in the dessert basket.
Competitors: Mike Davis, Ash Fulk, Phil Johnson, Angie Mar
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Scott Conant, Amy Mills, Chris Santos
Premiering Tuesday, August 11th at 10:00pm ET/PT - TOURNAMENT FINALE!
“Grill Masters: Grand Finale”
The four finalists are facing off for the $50,000 grand prize. These Grill Masters are expecting difficult baskets, and they certainly get them. Rattlesnake is the vicious surprise in the first round. Some offal and fruit are part of the culinary puzzle to solve in the entrée round. And a breakfast item and a classic pie beg to be transformed in the dessert round to determine the new grilling champion!
Host: Ted Allen
Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chris Santos
Pulling for Danielle Dimovski in heat 1 and Ash Fulk—a Top Chef veteran—in heat 4. Don't really know any of the other competitors. In the end, I'd love to see Diva Danielle take it all.
ReplyDeleteHa, I'd forgotten that...she certainly proved how "lovable" she was during last week's performance.
ReplyDeleteYes, she did, although that was her best course. It was her undercooked (raw) steak in the middle round that did her in.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun competition to watch, although I'm not familiar with the contestants. Hoping I recognize Ash Fulk from Top Chef.
I'm addicted to BBQ Pitmasters on the Destination America channel, so I've become very familiar with the major players in the competition barbecue arena. Danielle both competes and judges such competitions and is a frequent winner and a cool personality.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see people fail on this version of the show for not getting meat done in time. Most people screw up on Chopped due to time limits - they all say the clock just goes so fast you wouldn't believe it - so it's understandable in general. But when a barbecue pro puts a huge hunk of meat on so late, they have to know what's going to happen. You'd think since it's a grilling competition, they'd make sure the meat was the one thing that got priority and then let all the frou frou come in afterwards with whatever time was remaining. I suppose the judges will ding people for not doing much aside from the meat, but a beautifully grilled piece of meat with some afterthought sides has to beat raw meat with good sides, doesn't it? Maybe it's just a balance.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while Chopped always forces great chefs have to work with odd stuff instead of showcasing what they could do with great ingredients, I'm not sure how I feel having to watch grilling pros have to work with cupcakes and stuff. On the one hand we can learn some things about what's good to grill that we didn't actually know might be good to grill (artichokes?), but on the other hand watching a guy try to make pudding on a grill seems like a waste of a specialty Chopped. I guess it wouldn't be as interesting or dramatic a challenge if it was just meat meat meat though.
Not all barbecue pitmasters are comfortable with grilling; it's a whole different craft. Melissa Cookston—the winningest woman in barbecue—went down hard in an indoor grilling edition of Chopped simply because her experience was low and slow, and she didn't do much grilling.
ReplyDeleteThere certainly is a difference. I had assumed these people were grillers as opposed to low n' slowers - didn't pay close enough attention to the biographical stuff. Guess low n' slow wouldn't really work in the Chopped format unless they somehow limited prep time to get it on the smoker and then limited sides prep time at the end.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't I find Star Salvation on my DirectTV schedule? Is this show only visible on the internet? I see lots of comments about it so I know it's out there, but where?
ReplyDeleteMoHub: I can't find Star Salvation on DirecTV. Is this only visible on the internet?
ReplyDeleteIt's on the Food Network website. Also, Matt has a link to the video at the top of this page.
ReplyDeleteIt's video on the Food Network site, not on broadcast television.
ReplyDeleteA New episode tomorrow. Eddie & Jay look to be a good distance ahead of the rest. But--I can't believe that things are already locked up and a done-deal. There must be more drama, surprises, twists-n-turns. Too early for it to be over already. And so, in a half-fun/half-serious way....here are some wild predictions/scenarios for next show:
ReplyDelete1. Dom stays. Alex goes. (it adds to the whole reality-tv drama/ratings/outrage?)
2. Eddie or Jay goes to Star Salvation (just because its so unlikely and unexpected)
3. Michelle or Dom...quits/resigns/walks out.
What other unexpected things could surprise us?
Maybe none of the above happen. But, I'm betting we're in for more surprises before this is all over.
I will say that initially I thought "The Kitchen" seemed like complete schlock... just awful. But I am a complete convert. Maybe I have consumed too much Food Network Kool-Aid, but I have to say that the show has really grown on me. The cast gets along so well, and there are lots of good suggestions and a lot of laughs on the program. I really enjoy the program, and just thought I'd throw that out there...
ReplyDeleteThe teaser for tonight's episode looks intriguing. I am anxious to see what's going on.
ReplyDeleteExcept that In Living Color ended in 1994, which was 21 years ago. The world has changed A LOT in 21 years. This would be like trying to compare a statement made about African American people in 1968 to a statement made in 1989. In terms of racism and acceptance of racism, a ton changed between those two years, just as a lot has changed now regarding how we view gay, lesbian, and even transgendered people. Not to mention the fact that she is mocking someone who is supposed to be, if not a friend, at least a peer. She showed a complete lack of respect and you could see how hurt he was.
ReplyDeleteExactly! In Living Color was over 20 years ago. And if he didn't make an issue of it, she shouldn't have either.
ReplyDeleteCruel and insensitive... especially to a friend and fellow chef who has never done anything to hurt her in any way.
ReplyDelete