‘Chopped,’ Alton style: Alton Brown enters the ‘Chopped’ kitchen

By Andrew Warren TV Media

Among culinary television’s many star-studded personalities, there’s really no one like Alton Brown. The man is a legend in some fan circles, and it’s no wonder why. While other TV chefs happily share their advice on how to prepare an ingredient, Alton would much rather share the underlying science and reasoning behind all things culinary — the why. Of course, his distinct, kooky personality doesn’t hurt his case, either.

Well, the contestants for Food Network’s next “Chopped” tournament had better be brushing up on their culinary science.

“Chopped: Alton’s Challenge” premieres Tuesday, Oct. 10, with the man himself not only sitting at the judges table but also setting the challenges themselves.

In the first episode of the culinary contest, Alton is joined at the judges table by “Chopped” regulars Amanda Freitag and Alex Guarnaschelli, along with host Ted Allen. The three “Chopped” veterans have seen more than their fair share of interesting ingredient challenges in the “Chopped” kitchen, but Alton’s maniacal mind still has some surprises in store.

For the appetizer round, the four hopeful contestants must understand the mad science of champagne and fermentation. After a chef is sent packing by the judges, it’s on to the entrée round with a really weird and stringy Japanese specialty hiding in the basket of mystery ingredients. It’s the dessert challenge that truly tests the cooking mettle of the chefs, though, when they find a highly unusual cake lurking in the basket.

Each week, four new chefs enter the “Chopped” kitchen, with only one remaining at the end. In the tournament’s grand finale Tuesday, Nov. 7, the four champions return to face off against each other for the ultimate $50,000 prize. To earn that payday, though, they have to endure Alton’s most diabolical