Four new chefs battle to see if they have the chops to win Chopped. In the appetizer round, one competitor makes a risky choice to prepare a basket ingredient in two different ways. Will her dish be a hit or a flop? Then in the second round, the chefs are challenged to make excellent elk entrees in just 30 minutes, or else face elimination. Finally, ice cream nachos in the dessert basket seem whimsical, but the final half hour in the Chopped kitchen is not all fun and games for the final two chefs.

Good first impressions are key! With no major tricks in the first basket, the chefs are left to create their own problems, as they attempt to piece together scrumptious meat and potato appetizers. Delicious duck dishes are a tall order in the entrée round in just 30 minutes. Then, in the dessert round, the chefs hesitate to make the obvious choice when they get a particular dough in the basket. Will their creativity pay off or trip them up?