In a first for the iconic Chopped culinary competition series, Food Network unveiled its Chopped Legends tournament. Chopped judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli and Chris Santos each hand-picked four past Chopped champions to return and compete to represent them in the tournament. Sara Bradley, chef/proprietor of freight house in Paducah, Ky., was invited back by Scott and won a finale spot — with him as her sous chef!
The four finale contestants were competing for a $25,000 cash prize, another $25,000 donated to the charity of their choice — and of course, the title of Chopped Legends Champion.
Following the traditional Chopped format, the appetizer round mystery basket included blood ice cream sorrel, beef tongue and a tornado omelet. Sara created a five-spice beef tongue with fried rice, sorrel salsa verde and pork blood aioli. Judge Chef Marcus Samuelsson said he “didn’t know it was possible to create a duck dish out of beef tongue” and described it as “absolutely delicious.”
Before the judges announced the first contestant to be chopped, the chefs each talked about the charity they would support if they won. Sara planned to support the Maiden Alley Cinema, an art house in Paducah — and where she held a watch party for this episode! Chef Hosea Rosenberg, against whom Sara competed in the Chopped: All-American Showdown finale, talked about funding for Multicentric Carpotarsal Osteolysis research via Sophie’s Neighborhood. The nonprofit is named for his daughter, Sophie, who has the degenerative disease. Sara, mother to two daughters, was visibly moved by his cause — as was everyone on the set.
Sara, Hosea and chef Kat Turner made it into the entrée round, where they faced a mystery basket of durian, Brussels sprouts on the stalk, whole duck and cotton candy cake. Sara created a stunning dish of cotton candy lacquered duck breast with a durian and coconut demi-glace and Brussels two ways. Judge Chef Tiffani Faison said she was “disappointed — because I’ll never have a better dish on Chopped.” Judge Chef Amanda Freitag commented on Sara’s style of layering flavors and bringing them back around.
Based on the judge’s reactions, it was no surprise to see Sara make it to the final round. But who would she be up against? The judges cut Kat — setting up for another head-to-head battle between Sara and Hosea!
“I know (Hosea) wants redemption — but I’m not ready to give up,” Sara said. “I can taste the victory — it’s right there.”
For the dessert round, the mystery basket ingredients included a dried orange decorated chocolate egg, basil, raw licorice and haggis in a can. Sara’s idea for a Haggis Paris-Brest was an ambitious — a French dessert requiring pastry technique, Sara folded haggis into her choux dough. The donut-shaped pastries came out of the fryer perfectly, then sliced in half with whooped basil cream piped inside and a licorice chocolate glaze on top. The judges commented on Sara’s use of tarragon garnish that echoed the licorice flavor and applauded her skill making the choux. But, they noted for a dessert it could’ve been sweeter.
Hosea had a tough round, struggling with the dough for his tart that ultimately was underbaked. When he was cut, he told the judges that he tells his daughter you have to try even if you may not be successful. He also mentioned how much he admires Sara — at which point she and Scott jump in. Sara shares she and Scott talked, and she is donating her $25,000 to Hosea and his family. “If I can help you and your daughter, that means so much more to me,” she said. Hosea said he was “blown away” by Sara’s generosity.
And so, Sara headed back to Paducah with the title of first ever Chopped Legend — and a full heart.
Photo credit: Jason DeCrow Chopped Legends on The Food Network
