Cutthroat Kitchen

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Cutthroat Kitchen
GenreReality, Cooking
StarringAlton Brown
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
6 aired
No. of episodes72 (through 12/28/14)
Production
Executive producersShauna Minoprio, Julia Cassidy, Michael Davies
Running time60 Minutes
Production companyEmbassy Row
Original release
NetworkFood Network
ReleaseAugust 11, 2013 (2013-08-11) –
present

Cutthroat Kitchen is a reality cooking television show hosted by Alton Brown that premiered on August 11, 2013 on Food Network. It features four chefs competing in a three-round elimination cooking competition. However, the contestants face auctions in which they can purchase opportunities to sabotage each other or benefit themselves. Each chef is given $25,000 at the start of the show; the winner keeps whatever money he/she has not spent in the auctions. The show is in its sixth season as of November, 2014.[1] The series shares some basic elements with the wave of other four-chef three-round elimination-style competitions which began debuting on Food Network around the same time period including Chopped and Guy's Grocery Games.

Format

Each episode of Cutthroat Kitchen features four chefs competing in an elimination-style competition through three rounds. To start, each chef is given $25,000 in cash to use throughout the episode in the show's signature auctions. The last remaining chef after the three elimination rounds wins whatever money they have remaining.

In each round, the chefs are assigned a specific dish to create. The assigned dishes are relatively mundane, such as macaroni and cheese, French toast, or fish and chips. In later seasons, the first two rounds are commonly savory with a dessert for the third round. After the dish is announced, the chefs are given 60 seconds to scour the show's fully stocked pantry for any ingredients they will need to make their dish. Any chefs who fail to leave the pantry before time is up must surrender an ingredient of Brown's choosing. In the rush of the short "shopping" time, chefs occasionally forget key ingredients.

In each of the first two rounds, the host follows the "shopping" time by auctioning off items which the contestants can use to sabotage one or more of their opponents. The highest bidder pays for the item out of their remaining cash and then, if relevant decides who will face the sabotage. This is followed by a timed period (usually 30 minutes) in which the chefs must prepare their dish. Further auction items are sometimes offered during the cooking time, and in the final round, all auction items are offered during the cooking time.

Once the cooking time has expired, any visible indication of the sabotages is removed from the set. The episode's judge is brought out from an isolation room with no knowledge of what has occurred on set. The judge tastes the contestants' dishes and judges them on three criteria: taste, appearance, and whether the dish is reminiscent of the assigned dish. The contestants are given a chance to describe their dishes, but can not reveal the sabotages they faced. They can, however, attempt to justify the cooking choices they made or were forced to make (whether truthfully or otherwise). For example, chefs forced to prepare dishes without knives often suggest their dish is a "rustic" take on the assigned dish; and chefs missing certain ingredients like meats may refer to their dishes as a "lighter" take on the assigned dish. The judge must select one contestant in each round whose dish least satisfies them based on the three criteria. While the chefs are expected to refine the assigned dishes to high culinary standards, creativity can be a double-edged sword. Often, dishes which are too creative are praised for their flavour, but are eliminated because they do not remind the judge of the assigned dish. The eliminated chef returns any remaining cash to the host and leaves with nothing. Upon the third and final elimination, the winning chef take home any cash they have remaining.

The Auctions

The auction "items" are generally represented by a token object, even when the sabotage is not tangible. The auction items are often thematically related to the assigned dish, or are a pun on/inspired by the name of the dish (for example, while cooking red velvet cake, one auction item was a restricted path of velvet ropes). The host often weaves a fictional story around the item being auctioned, suggesting a personal connection. Some auction items have been reused in several episodes. Some items may be used by the winner themselves (often used where the winner has forgotten a key ingredient in the pantry).

The auctions take place in increments of $100, and generally start at either $500 or $1000. However, where only one contestant has any significant cash, the item may be offered at the show's minimum bid of $200.

The auction items are creative and often unique. Some of the common forms of auction items include:

  • Certain ingredients one or more chefs must use. This often includes confiscating a certain key ingredient and replacing it with a less-desirable equivalent in what the production calls a "swap". A "swap and assign" presents the winner with two or three (depending on which round) replacement options for a certain type of ingredient, and allows them to assign one to each of their opponents.
    • A source for obtaining all ingredients that can be used for the dish which replaces the basket of ingredients the chef selected in the shopping round. Examples include a coin-operated vending machine and ingredients harvested from another prepared dish.
  • A replacement prep station that the chef must work on. They are often smaller, unstable, or otherwise more awkward to work on. The stations sometimes include heat sources (such as a hot plate) or other tools which are the only ones the chef may use.
  • A physical restriction, such as one or both hands being partially or entirely restricted from use; or multiple chefs being attached in some manner.
  • An equipment restriction, requiring the chef to do a certain task with certain equipment, or prohibiting the use of some equipment. For example: An unorthodox implement replacing all usual knives and/or hand tools, or a certain unorthodox container being used for all mixing and/or cooking of ingredients.
  • A "time suck": Some task that must be completed that will cause a chef to experience a delay and reduce their available cooking time. This is usually offered mid-round.

Failure to comply with the sabotage conditions can lead to mockery from Brown, a fine, and/or being forced to restart the recipe.[2][3] As of Season 5, one episode has ended in a tie, with both chefs keeping their money. As of Season 6, the winning chef (Kyle Schutte) kept the full $25,000.

Judges

The show's regular judges are Jet Tila, Simon Majumdar, and Antonia Lofaso . Each episode features only one of the show's judges.

Guest judges have included Giada DeLaurentiis, ("The Yolk's on You"), Geoffrey Zakarian ("Well, Hot Clam!"), Jaime Martin Del Campo ("Judging Judges"), Ramiro Arvizu ("Judging Judges"), Daniel Holzman ("Judging Judges"), Sherry Yard ("Judging Judges"), and Valerie Bertinelli ("Who Tarted?").

Special challenges and episodes

In "A Crepe-y Situation," the first viewer-submitted sabotage was used. The same sabotage was also done before contestants got their supplies. The sabotage involved forcing one contestant to shop without a basket.

"Gluttons for Punishment" featured former contestants who lost in earlier episodes looking to redeem themselves.

"Breakfast in Bed" features former champions. It is also known as "Wicked Winners" for the ways the contestants first won.

"Judging Judges" featured the three main judges and Geoffrey Zakarian competing in the same types of competitions similar to regular contestants, with the winnings going to charity. Antonia Lofaso won with $22,000 remaining, which was re-upped to the full $25,000 for her charity. Runners-up Tila, Majumdar & Zakarian each received consolation prizes of $5,000 for their charities.

In October 2014, the show aired a special five-part celebrity tournament subtitled "Superstar Sabotage", with the winning celebrity chef earning up to $75,000 in cash for their favorite charity.[4] In early September, the sixteen chefs involved were announced, the episodes would air on Wednesday instead of the usual Sunday.[5] Those eliminated in the heats were given $2,500 for their charities. In the finals, the contestants were given $50,000 to bid.

In "Crabs of Steel", judge Tila announced a tie between the two chefs in the final round. They both got to keep the money they had left.

In "The Cone Ranger", the winning chef (Kyle Schutte) kept the full $25,000.

The episode "Tiki Torch-ure" contained a corporate sponsored sabotage from Farmers Insurance, where a contestant could insure against a sabotage.

Notable contestants

Production

On April 23, 2013 Food Network announced Cutthroat Kitchen as part of a package of new series to be presented on Food Network.[3][6][7]

Episodes

Season 1

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8]
1 1 Vive Le Sabotage August 11, 2013 KT0104H
2 2 Pork Chops and Sabotage August 18, 2013 KT0103H
3 3 Tac'o the Town August 25, 2013 KT0102H
4 4 Let Them Eat Cupcakes September 1, 2013 KT0105H
5 5 Winner, Winner, Fried Chicken Dinner September 8, 2013 KT0106H
6 6 Wing It September 15, 2013 KT0101H
7 7 Tiny Tools, Big Problems September 22, 2013 KT0107H
8 8 Steak Out September 29, 2013 KT0108H
9 9 Kiss My Grits October 6, 2013 KT0109H
10 10 Humble Pie October 13, 2013 KT0110H
11 11 Un-Holy Trinity October 20, 2013 KT0111H
12 12 Chicken Cordon 'Blue' October 27, 2013 KT0112H
13 13 S'more Sabotage November 3, 2013 KT0113H

Season 2

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8]
14 1 Wham Clam Thank You Ma'am December 15, 2013 KT0201H
15 2 Duck, Duck, Gnocchi December 22, 2013 KT0203H
16 3 Shrimp or Get Off the Pot Sticker December 29, 2013 KT0204H
17 4 The Yolk's on You January 5, 2014 KT0205H
18 5 Cutthroat Kiddy Kitchen January 12, 2014 KT0202H
19 6 Soupsy Daisy January 19, 2014 KT0206H
20 7 A Penny for Your Chocolates January 26, 2014 KT0207H
21 8 A Crepe-Y Situation February 2, 2014 KT0208H
22 9 Melts in Your Pot, Not in Your Hand February 9, 2014 KT0209H
23 10 Foul Play February 16, 2014 KT0210H
24 11 Gluttons for Punishment February 23, 2014 KT0211H
25 12 It's Not Delivery, It's Old Delivery March 2, 2014 KT0212H
26 13 Pressed or Steamed March 9, 2014 KT0213H

Season 3

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/ Production #[8]
27 1 The Kops are coming March 16, 2014 KT0307H
28 2 Breakfast in Bed
Alternate title: Wicked Winners		 March 23, 2014 KT0308H
29 3 Hawaiʻi 5-Oh No! March 30, 2014 KT0309H
30 4 Two Chefs in a Pod April 6, 2014 KT0301H
31 5 Chain of Tools
Original title: Layer, I Hardly Know Her!		 April 13, 2014 KT0302H
32 6 Tso Good April 20, 2014 KT0303H
33 7 The Rice Stuff April 27, 2014 KT0304H
34 8 Ladel-ayheehoo May 4, 2014 KT0305H
35 9 Life's a Mystery... Meat May 11, 2014 KT0306H
36 10 Beating friends, real good May 18, 2014 KT0312H
37 11 Well, Hot Clam! May 25, 2014 KT0311H
38 12 Judging Judges June 1, 2014 KT0310H
39 13 Panini, Meeny, Miny, Moe June 15, 2014 KT0313H

Season 4

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8]
40 1 I Can't Believe It's Not Udder June 22, 2014 KT0401H
41 2 You Wanna Pizza This? June 29, 2014 KT0402H
42 3 Anything But a Cake Walk July 6, 2014 KT0404H
43 4 Big Trouble in Little Chinese Chicken Salad July 13, 2014 KT0403H
44 5 Welcome to the Jungle July 20, 2014 KT0405H
45 6 I Like My Peppers Pulverized July 27, 2014 KT0406H
46 7 Two Chefs, One Toga August 3, 2014 KT0409H
47 8 Ho-Ley Pot August 10, 2014 KT0407H
48 9 Superhero Sabotage August 17, 2014 KT0411H
49 10 The Eggs-Orcist August 24, 2014 KT0408H
50 11 When in Rome, Cook on a Scooter August 31, 2014 KT0410H
51 12 Chili'd to the Bone September 7, 2014 KT0412H
52 13 Tongue Thai-ed September 14, 2014 KT0413H

Season 5

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8] U.S. viewers
53 1 Crabs of Steel September 21, 2014 KT0501H 1,330,000[9]
54 2 Tos-ta-da! September 28, 2014 KT0502H 1,194,000[10]
55 3 SaBOOOtage
(Halloween Special)		 October 5, 2014 KT0504H 1,697,000[11]
56 4 Superstar Sabotage: Heat One October 8, 2014 KT0507H 1,418,000[12]
57 5 Here's Looking at You, Squid October 12, 2014 KT0503H 1,312,000[13]
58 6 Superstar Sabotage: Heat Two October 15, 2014 KT0509H 1,069,000[14]
59 7 Chip Off the Ol' Baklava October 19, 2014 KT0508H 954,000[15]
60 8 Superstar Sabotage: Heat Three October 22, 2014 KT0510H 1,223,000[16]
61 9 The Undertater October 26, 2014 KT0512H 1,266,000[17]
62 10 Superstar Sabotage: Heat Four October 29, 2014 KT0511H 1,081,000[18]
63 11 With a Chariot on Top November 2, 2014 KT0601H 1,019,000[19]
64 12 Superstar Sabotage: Finale November 5, 2014 KT0513H 981,000[20]
65 13 Empanada Chance November 9, 2014 KT0602H 1,210,000[21]

Season 6

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8] U.S. viewers
66 1 Thanks, But No Thanksgiving November 16, 2014 KT0505H 1,331,000[22]
67 2 In It to Twin It November 23, 2014 KT0603H 1,162,000[23]
68 3 S'Mortal Combat November 30, 2014 KT0604H 1,207,000[24]
69 4 Sabotage is Comin' to Town
(Christmas Special)		 December 7, 2014 KT0506H 1,300,000[25]
70 5 When Pigs Fry December 14, 2014 KT0605H 1,277,000[26]
71 6 I Would Do Anything for Loaf December 21, 2014 KT0607H 1,029,000[27]
72 7 The Cone Ranger December 28, 2014 KT0610H 1,342,000[28]
73 8 The Long Tools and Shortcake Of It January 4, 2015 KT0609H 1,480,000[29]
74 9 Tiki Torch-ure January 11, 2015 KT0611H 1,171,000[30]
75 10 Baby Got Backpack January 18, 2015 KT0612H 1,376,000[31]
76 11 The Supper Bowl January 25, 2015 KT0608H 1,177,000[32]
77 12 Who Tarted? February 1, 2015 KT0702H
78 13 Alton and the Chocolate Factory February 8, 2015 KT0606H

Season 7

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Episode Title Original Air Date Episode/Production #[8]
79 1 Whatcoo Taco'ing About, Alton? February 15, 2015 KT0701H
80 2 Gno-cchi to Victory February 22, 2015 KT0613H
81 3 You're Bacon Me Crazy March 1, 2015 KT0703H
82 4 Whisk-ey Business March 8, 2015 KT0704H
83 5 Scone Home March 15, 2015 KT0705H
84 6 Great Egg-scape March 22, 2015 KT0706H
85 7 You're All Up Bahn Mi March 29, 2015 KT0707H
86 8
87 9
88 10
89 11
90 12
91 13

References

  1. ^ "Cutthroat Kitchen Episodes". Food Network. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  2. ^ "Food Network: Cutthroat Kitchen". Food Network. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b "No-Mercy Culinary Antics to Take Over Alton Brown's Cutthroat Kitchen". Food Network Via FN Dish Blog. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  4. ^ http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/food-network-adds-valerie-bertinelli-project-to-daytime-lineup/
  5. ^ Top-Notch Chefs to Turn Evilicious in Cutthroat Kitchen’s First Superstar Sabotage Tournament
  6. ^ "Food Network Announces New Series for 2013". Food Network Gossip. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Cutthroat Kitchen To Premiere August 11th". Food Network Gossip. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Food Network: Cutthroat Kitchen Episode Guide". Retrieved 12 October 2014 Cite error: The named reference "Cutthroat Kitchen Episode Guide" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.21.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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  12. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.8.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  13. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.12.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  14. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.15.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  15. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.19.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  16. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.22.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  17. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.26.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  18. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.15.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  19. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.2.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  20. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.5.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  21. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.2.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  22. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.16.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  23. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.23.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  24. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.30.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  25. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 12.7.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  26. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 12.14.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  27. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 12.21.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  28. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 12.28.2014". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  29. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 1.4.2015". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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  32. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 1.25.2015". Retrieved 30 January 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cutthroat_Kitchen&oldid=645549658"