NEW ROUND OF CULINARY MASTERS ENTER THE KITCHEN TO BATTLE IT OUT IN "CHOPPED ALL-STARS"

4th Season of All-Star Tournament Premieres Tuesday, April 28th at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network

Five Episode Competition Includes Biggest Charitable Prize in Chopped History

NEW YORK - March 11th, 2015 - With a $75,000 grand prize for charity on the line, sixteen culinary stars enter the Chopped kitchen for a new round of Chopped All-Stars, premiering Tuesday, April 28th at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network. The five-part competition series, hosted by Ted Allen, includes four chefs going head-to-head each week over three rounds: appetizer, entrée and dessert - as each chef creates a unique and delicious dish using the mystery ingredients within the Chopped basket. The dishes are judged by a rotating roster of Chopped judges, including Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Aarón Sánchez, Chris Santos and Geoffrey Zakarian, to determine which chefs will advance to face off in the finale, with a chance to win the $75,000 grand prize for the charity of their choice.

"In its fourth season, this tournament brings together the most talented group of chefs to compete in the Chopped kitchen for causes that are near and dear to their hearts," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network. "Not only do the chefs put their reputations out there, but with a $75,000 grand prize, these culinary masters don't hold anything back as they compete for their charities."

Visit FoodNetwork.com/Chopped for exclusive video, interviews, photos and more. And join in on the conversation at #Chopped.

Episodes include:

Premiering Tuesday, April 28th at 10pm ET/PT "All-Stars Tournament: Part 1" In this first of four competitions, top talent converges in the Chopped kitchen to fight it out for a spot in the $75,000 finale. And with a former Chopped Grand Champion in the mix, the stage is set for an epic match-up. In the first round, a slimy ingredient gets some disgusted responses from competitors and judges. Then in the entrée round, the beautiful fish in the basket leads the chefs to make a few surprising mistakes. And when the two finalists go in totally different directions in the dessert round, it's up in the air which approach will be more pleasing to the judges. Competitors: Madison Cowan,Eric Greenspan, Brian Malarkey, Art Smith Host: Ted Allen, Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag

Premiering Tuesday, May 5th at 10pm ET/PT "All-Stars Tournament: Part 2" Competing for a spot in the grand finale, four outstanding competitors open the appetizer basket and find a soup and a sour surprise. Then in the entrée round, a cheesy party food must be matched with some expensive offal. And the two All-Stars who make it to the dessert round are challenged to make delicious sweet dishes using a refreshing drink and some airy cookies. Competitors: Anne Burrell, Hung Huynh, Mary Sue Milliken, Dale Talde Host: Ted Allen, Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos

Premiering Tuesday, May 12th at 10pm ET/PT "All-Stars Tournament: Part 3" Four new All-Stars strut into the Chopped kitchen, with sights set on the grand finale. In the first round, a special Spanish meat must be paired with an airy cookie. Then in the entrée round, the All-Stars face a sizeable challenge when they encounter a huge ingredient to butcher and some tiny, sour fruits to tame. And flavored water and clarified butter are part of the culinary puzzle that the last two chefs have to solve as they create desserts. Competitors: Cat Cora, Antonia Lofaso, Michael Psilakis, Marcel Vigneron Host: Ted Allen, Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarón Sánchez, Geoffrey Zakarian

Premiering Tuesday, May 19th at 10pm ET/PT "All-Stars Tournament: Part 4" The judges are curious to see how one famous chef with no competition experience will do in this fierce fight, as the All-Stars open the appetizer baskets and find a succulent seafood and an Asian pastry. Then in the entrée round, there's not enough time to cook a perfect piece of beef in the traditional way, so the chefs get creative, with varying degrees of success. And some fish-shaped snacks meet some crystals that go pop in the dessert round. Competitors: Rocco Dispirito, Jet Tila, Lee Anne Wong, Fabio Viviani Host: Ted Allen, Judges: Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Aarón Sánchez

Premiering Tuesday, May 26th at 10pm ET/PT "All-Stars Tournament: Grand Finale" When the four winning All-Stars return to the Chopped kitchen for the grand finale, the judges are set to enjoy a masterful meal. With $75,000 on the line for somebody's favorite charity, the competitors open the appetizer basket to find something purple and something fishy. Then in a tense entrée round, a seafood tower threatens to topple the competitors' cool. And the two All-Stars who manage to make it to the dessert round must handle a super-hot pepper and conquer a cookie cake before someone is awarded the biggest charitable prize in Chopped history! Host: Ted Allen, Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian

Chopped is produced by Notional Entertainment.

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