Supermarket superstars
Top culinary talent competes in Flavortown Market
Even pro chefs need to shop for groceries. They’re no strangers to the produce section or the express lane of the local supermarket, but do they have what it takes to make it through Flavortown Market?
That’s the question that “Guy’s Grocery Games: Superstars” tries to answer. The very special tournament has assembled some top-tier culinary talent — most of whom should look familiar — to face off in a very special competition overseen by the always-energetic Guy Fieri.
The tournament is already well under way, with two chefs eliminated — but that leaves six still standing in the new episode airing Sunday, Sept. 3, on Food Network. For their first challenge in Guy’s very special supermarket, the chefs are all given identical shopping lists to cook with. Once their shopping is done, they pair up in head-to-head culinary battles, with the losers of each of the duels heading into Guy’s Redemption Round.
After the bottom three attempt to turn a tiramisu’s ingredients into a tasty entrée, one of them is sent home, leaving only five chefs standing for next week’s semifinals.
But just who are the chefs who are competing, anyways? They’re pretty much a who’s who of Food Network’s top talent. Iron Chef and regular “Chopped” judge Alex Guarnaschelli, frequent “Cutthroat Kitchen” judge Jet Tila, “Food Network Star” winners Damaris Phillips and Justin Warner, “Chopped” judges Maneet Chauhan and Marc Murphy, and Bravo’s “Top Chef: All Stars” winner Richard Blais all compete, along with frequent Food Network judge and guest star Eric Greenspan.
By the time the finale rolls around, airing Sunday, Sept. 17, their numbers will have been whittled down to just four. Naturally, Guy Fieri won’t be taking it easy on them; he has some of his most diabolical supermarket-based challenges ever in store. For these chefs, though, the challenge is worth it: the ultimate winner earns $40,000 for a charity of his or her choice, not to mention the bragging rights that come with beating out some of the most competitive chefs on television.