2. Even after 200 episodes, Ted Allen still practices his lift to make sure he gets it just right.
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3. Culinary producer Sara Hormi chooses theingredients for each challenge.
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She purposely creates each basket with a problem in mind, such as a protein that might not cook in time, a strong ingredient that could overpower the others, or maybe one that is unfamiliar.
4. Ted Allen has a cubby designed specifically for his drinks. It’s labeled “TED ALLEN DRINKS ONLY.”
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6. Once a contestant is chopped, they are forced to walk down the notorious orange-lined hallway.
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7. There is a specific room the contestants go in to get interviewed once they get chopped or become the Chopped champion. It is usually equipped with a box of tissues.
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10. The least used objects in the kitchen are the sous vide machine and the immersion circulator.
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11. Producers ask the contestants the same questions over and over again in front of the camera.
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12. Comments by the judges after each round take about 90 minutes, while on screen we’re only shown about 30 seconds worth.
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13. The judges preview the food before they eat and judge, and make their decision based on that first impression.
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16. Sometimes Ted and the judges eat at the contestant’s restaurants, regardless of whether they won or not.
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