Chopped on Food Network

Official Summary: In each episode, four chefs compete in a three-round contest, where they attempt to incorporate unusual combinations of ingredients into dishes that are later evaluated by a panel of three judges.   At the beginning of each round , the chefs are each given a basket containing four mystery ingredients and are expected to use all of them in some way. Although failing to use an ingredient is not an automatic disqualification, the judges do take such omissions into account when making their decisions.  The ingredients are often not commonly prepared together. The competitors are given access to a pantry and refrigerator stocked with a wide variety of other ingredients.
          Each round has a time limit, typically 20 minutes for Appetizer, and 30 minutes each for Entrée and Dessert.  The chefs must cook their dishes and complete four platings before time runs out. Once time has expired, the judges critique the dishes based on presentation, taste and creativity and select one chef to be "chopped" - eliminated from the competition with no winnings. Ted Allen reveals the judges' decision by lifting a cloche on their table to show the losing chef's dish, and one of the judges comments on the reason for their choice to the eliminated chef.
          In the Dessert round, the judges consider not only on the dishes created by the two chefs during that round, but also their overall performance throughout the competition. The winner typically receives $10,000.

ALNM rec: I have a problem with this show and that problem is that I CANNOT stop watching it.  If I turn this show on, the chances are, it’s during a marathon on Food Network and I can’t stop watching it.  When I was in the hospital for all that time, recovering from surgery, my nurses would tell me I would fall asleep with this show on my TV.  I don’t know what it is about the Food Network shows that are so addicting, but there’s definitely something there. If you’re a fan of Food Network, you’re probably already familiar with Ted Allen and all his friends that frequently judge Chopped, but did you know that Hulu recently put the entire series on the streaming network?  That’s right - all 35 seasons; all 470 episodes. In addition to watching and recording those marathons each week on Food Network, you can also watch it from the beginning on Hulu or watch recent episode on the Food Network app.  If you need a day to veg out (no pun intended), this is the perfect bingeable show!

by Christina

Admin Update: Comments section on poll closed due to lack of civil discourse.

Here's the new poll.  The rules are as follows:

• Voting is limited by one vote per IP address every three hours.
• Due to their lead in the last poll, Newtmas has a 5% advantage that will be added at the conclusion of the poll.
• Voting ends 11:59PM PST on March 31st with results being blinded 24 hours prior.
• The winner will be announced on the episode of the podcast posted April 2nd.

​Be nice.  Please.

by Christina

Admin Note: This poll is being shut down due to wank and the lovely anonymous hate messages I've been receiving.  Please find the new poll here with brand new rules to try to resolve many of the issues we have seen raised: http://www.alnmpodcast.com/articles/ship-bracket-new-championship-poll

Admin Note: Be nice to each other please. We have not seen any evidence of bot activity in this poll. I have seen a vote buying website providing unsolicited advertisement, but I have yet to see anyone actively promoting it. Ships having alliances is also not cheating. So, instead of negativity, let’s all share WHY you love your ship. Good luck!

Poll closes on March 26th at 12PM PST.  Like last year, results will become hidden starting at Midnight Sunday night with the winner announced on the next episode of the podcast on Monday night.  Shortly after we release the episode, results will be made visible again.

Have fun!

Championship time!  Poll opens at 4PM PST.

Santa Clarita Diet
Premiere Date: March 23, 2018
Streaming Service:Netflix

Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star in this Netflix-original series as married realtors, Sheila and Joel, who are living a quiet life, raising their teenage daughter in Santa Clarita, Calif. Their world unexpectedly changes when Sheila goes through a dramatic transformation that sends her down a road of death and destruction -- but leaves her looking and feeling better than ever. Barrymore and Olyphant also serve as executive producers, alongside showrunner and creator Victor Fresco ("Better Off Ted").

I’m posting this because, if I’m going to cry my way through this on a Monday morning, so are you all.

Available for purchase here: https://atlantic.lnk.to/FoundTonightlt

A portion of the proceeds benefit the March For Our Lives Iniative.

​by Christina

Admin edit: Just a quick reminder to be nice to each other (and us).

Polls close on March 22nd at 12PM PST.  Have fun!