Chopped - Season 12 (2012)

It's a chocolate lover's dream competition: Chocolate in every course!

Four chefs from the Big Easy take on the challenge of the Chopped Kitchen. Chai tea is among the mystery ingredients.

Fierce competition is a matter of national and personal pride.

The chefs must integrate tiny pasta & a powerful liqueur into their dishes.

Winners of the hit series Food Network Star compete to see who can beam brightest in the Chopped Kitchen!

Part 1 of 5. Four grill masters tackle ingredients ranging from cookies to yak steaks.

Part 2 of 5. Four more master grillers vie for a spot in the finale. They must use Hawaiian blue prawns in their appetizers; boar in their entrées; and Hatch chile taffy, an Italian ingredient, in their desserts.

The chefs' expertise with tuna belly comes into play in the first round.

Part 3 of 5. Grill masters must use creamed spinach and oysters in their appetizers; a topical fruit in their entrées; and marshmallows in their desserts. The winner advances to the $50,000 finale.

Carrot cake and caramel corn are among the mystery ingredients.

Part 4 of 5. Four more pit masters face off for the final spot in the $50,000 finale. Featured ingredients include speculoos, pork butt and fruit leather.

The judges are pleased to see duck confit in the first basket.

Conclusion. The four finalists face off for $50,000 in the final round of the Grill Masters battle. Sardines, canned sloppy-joe filling and steak are among the mystery ingredients.

The competitors must match espresso powder with flank steak.