Chopped - Season 27 (2016)

Chinese New Year is celebrated in the kitchen, during rounds that feature a favorite dish of Americans, a giant fish, an oversized cookie and a strawberry-flavored treat.

Competing tailgaters are less than thrilled with the presence of a vegetarian patty in their appetizer baskets. Later, cheese and sausage are the mandatory entrée ingredients; and a sweet and salty treat needs to be transformed for the win.

Bacon is featured in each round, beginning with an appetizer basket containing banana jam. Later, the all-male chefs are challenged to use a weird ice cream and some lovely greens in their entrée dishes.

Aphrodisiacs are in all the baskets. In the appetizer round, some chefs are turned off by oysters; the judges aren't happy, when some sexy ingredients are left in the pan and don't make it to their plates; and two premade desserts could be a trap.

Four former runners-up return. The appetizer challenge includes a shocker of a protein and some sweet jam; sugar (cheesecake) and spice (garam masala) are in store for the chefs in the entrée round.

Caribbean cuisine is prepared by the competing chefs. Included: a setback occurs while making shrimp appetizers; the basket ingredients inspire laborious entrée plates; desserts are created with sweet potatoes and rum.

Chefs at truck stops compete in a battle full of comfort food. Included: meatloaf mix and fennel are the appetizer ingredients; entrees must include a purple veggie and a sweet drink; and the challenge is to transform apple pie in the dessert round.

The competing chefs aren't happy with a slimy surprise in the appetizer baskets. Later, the judges are eager to taste Cornish hen entrees; and are curious about a bold choice made with a nostalgic treat in the dessert round. Judges: Maneet Chauhan; Aarón Sánchez and Chris Santos.

Four college kids, with solid pedigrees in cooking, try to make the grade, beginning in the appetizer round, when they face turning chicken and tomato soup into something worthy of an "A". Later, a hot drink and frozen side dish show up in the entrée round; and desserts are created using a tropical fruit and tasty topping.

A certain fun food is wrapped in bacon in the appetizer round; pork and noodle entrees are presented to the judges; and one of the final chefs goes bold, when making dessert.