Chopped goes extreme with Alton’s Maniacal Baskets

For some chefs, Alton Brown could strike fear when his cutting remarks fly in the kitchen. On the new Chopped Alton’s Maniacal Baskets, the extreme ingredients might make chefs weak in the knees. Could there be crying in the Food Network kitchen?

Brown is a Food Network legend. While his strong opinions might have been too direct for his role as mentor on Worst Cooks in America, the reality is that his vast food and cooking knowledge is perfect for Chopped. If the chefs were wary of Martha Stewart in the kitchen, these mystery baskets will be at a whole other level.

Brown shared the following commentary on the upcoming new competition. “When the Chopped producers said they wanted to ask my fans for basket suggestions, I knew we were in for a wild ride. But I wasn’t prepared for this. No-one, is prepared for this. Honestly, in this case ‘maniacal’ is a soft, fuzzy puppy compared to this stuff. It’s just…wrong.”

Although the clues to these potential basket ingredients have not been revealed, just this description will have Food Network fans ready to watch and watch again.

What can fans expect on Chopped Alton’s Maniacal Baskets?

According to the Food Network, this version of Chopped will be far different from the combinations scene in cooking competition. While there will be the traditional three rounds of appetizers, entrée and dessert, the ingredients may not fit those traditional concepts. The idea is to stump the chefs and push their ability to adapt.

Given Brown’s vast food knowledge, it will be interesting to see what he and his fans reveal. Although there is always a riddle to solve in each Chopped basket, only the most adept chefs can follow the clues.

One of the reasons why Chopped has been so successful is because of the infinite amount of food combinations. From baskets filled with offal to re-purposing leftovers, the chefs never never what to expect when the baskets are revealed.

In addition, these themed shows bring excitement to culinary competition that has had so many seasons. While the format may not change and the ice cream machine is still lurking in the corner, a little twist or turn can make the show seem almost new.

Chopped Alton’s Maniacal Baskets premieres on Food Network, Tuesday June 22 and episodes will be available on discovery+. 16 chefs will compete for the ultimate championship title over a series of challenges and episodes.

What ingredients would you like to see on this version of Chopped? Is there any ingredient that should never be included in the basket?