"CHOPPED" HEADS WEST IN FIVE-PART "GRILL MASTERS" SUMMER BATTLE

Premieres Sunday, July 22nd at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network

NEW YORK - June 18, 2012 - Food Network blows the roof off Chopped, traveling to the Arizona desert for a special five-part themed Chopped: Grill Masters premiering Sunday, July 22nd at 10pm ET/PT. Over five-weeks based outside at the nostalgic Old Tucson Studios, sixteen grilling professionals from around the country face off in this captivating Wild West showdown. The stage is set for the ultimate culinary feud with Chopped favorites Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Aarón Sánchez at the judging table, and astonishing mystery ingredients and tremendously talented competitors. One chef from each preceding duel makes it to the final fiery face-off, and when the dust clears, the greatest grilling pro of all walks away with a $50,000 grand prize.

Episodes include:

Premiering Sunday, July 22nd at 10pm ET/PT - SEASON PREMIERE! "Grill Masters: Part 1" Fire up the grills, y'all! In this first-of-its-kind Chopped grilling tournament, the competition heads west for a fierce, five-part showdown for a $50,000 grand prize. In the appetizer round, the first four grill masters are faced with preparing a dish using cookies and yak steaks. Then, a giant surprise awaits the competitors in the entrée basket, and in the dessert duel, chocolate meets fruit for a showdown not to be missed. Competitors: Ray Lampe (Florida), Jennifer Duncan (Arizona), Tom Duncan (Arizona), Galen Zamarra (New York City) Judges: Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy, Aarón Sánchez

Premiering Sunday, July 29th at 9pm ET/PT "Grill Masters: Part 2" Four more master grillers step up to the challenge for a chance to compete in the finale. In the first round, the chefs must hatch a successful meal plan using chile taffy and Hawaiian blue prawns found in the basket. Then, after the remaining competitors serve up their rack of boar entrées, the judges debate the relative complexity of flavors in the three dishes. Some delicious Italian surprises await the finalists, but perfect desserts will be difficult to execute in a windy and intense final round. Competitors: Sam Choy (Hawaii), Nicole Davenport (Texas), Carey Bringle (Tennessee), Dushyant Singh (Arizona)

Premiering Sunday, August 5th at 9pm ET/PT "Grill Masters: Part 3" Advancing past the first round for these four masters of the open flame will require a lot of hard work in just 20 minutes, including opening oysters and defrosting blocks of creamed spinach. Then, a tropical fruit lightens things up in the entree basket. With marshmallows in the dessert basket, s'mores comes to mind for the last two chefs, but only one masters the campfire-inspired creation. Competitors: Robyn Lindars (Florida), Timothy Grandinetti (North Carolina), Ernest Servantes (Texas), Doug Keiles (New Jersey)

Premiering Sunday, August 12th at 9pm ET/PT "Grill Masters: Part 4" The final four grill masters face off for the last slot in the finale. When they see speculoos in the first basket, some competitors might lose their cool. Then in the entrée round, the contestants strive to make pork butt dishes while also including fruit leather. When the two remaining chefs open up the last basket and find every meat-lovers worst nightmare, they must attempt to put their feelings aside and grill up some terrific desserts. Competitors: Chad Ward (Florida), Kent Rollins (Texas), Corinne Trang (Connecticut), Rick Browne (Washington)

Premiering Sunday, August 19th at 9pm ET/PT "Grill Masters: Finale" The champions of the first four competitions cowboy up to compete for the $50,000 prize in the grand finale. The fierce fight to the finish begins with an appetizer basket full of sardines and canned Sloppy Joe filling. The three remaining chef must serve up steaks in the entrée round, but it is the relative success the chefs have with the other ingredients that gives the judges lots to think about. Then, the final two chefs draw from family memories when they open up the last basket and must grill some do-or-die desserts. Competitors: Prior episode winners

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