Food Fighters (TV series)

Last updated
Food Fighters
Logo for TV series "Food Fighters".jpeg
Genre
Created byTim Puntillo
Directed byIvan Dudynsky
Presented by Adam Richman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Silverman
  • Tim Puntillo
  • Chris Grant
  • Jimmy Fox (season 1)
  • Laura Caraccioli (season 2)
  • Jack Martin (co-exec, season 1)
  • Jeff Kmiotek (co-exec, season 2)
Producers
  • Jason Stewart
    (supervising prod., season 1)
  • Jeff Kmiotek
    (supervising prod., season 1)
  • Luke Conklin
    (supervising prod., season 2)
Production location Los Angeles, California
Running time42 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original network NBC
Original releaseJuly 22, 2014 (2014-07-22) 
September 3, 2015 (2015-09-03)

Food Fighters is an American reality based cooking television series hosted by Adam Richman that pits a home chef against five professional chefs in a series of cooking competitions for a chance to win up to $100,000. The series premiered July 22, 2014 on NBC as a summer replacement series. On January 21, 2015, NBC renewed the show for a second season. [1] The second season premiered July 2, 2015 [2] and concluded September 3, 2015. In season one, new episodes aired every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, [3] while in season two new episodes aired every Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Contents

Format

Food Fighters bills itself as "one part cooking competition, one part game show." [4] In each episode, a contestant who is a home-based amateur cook comes to the show with a list of five of their best recipes to prepare on the show. The show is divided into five rounds, one round for each recipe. In each round, a mystery professional chef comes in to challenge the contestant. The chefs are represented as black silhouettes of themselves on a large video screen and on a graphic to the home viewer before being shown. Once the chef is introduced, the contestant chooses one of their recipes to cook against the professional, and they cannot prepare a recipe more than once. The contestant generally attempts to select a recipe that is not in the known style of the chef, as the chef does not know in advance what dish they will be cooking. After a set cooking time (generally varying from 15–25 minutes), the contestant's and the chef's respective recipes are judged by a group of five ordinary food-loving people known as the "Dinner Party" in a blind taste test, who discuss positive and negative aspects of each dish. A majority vote of the Dinner Party determines the winner of the round. Each round that the contestant wins earns them a cash prize. The first round is worth $5,000, the second round is worth $10,000, the third round is worth $15,000, the fourth round is worth $20,000, and the fifth round is worth double the amount of the contestant's previous winnings, making a top possible prize of $100,000. If the chef wins a round, the contestant does not win any money for that round but continues through the entire show. [5] [6] If the contestant does not win any round prior to the final round, that final round will be worth $10,000.

The fifth professional chef that competes is generally a celebrity chef that has frequently appeared on other cooking shows, especially those on Food Network, including Cat Cora, Elizabeth Falkner, Duff Goldman, Lorena Garcia, Jet Tila, and Gerry Garvin. [4] The set of the show is unique from other cooking shows in that it is a two-story set, with the contestant cooking in a kitchen upstairs on an upper level while the chef cooks in a similar kitchen on the lower level. [7] The show also publishes the contestant recipes on their website.

Episodes

Season 1 (2014)

S1E1: Elisha Joyce

Professional ChefsKevin BeltonJonny Giordani Michele Ragussis Marcel Vigneron Lorena GarciaTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesEgg RollsFish TacosMango TartStewed Chicken & RiceSalmon & Quinoa$60,000

S1E2: Kena Peay

Professional ChefsChad WardDaniel ShemtobDeborah BenaimStefan RichterCat CoraTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesTomato Soup & Grilled CheeseMilk & CookiesSpring RollsShrimp Po'boyPan-seared Pork$100,000

S1E3: Annie Smith

Professional ChefsKent RollinsManouschka GuerrierSharone HakmanAntonia LofasoGerry "G" GarvinTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesRaspberry SouffléChicken Pot PieChicken Fettucine AlfredoSweet & Spicy ShrimpSeared Ahi Tuna$90,000

NOTE: In addition to the cash, Annie Smith was given a Tobii eye tracking speech recognition device for her disabled daughter.

S1E4: Nick Evans

Professional ChefsKent RollinsElise WimsVic VegasCasey ThompsonDuff GoldmanTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesChorizo TacosChicken Wings & Dipping SauceMashed Potato PizzaVeggie Burger & ChipsEggs Benedict$70,000

S1E5: Cortney Anderson-Sanford

Professional ChefsHop PhanSarah SimingtonStuart O'KeefeEric GreenspanLorena GarciaTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesFrench Toast w/ FruitAsian SalmonChocolate TartLobster with StuffingBiscuits & Gravy$100,000

S1E6: Jon Coombs

Professional ChefsDaniel ShemtobDevin AlexanderVic VegasEric GreenspanCat CoraTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesScallops & PotatoesMacaroni & CheeseCaribbean ChickenCookie SandwichShrimp & Grits$70,000

S1E7: Melissa Clinton

Professional ChefsJosh StoneManouschka GuerrierMichele RagussisMike BrownJet TilaTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesStuffed Chicken w/ Mashed PotatoesMeatballs w/ RatatouillePork WellingtonChicken Burger & Onion RingsBacon Brownies$50,000

S1E8: Jim Stark

Professional ChefsJosh StoneYaku Moton-SpruillDeborah BenaimMarcel VigneronElizabeth FalknerTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesFried CatfishChocolate CakeSteak w/ Mushroom SauceBaby Back RibsCheesy Polenta$70,000

Season 2 (2015)

S2E1: "I'm Bringing the Spice" — Jacky Herrera

Professional Chefs Ray Lampe Daniel ShemtobStuart O'KeefeDanielle SaundersAntonia LofasoTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesCheese EnchiladasBeef EmpanadasPan-fried SalmonSpicy MeatballsBerry Sponge Cake$50,000

S2E2: "You're in the Big Leagues Now" — Holly Haines

Professional ChefsAlejandra SchraderDaniel ShemtobMichele Ragussis Tiffany Derry Eric GreenspanTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesChicken & WafflesCatfish & HushpuppiesSteak Lettuce Wrap w/ ChimichurriChocolate Cake w/ StrawberriesShrimp & Grits$45,000

S2E3: "This Kid's Got Moves" — Troy Glass

Professional ChefsHop PhanConnie "Lovely" JacksonChris NirschelKeriann Von Raesfeld Rocco DiSpirito Total Winnings
Contestant DishesMac & CheeseChicken Tacos w/ Fresh TortillasBanana Bread & Ice CreamHamburger & FriesFresh Pappardelle w/ Tuna$20,000

NOTE: In addition to the cash, 14-year-old Troy Glass was given a full two-year scholarship to The Culinary Institute of America.

S2E4: "This Cheerleader's Got Game" — Amber MacDonald

Professional ChefsShariff HerndonSarah SimingtonViet PhamBrendan Collins Nadia G. Total Winnings
Contestant DishesChicken & Wine SauceShrimp ScampiS'moresSpaghetti & MeatballsSausage & Peppers Sandwich$70,000

S2E5: "Fighting Fire with Food" — Ryan McKay

Professional ChefsDave MuellerKai KaniJamika Pessoa Brad Miller Lorena GarciaTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesSpicy Chicken WingsChicken EnchiladasCrepes SuzetteSouthern Breakfast BiscuitShepherd's Pie$50,000

S2E6: "Fear My Skills, and My Heels" — Alyssia Birnbaum

Professional Chefs Ronnie Woo Manouschka GuerrierMichele RagussisKatsuji TanabeBrian MalarkeyTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesWalnut BrowniesPasta w/ Mushroom SauceFried Chicken SandwichButternut Squash RavioliFried Mahi Mahi w/ Sauce$35,000

S2E7: "The Lawyer Raises the Bar" — Zac Delap

Professional Chefs Deborah VanTrece Sarah SimingtonSharone HakmanChris Oh Fabio Viviani Total Winnings
Contestant DishesPad ThaiChicken Tikka MasalaChili & CornbreadCookies & Ice CreamAsian Pork Sandwich$60,000

S2E8: "Whiz Kid in the Kitchen" — Danielle McNerney

Professional ChefsDeborah VanTreceAlex WilliamsJamika PessoaKatsuji TanabeDuff GoldmanTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesScallops & CauliflowerPork Chops & ApplesPasta w/ Cream SauceChicken RouladeSteak Tostada w/ Salsa$0

NOTE: When the contestant lost the first four rounds, it was announced that the last match would be for $10,000.
12-year-old Danielle McNerney was given a trip to science camp from Education Unlimited and Sally Ride Science held at Stanford University, [8] and Walmart gave $20,000 to help with her mother's charity.

S2E9: "Home Cook Heavyweight" — Will Spencer

Professional ChefsAlejandra SchraderConnie "Lovely" JacksonKayne RaymondKeriann Von Raesfeld Aaron McCargo, Jr. Total Winnings
Contestant DishesChicken & WafflesSteak & PlantainsShrimp & GritsCrab Cakes w/ RemouladeChicken Curry w/ Rice$35,000

S2E10: "This Soccer Mom Sizzles" — Alice Currah

Professional ChefsStephanie GoldfarbJason FebresDeborah BenaimChris OhMarcel VigneronTotal Winnings
Contestant DishesClams & Curry SauceBlack Cod & BroccoliPumpkin PieChicken Wings & SlawPork Fried Rice$30,000

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References

  1. Bibel, Sara (January 21, 2015). "'Food Fighters' Renewed for Season 2 by NBC". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. Roots, Kimberly (March 26, 2015). "NBC Sets Summer Dates for Game Night, Sweden, Mr. Robinson Debut". TVLine .
  3. Chan, Anna (July 16, 2014). "Top chefs vs. home cooks in new 'Food Fighters'". Today . Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "About Food Fighters & Cast Bios". NBC . Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  5. "NBC's 'Food Fighters' Kicks Off July 22 Pitting Amateur Cooks and Their Signature Dishes Against Top Professional Chefs". TV by the Numbers (Press release). July 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  6. Berkshire, Geoff (July 22, 2014). "'Food Fighters' Review: The TV Dinner of Culinary Contests". Variety . Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  7. Rybolt, Barbara (September 3, 2014). "NBC's 'Food Fighters' pits Millburn High biology teacher against professional chefs". NJ.com . Independent Press. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  8. "Sally Ride Science Camps for Girls — Education Unlimited". Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.