Chopped After Hours - Season 2

After hours, the judges transform Chopped mystery baskets into winning dishes! In round one, vegan lobster sends fear through their hearts, until Ted Allen initiates a friendly game of vegan-meat basketball. In round two, Ted shows his ingenious invention: the "tempura chocolate sandwich cookie." Finally, Geoffrey Zakarian rewards three superbly unusual desserts in round three with seriously strong mystery basket mixed drinks.

When the Chopped competitors leave, the judges stay behind in the kitchen after hours to take on the very same chaotic combinations. Dough flies in round one as Geoffrey Zakarian races to reinvent the calzone and Maneet Chauhan accepts a lucrative bet from Ted Allen. Entrees get fratty in round two as Chris Santos indulges in collegiate amounts of cheese, while Marc Murphy shows his range by sinking pong shots across the kitchen. Marcus Samuelsson and Amanda Freitag manage to conjure up confections from poultry in round three, but Aaron Sanchez's toasted spices take the cake.

After hours, the Chopped judges leave their comfy seats to take over the stoves and demonstrate how brilliantly a basket can be transformed. Leftover Thanksgiving turkey becomes moist finger food and Latin American cuisine in a stunning round one, despite the presence of some angry birds. Round two brings out the mother in Marc Murphy, who makes quick work of carrot baby food and offers wine bottles to the competition as they speedily plate. The final sitcom-themed showdown boasts nostalgia-inducing flavors and unheard-of combos that may well become future staples.

It's total anarchy in the Chopped Kitchen when the judges cook after hours and must make use of a dreaded orange powder packet! Aaron Sanchez is prepared for smooth sailing, but will the orange powder leave the others feeling like fish out of water? In round two, the judges share their secrets for making London broil tender in just half an hour. And finally, the judges are the three-ring leaders of a circus-themed round three, with desserts so good they leave Ted Allen skipping numbers in the final countdown!

The judges get their chance to get their hands on the basket ingredients, after hours! Amanda Freitag finds herself in a bit of a pickle in round one, while Alex Guarnaschelli keeps the fryer in business and Marc Murphy manages to find the time to sip wine and shoot the breeze with Ted Allen. Then in round two, Geoffrey Zakarian takes a raw route with some holiday beef tenderloin. Finally, the women of the chopping block have round three in the bag -- the wine-filled bag that is!

After a long day of critiquing food, the Chopped judges love nothing more than to whip up their own motley masterpieces after hours. In round one, Geoffrey Zakarian's secret love of potato crisps emerges in the form of dance, and Maneet Chauhan and Alex Guarnaschelli's boozy dishes only loosen him up further. In a truly bizarre round two, pork bung inspires Aaron Sanchez's new line of breathing apparatuses and plenty of generous seasoning. Marc Murphy does his best to sabotage others in the last round, but Maneet is determined to make the best dessert.