Food Network to premiere remote island competition ‘Chopped Castaways’
Food Network is taking its longest-running competition franchise to the wild with the premiere of “Chopped Castaways,” an eight-episode series that strands elite chefs on a remote island to battle for a $100,000 grand prize.
The series, hosted by Ted Allen, premieres Tuesday, May 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Unlike the traditional studio-based format, the spin-off requires 12 competitors to rely on survival skills, building their own working kitchens and cooking entirely over open flames.
In this evolution of the “Chopped” formula, contestants must compete in physical challenges—including spearfishing, archery, and ocean diving—to secure their mystery ingredient baskets. The competition begins as a team-based challenge before shifting into an individual battle for survival.
“With ‘Chopped Castaways,’ we take that familiar formula of ingenuity and creativity and push it to the next level,” said Betsy Ayala, President of Food Network. “We are challenging some of the most talented and resourceful chefs to battle the elements and approach the baskets in ways we’ve never seen before.”
Returning to the judges’ table to decide who is “chopped” are culinary staples Maneet Chauhan, Marcus Samuelsson, and Gabe Bertaccini. The judges will evaluate how the chefs adapt their professional techniques to the rugged, outdoor environment.
The series will be available to stream the following day on Max. Fans can follow the competition on social media using the hashtags #Chopped and #ChoppedCastaways for behind-the-scenes content and chef confessionals.
“Chopped Castaways” is produced by Notional LLC for Food Network.
