I don’t usually talk about reality shows, but I have to admit that I LOVE Chopped.  The premise of the show features four professional chefs who have to use very “interesting” items to prepare meals that are judged by a panel of celebrity chefs.  The show starts with four contestants, and after each course (appetizer, main and dessert), one contestant is “chopped.”  In the US, the show is hosted by Ted Allen, formerly of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.  Chopped Canada, which premiered on January 2, is hosted by Dean McDermott, perhaps best known as Mr. Tori Spelling.

Trailer/promo for Chopped Canada

Dean is NO Ted.  While Ted is charismatic, Dean is a dud.  As a host, he seemed bored – that he was in it because he had to, not because he wanted to (like a little kid who hates school).  Why did they pick Dean to host, anyway?  Was no one else available?  Perhaps someone from ET Canada (if it had to be someone who already worked with a Shaw program)?  Heck, they could have held a nation-wide search to find a host.  That would be something different from the American version – especially if they found someone female.  And yes, I would have auditioned for that.

As for the show itself, the contestants were okay, even though two of them were fairly forgettable.  The personal chef was definitely the most interesting – he had such an attitude!  I was following several Tweets while I was watching the show, and many mentioned that he was a “personal chef” for a reason – no one wants to work with a chef who is rude like that.  He insulted practically everyone and everything!  His food looked okay, which was probably why he lasted until the dessert round, before getting chopped.  The woman who won, a culinary instructor at Fanshawe, was not the greatest either.  She was a bit…slow (probably because she’s not used to the fast paced environment of restaurants).  The ingredients were also very interesting and included something I’ve never seen before – macaroni and cheese loaf, used in the appetizer round.  It’s not what one might think.  It actually looks like deli meat with macaroni and cheese.  In a loaf.  Gross.  Round two required the use of strawberry milk powder and tofu (and, of course, other ingredients) while the dessert round had Montreal bagels (sweeter than the New York version, according to Dean).

Will I watch again?  Yeah, sure.  Chopped isn’t only about the host, but what the contestants come up with.

Chopped Canada airs on The Food Network Canada Thursday evenings at 10 PM ET.

NOTE: We recap the show weekly.  To read them, please visit here.