Plot Synopsis

Four chefs are each given $25,000 at the start of each episode, and throughout three elimination rounds they bid on items to help themselves or sabotage their opponents. The winning chef takes home whatever money he or she has left at the end of the program. Hosted by Alton Brown, the game opens with a briefcase filled with $100,000 in cash that he splits evenly amongst the four competitors. The chefs then compete in three cooking challenges, as they try to avoid elimination while bidding on, or being the subject of, culinary curveballs, such as incorporating outrageously odd food, doing without a key ingredient, or not being allowed to use utensils or appliances. CUTTHROAT KITCHEN includes challenges like: French toast, with one chef using burnt bread; lobster roll, with one chef not allowed to use utensils; pork chops and applesauce dish -- without the use of pork chops or apples; fish and chips, as one chef is not allowed to use a fryer; tacos, with only one chef using bologna; cheese steak, with one chef bestowing mystery meat on an opponent; cupcakes, with one chef restricted to use a microwave oven; pizza, with one chef using pie crust instead of pizza dough; ravioli, as one chef uses gas-station snack food; hamburgers, with one chef using only a camp stove; grilled cheese, as one chef forces an opponent to use a hand torch; shepherd's pie, as one chef must incorporate beef jerky; an omelet, as one chef uses the underside of a pan; and many more challenges that turn these chefs' worlds upside down while they try to make perfect dishes. CUTTHROAT KITCHEN, hosted by Alton Brown, returned for its fourth season on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network, with an episode, "I Can't Believe It's Not Udder," that featured one chef having his gourmet basket replaced by an old breakfast buffet, while another chef cooks an authentic Pasta Bolognese in an Italian espresso pot. On Sunday, September 21, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT, Food Network aired the Season 5 premiere of CUTTHROAT KITCHEN. In the season opener, "Crabs of Steel," one chef has to step up their game when they're forced to work on a traditional Japanese tea table, while another chef becomes crabby when forced to make a crab cake with a toy crab claw in one hand. Finally, a chef looks for a little R&R as they prepare all their food in a hammock. Season 11 of CUTTHROAT KITCHEN premiered on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT. In the season premiere, "When Cherry Met Salad," three chefs have to make their chopped salads with gardening tools for guest judge Ted Allen. One chef has to use "belly dancing" tools to make their tagine. Finally, one chef has to wear a giant cherry on their head as they make a cherry cobbler.The twelfth season of CUTTHROAT KITCHEN premiered on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network. In the season opener, "Frankly Alton, I Don't Give a Clam," one chef has to prep their biscuits and gravy on a tiny bed they wear on their head, then two chefs have to make linguine and clams while holding a noodle in their mouths between them. Finally, one chef has to make an ice cream float while floating in an inner tube.
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Season 15 of CUTTHROAT KITCHEN premiered on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. In the season opener, "Fry-Day Night Bites," a special big game episode with judge former NFL pro Chad Johnson, football is celebrated as one chef has to cook their loaded nachos on a flaming halftime show stage. Then, one chef has to make fried chicken sandwich wearing a helmet with a football stuck in it. Finally, one chef has to prep their dish in a mini stadium, looking only at a monitor with constantly changing camera angles.