Host Lara Spencer is at the Torrance Farmers' Market with "Burger Boys" Aaron and Christian and private chefs Leo and Suzanne. Both teams are given $200 and 30 minutes to shop for their farm-fresh ingredients, before hitting the pop-up kitchen. Aaron and Christian hope their handcrafted burger will win over the crowd, while Leo and Suzanne are betting that their Asian-inspired menu will be the crowd favorite, winning them the $5,000 prize.
It's a sunny day at the Pasadena Farmer's Market, where well-seasoned chefs Jodie Taffel and Jennifer Vela cook off against the young guns Ben Diaz and Ivo Knehnetsky. First, these chefs pucker up and sample classic Californian citrus in the Flavor of the Market Challenge. Then, they must Feed the Market by creatively revamping a Southern California staple - avocado!
The Alhambra Farmer's Market is buzzing with eager customers, who are drawn to the wide variety of fresh ingredients at this Asian-American hot spot. Here, food truck masters Severin Stone and Matthew Lipert compete against restaurant owner Rosie O'Conner and caterer Xiomara Hall. In the Flavor of the Market challenge, both teams must highlight an unfamiliar ingredient, bok choy. Then it's time to Feed the Market by using bamboo steamers! Can the comfort food kings win over the Farmer's Market customers, or will they be defeated by the spicy Latinas who bring the heat?
With the sun shining and waves crashing, the Redondo Beach Farmers' Market does not disappoint. High-strung chefs Mick Brown and Jennifer Gold compete against level-headed professionals Jason Fullilove and Aron Habiger for a chance to win $5,000. These two teams must flip a seemingly undesirable "catch" into mouthwatering masterpieces during the Flavor of the Market challenge. Then it's time to Feed the Market by creating Surf 'n' Earth inspired meals.
We're at the bustling Irvine Farmers' Market, the largest farmers' market in Orange County, CA. Chefs Jose Vazquez and Shruti Patel face-off against vegan chefs Nicole Derseweh and Janett Flores for a chance to win $5,000. In the Flavor of the Market challenge, the teams strive to make colorful cauliflower appetizing to the discriminating taste buds of a pint-sized critic and her mother. Then, in the Feed the Market challenge, the chefs appeal to the masses with original dishes using the secret ingredient: Kettle Corn.
In the seaside community of Channel Islands, California, chefs Hugo Miranda and Ben Diaz take on Penny Davidi and Michele Ragussis for the $5,000 prize. For the Flavor of the Market challenge, teams must transform a Strawberry Festival favorite, strawberry shortcake or strawberry funnel cake, creating an entirely new dish that will surprise and delight third-generation strawberry farmer Jason Tamai. In Feed the Market, the chefs must create original dishes highlighting seafood they buy right off the dock.
We're in Torrance, CA, where chefs Cory Rapp and Patrick Ruiz square off against chefs Khristianne Uy and Charleene Caabay for the $5,000 prize. In the Flavor of the Market challenge, the teams transform beef or spinach and kale empanadas, creating an entirely new dish that appeals to empanada baker Paulina Campos Guzman. Then, they Feed the Market with original dishes using either fresh or roasted corn.