Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Eric Adjepong, each one-hour episode of ALEX VS AMERICA features three culinary superstars competing over two rounds against one another as well as against Chef Alex Guarnaschelli. These competitors hail from different states, but they all share the same mastery of a specific ingredient or dish -- one that they have spent endless hours in their own kitchens perfecting -- and which is now tested in an effort to take down Alex. At the start of each battle, Alex and the competitors learn what the challenge will be, with the chefs having the ability to work together in selecting variables for their dishes as well as the amount of time they give themselves and Alex to cook with. Each finished plate undergoes a blind tasting, with only the top three chefs advancing and the least successful from the challenge being immediately sent home, even if it is Alex. In the end, it all comes down to what's on the plate. Will the final two chefs outcook and outshine Alex, earning bragging rights over an award-winning Iron Chef? Or will Alex's legendary winning streak continue, sending all the ambitious competitors home with nothing but their disappointment?

On Christmas Day 2021 (Saturday, December 25), discovery+ released a sneak peek of the first episode, "Alex vs Shellfish," ahead of the official series premiere on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network. In the premiere episode, "Alex vs Shellfish," three shellfish experts challenge Alex in two intense rounds of cooking. Hailing from Hawaii, Louisiana, and Maine, these chefs are betting their skills with shellfish can give them a chance at beating Chef Alex. In round one, the chefs seal their fate by choosing the variables they and Alex will cook with. The chefs advance to the second round only if they can defeat Alex. In another episode, Alex goes head-to-head against three chocolatiers to create sweet and decadent desserts. And it gets hot in the arena when Eric Adjepong welcomes three spice experts to attempt to take on Alex. Their strategy picking ingredients could help them succeed, but will it be enough to wow the judges with their unique take on spice and go home with the win?

ALEX VS. AMERICA returned for its second season on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 10pm-Midnight ET/PT on Food Network. In each one-hour episode, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli simultaneously takes on three talented and brave chefs from across the United States -- all experts in the same culinary specialty. Chef Eric Adjepong returns to host Alex and the competitors in two rounds of challenges that put their culinary specialty skills to the test as they attempt to defeat Alex for ultimate bragging rights and a cash prize. Will the competitors prevail at beating Alex in her own arena or will she send all the ambitious chefs home with nothing but their disappointment? At the start of each battle, Eric Adjepong presents Alex and the competitors with the culinary theme for their dishes. In the first round, the competitors can work together to select ingredients and even decide how much time goes on the clock. Each dish undergoes a blind tasting from two judges well-versed in the episodic theme. Only the top three chefs advance to the next round, with the least successful challenger sent home, even if it is Alex. The chef who wins the first round earns the right to select all the variables for the second culinary challenge, with the remaining chefs' final plates determining who comes out on top. During the season Alex and the formidable competitors are faced with creating masterful dishes from varying culinary disciplines, including French cuisine, dessert, vegetarian, modernist cuisine and more. Season 2 opens with back-to-back new episodes.

Season 3 of ALEX VS. AMERICA debuted on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. At the start of each battle, host Eric Adjepong returns to present Alex and the competitors with the culinary theme for their dishes. In the first round, the competitors can work together to select ingredients and even decide how much time goes on the clock. Each dish undergoes a blind tasting from two judges well-versed in the episodic theme, with only the top three chefs advancing to the next round and the least successful challenger sent home -- even if it is Alex. The chef who wins the first round earns the right to select all the variables for the second culinary challenge, with the remaining chefs' final plates determining who comes out on top, winning bragging rights and a cash prize. In the season opener, "Alex vs James Beard Winners," host Eric Adjepong welcomes three powerhouse James Beard-winning chefs from Illinois, Georgia and California to the arena. These chefs know Alex Guarnaschelli personally, and they're ready to show off how they won one the most prestigious culinary awards in America. Iconic judges Stephanie Izard and Kwame Onwauchi determine which chef can dominate the competition in an emotional two rounds of impressive cooking.
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The fourth season of ALEX VS. AMERICA debuted on Sunday, July 14, 2024 on 9pm ET/PT on Food Network. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli returns with more intense culinary battles in Season 4. In each episode, host Eric Adjepong invites three talented chefs from across the United States who share the same mastery of a specific culinary genre to battle it out in two rounds of intense cooking challenges where anyone can be sent home -- even Alex. This season features chefs with even more culinary credentials and notoriously extreme cuisines, meaning Alex must bring her A-game to land on top against her ambitious challengers. With ultimate bragging rights and $15,000 on the line, the chefs will put their specialty skills to the test to see if they have what it takes to beat the best.

In the season premiere, "Alex vs Iron Chefs," Alex competes against her longtime friends and fiercest rivals -- fellow Iron Chefs Michael Symon, Stephanie Izard and Jose Garces in an intense and emotional two-round showdown for the ages. Eric invites the trio of Iron Chefs to face their fellow Iron Chef in an intense and emotional two-round battle for supremacy. Then, Alex must impress more Iron Chefs as judges Simon Majumdar and Geoffrey Zakarian determine who dominates the competition.

Alex tackles other formidable challenges throughout the season, including a risky rice battle, Japanese cuisine - a skillset out of her comfort zone, and one of her most personal face-offs against fellow New York City restaurateurs. Some of the elite judges appearing this season are Esther Choi, Leah Cohen, Duff Goldman, Antonia Lofaso, Simon Majumdar, Marcus Samuelsson, Jet Tila, BOBBY'S TRIPLE THREAT Titans Brooke Williamson and Michael Voltaggio, Geoffrey Zakarian, Claudette Zepeda and even Alex's CIAO HOUSE co-host Gabe Bertaccini, and more.