Love these food programs especially Chopped!
The reason that they encourage me to create in the kitchen is because on the program Chopped, for instance, they all have to make something out of a whole lot of unusual items that often are not usually seen together in recipes.
Even experienced chefs can find it difficult...they really have to think on their feet, running, so to speak. They only have a half an hour to create something better than their competitors.
Some of them fall down in their lack of added spices. Others are in such a hurry to finish that their creation is literally thrown on the plate at the last minute. Of course they lose on the food presentation side but are commended for finishing the task at hand.
There is drama too when people forget their oil on the stove and it bursts into flame. Must be very stressful to create a unique dish and plate it in half an hour!
This program has taught me to push the bounderies and think outside the box..or basket..in this case!
image credit - my own photo