Ted checks in with contestant Mina Newman on Food Network’s chef-competition show “Chopped.” Photo courtesy Food Network.

It’s time for season two of ‘Chopped’!

The second season of “Chopped” is underway, so don’t miss a whole new batch of chefs as they confront the most baffling baskets of mystery ingredients yet—and every week, one of them takes home the $10,000 prize. All of your favorite judges return, along with a few special guests, at 10 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays.

Click here for a full schedule. Check out Ted’s blog for the inside scoop on the second season.

Watch Ted on ‘The Best Thing I Ever Ate’

Where does Ted eat on his downtime? Find out his favorite restaurant for brick-oven pizza, and where he goes for divine BBQ. The new Food Network series lets you in on amazing treats and eats around the country by asking food pros for their very faves. Ted shares his in five of the 10 episodes this summer.

New episodes air at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays. To catch Ted, tune into the episodes “Totally Fried,” “BBQ,” “With Bacon,”  “Pizza” and “Wake Up Call.” Click here for an episode guide.

Meet Ted on the Robert Mondavi wine tour

This summer Ted will be travelling around the country again with the Robert Mondavi Discover Wine tour. Robert Mondavi, the legendary American vintner, passed away last May at the age of 94. This year’s tour will honor Mr. Mondavi’s passion for wine education and integrating wine, food and the arts as a part of gracious living. Ted will travel to festivals in Dallas, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta. Come out to enjoy wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, music, and the opportunity to see Ted live and get some tips on food, wine and entertaining.

In each city, five contest winners and their guests will be invited to a private wine and food pairing lesson with Ted, a VIP cocktail reception, and will also receive a cookbook and apron autographed by Ted and a mixed case of Robert Mondavi Private Selection.

To enter the contest, send in your burning questions about food and wine, along with a description of why you want to Discover Wine with Ted Allen, to www.discover-wine.com.  The winning questions will be selected by Ted and a panel of experts, and these questions will be answered at the festival.

Wine and dancing in Atlantic City

Learn about California wines with Ted at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, and then stick around for a beach soiree packed with food stars. At the first event, you will learn about the diverse wine regions of California, and the soils, climates and techniques that create its many varieties of fine wine. Ted will be your host, as you explore the unique flavors of one of the most diverse wine regions on the planet. Later that evening, come to Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar to mingle with Ted and culinary creators Guy Fieri, Ingrid Hoffman, Duff Goldman and Emeril Lagasse. There will be food, drinks and dancing, and don’t miss the 11 p.m. toast.

Wine garden: A California wine tour with Ted Allen

4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009

Bally’s Atlantic City, Dennis Court at Bally’s

Reserve tickets.

Malibu Rum beach soirée

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009

Bally’s Atlantic City, Bikini Beach Bar

Reserve tickets.

News & events

Upcoming TV appearances

“Chopped,” Food Network
10 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays; click for complete schedule

“Food Detectives,” Food Network
Click for schedule

“Queer Eye,” Fine LIving
9 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays and 5 p.m. ET/PT weekdays; click for complete schedule

Recent media

“Grilled: James Beard Awards 2009”
May 4, 2009, New York Metromix.com

“Ted Allen dines out for life”
Apr. 30, 2009, Advocate.com

“A celebrity chef’s pantry picks”
Apr. 14, 2009, AM New York

“Ted Allen: Be curious and ask questions”
Apr. 14, 2009, Star-Telegram

“The New York Diet: Everything Ted ate last week”
Jan. 30, 2009, New York Magazine online

“Ted Allen finds the ingredients for success with ‘Chopped’”
Jan. 20, 2009, AM New York

“Ted Allen’s star rising on Food Network”
Jan. 15, 2009, The Tampa Tribune

“‘Chopped’: Food Network stirs the pot with entertainment format”
Jan. 14, 2009, Los Angeles Times

“Interview with Ted Allen”
Jan. 13, 2009, About.com

“TONY talks to Ted Allen on the eve of ‘Chopped’”
Jan. 12, 2009, Time Out New York

“No spoilers, just a sneak peek at the Food Network’s ‘Chopped’”
Jan. 9, 2009, Los Angeles Times

“There’s a recession, but don’t party like it”
Dec. 30, 2008, Associated Press

“Holiday entertaining with Ted Allen”
Nov. 6, 2008, AOL Living

“A delicious taste of San Diego”
Oct. 29, 2008, San Diego Weekly Reader

“Ted Allen gives directions with gusto”
Oct. 21, 2008, New York magazine

“Six seconds with: Ted Allen”
Aug. 10, 2008, Page Six Magazine

“Debunking food myths”
July 29, 2008, Good Morning Ameirca

“Dream Job: Ted Allen”
March 10, 2008, New York Post

“How to entertain: tips from our experts”
www.Epicurious.com

“Ted Allen’s modern Thanksgiving menu”
www.Epicurious.com

“Holiday entertaining with Ted Allen”
Nov. 21, 2006, Bon Appétit