I feel the need to begin with the biggest shocker in this week’s Top Chef. This episode was the first part of the finale — a three part finale! Madness!
Anyway, the chefs are in the Bahamas, and for the Quickfire they have to cook against the past winning chefs season, head-to-head. The winning contestant of each match would receive $10,000 as incentive. Season 4 (Richard and Antonia vs. Stephanie) had to cook veal, of which Anotnia’s was tough, Stephanie’s was too complicated, and Richard’s was great. Season 5 (Carla vs. Hosea) was faced with lamb, but Carla undercooked her rice, handing Hosea the win. Season 6 (Mike vs. Michael V.) had to make duck, and Mike managed to beat the Voltaggio with his cashew crusted duck breast. Finally, season 7 (Tiffany vs. Kevin) had some pork, and Tiffany beat kevin with her pork stew (her first win all season, and it doesn’t really count).
For the elimination, the chefs were told they’d be cooking for “Bahamian Royalty,” which Tiffany of course pronounced “Bohemian” royalty. However, after the chefs had done their prep (most of their dishes, very opulent) they were hit with the curve ball that the “royalty” was in fact the king of Bahamian Junkanoo, their version of Carnivale.
The chefs were to cook in the kitchen of a fish fry, which was only equipped with a flat-top and a few deep fryers, including one that was smoking heavily. Soon, that fryer ignited itself on fire. But here’s the kicker — the chefs did not want to leave their food. Despite being yelled at by producers to get the hell out of there, they all wanted to stay and cook!
Finally, the fire was put out, and Tom ruled that the food left in the kitchen was not safe to reuse, so everybody had to start all over. Carla made pork tenderloin (which she deep-fried) with sweet potatoes and apple chips, Antonia made fried shrimp and grits with pulled pork, Mike made sous vide chicken with lobster hash, Richard made roasted lamb with turnip “cannelloni,” and Tiffany made roasted pork tenderloin with dirty rice.
The judges had big problems with everyone’s dishes, a far cry from the lovefest of last week. Carla’s was way too sweet, her apple chips greasy, and her pork severely undercooked. Antonia’s shrimp were overcooked and Gail called the bits of pork in her grits, “mystery meat.” Mike’s was well balanced, though the white meat of his chicken was dry, and Richard’s was also good, but guest judge Eric Ripert disliked his cannelloni. And Tiffany’s was just so forgettable that even the day after it aired, Gail still couldn’t remember what she made.
In the end, Mike won (!) and the wonderful Carla was sent home! It’s just proof that even if something is overcooked or boring, it’s still better than being inedible. So now Richard is the only frontrunner left. If he is eliminated next week and we are left with Tiffany and Mike in the finale, I am going to punch my TV in the face.
