Tonight is the night that this season’t Top Chef will be announced! (psst actually, it’s not) I suppose I am rooting for Sheldon. But first, a hotel commercial. Sigh.
The quickfire challenge is to feature the very hot Habanero pepper in a dish. They shop at a local market where Brooke picks up a cucumber and asks what it is. Shirley wants to do masa dumplings with tomato, onion and Habanero. I always forget to eat before I do this recap. I am starving to death. Sheldon doesn’t speak much Spanish and is having problems finding cheese. He buys a tamale thinking it was cheese. How is this possible? Oh noe! Shirley is using the Habanero seeds. That is going to blow the judges heads off!
Brook did a roasted pork loin with a Habanero and orange sauce. Sheldon did a pan roasted squash that he filled with some nice Mexican lady’s tamale. No bueno, Sheldon. Both Padma and the Mexican judge ask where the tamale came from. The Mexican judge had to tell Sheldon about “his dish.” To make matters worse, Shirley used the same squash Sheldon did in her masa dumpling dish. Shirley’s dish was by far the best in my opinion. The judges disagree and Brooke continues her winning streak. Somehow Shirley’s dish didn’t have enough heat for them.
The Elimination Challenge
The editing tonight is REALLY fast paced. The elimination challenge is to cook a dish using only local ingredients that have been around since Mayan times. The must all cook over an open fire and no electricity is allow. Really, now? They do get to use their knives.
The three finalists got a really cool tour of a recreated Mayan kitchen and got to taste lots of the things they will have available in their pantry. It was pretty cool. The relax and jokingly trash talk each other a bit for the rest of the day. They all seem happy and confident.
When they walk into the ancient park, Brooke points out that it looks a bit like something you would see in an Indiana Jones movie. Thanks, Brooke. I was not sure how to describe other than it’s really cool and that doesn’t convey much. It’s a cave with super cool ancient statues. They have an hour and a half to cook their dishes. There is no, onions, garlic or limes.
Shirley is going to grill grouper. I love grouper. Did I mention I am starving? After losing badly with the squash in the quickfire, he opts to use it again in the elimination round. He’s also using snapper and crab. He’s also got a sweet potato mash. Brooke is going to try snapper. She seems a bit rattled about cooking on a grill. The ladies both wrap their fish in leaves to keep them from sticking to the grill. Brooke learned this through trial and error and Shirley did it to start with. Sheldon noticed the cooking technique but decided to just throw his fish on the grill. Sheldon seems to be falling apart. Will he be eliminated in third place again? As expected, Sheldon’s fish stuck to the grill. I thought you were watching Brooke? She showed you what would happen putting fish straight on the grill!
The judges say that Brooke’s snapper was perfectly cooked. Reviews on the salsas were mixed. Padma wanted more heat. Tom liked them. Tom is who you are cooking for at this point. Well done, Brooke.
Sheldon’s snapper is a hot mess presentation wise. The judges said that the flavor of the fish was good. One of the Mexican judges said his salsa was way too hot! Another said he took chances.
Shirley’s grouper and her red sauce wins very high praise from the judges. She seems like the winner. Sheldon appears to be going home. Brooke says Sheldon is like a brother to her and she really hopes they are both in the finale.
The judges crown Shirley the winner of the elimination challenge. Shirley is beyond thrilled.
It comes out that Brooke tested her fish on the grill without the leaves first and Sheldon did not. The judges liked her fish the best but thought there were too many elements to her dish. They think that Sheldon’s dish was more exciting but the fish was a mess. Tom and Elliot want Brooke to stay while Padma and the local judge are pulling for Sheldon. We all know who prevails in these situations.
As usual Padma delivers the news that Sheldon is going home. In both of his attempts on the show, he goes home in third place. Heartbreaking.
And to answer my question, who will be Top Chef? We have one last episode. Who do you think will win, Shirley or Brooke?
I was so bummed to see Sheldon go! I really wanted him to win. Something about Brooke bugs me so I guess I want Shirley for the win. I also thought tonight was the finale.
I feel like Brooke is going to win since she lost her season due to LCK so now she gets her LSK redemption
I was very surprised they sent Sheldon home! The editing this season has made these eliminations a little unpredictable. Just when I thought Brooke was gone, it ended up being him. So sad, but still happy with the other two. I feel the hunger pains too, TT! Had a tamale right after lol
I really feel that if his fish had been cooked properly, they would’ve sent Brooke home for sure, because they preferred his dish overall. The seasoning was better and the concept, they said. Poor Sheldon.
I really like all 3 of them, but i was hoping it would be him and Brooke in the final.
I thought Tagus was the finale too :(.. bummed Sheldon went home 🙁 Brooke annoys me to, I think it’s her lack of personality.
*tonight (not Tagus, darn auto correct)
I was so sad to see Sheldon go. He has been my favorite and I really enjoyed watching him have fun throughout the season. I’m now rooting for Shirley, which probably means Brooke will win.
I feel the same way, Amanda. I feel like I jinxed Sheldon and I am about to jinx Shirley.
I love all 3. At least Sheldon will win the 10k for fan favorite. Rooting for Shirley as she is a hometown girl, but Brooke really does deserve the win. She is a very thoughtful chef. Go Women Chefs!!!
it is pretty awesome to have two ladies in the final! (although I really wanted sheldon/brooke lol)
I’m so bitter. Again the judges agree that Sheldon’s dish had more flavor and deserved the win but once again Brooke is saved by Tom. ? Now I want Shirley to win but am not holding my breath.
One thing I’ve learned from watching a bazillion seasons on top chef, 9 times out of 10, cookery will take precedence over all else. If you overcook or undercook your food, that will trump seasoning, creativity, etc. His flavors and concept were better, but his fish was destroyed, so in that regard, he didn’t deserve it.
It really sucks because his dish had strengths hers didn’t, but you rarely, if ever, see someone’s whose protein wasn’t cooked properly beating someone’s whose was.
Totally agree…Sheldon deserved to be in the finals…he met the challenge, Brooke didn’t…it’s obvious of the bias Tom had towards Brooke…very disappointed. Now, I hope Shirley wins as I do not believe Brooke deserves to be I. The finals.
Sheldon was a sweetheart but Shirley and Brook are very deserving as well.
I am a big Brooke fan. Very talented Chef. She really thinks through every challenge which sometimes gets her in troubles. She is experienced enough to react and conquer.
I really wanted Sheldon to stay. Brook already had her chance in the final two. Padma actually cried. Has she cried before? I am cheering for Shirley now!!
Brooke please! I can’t do Shirley! I mute the TV whenever she is talking…..
Both talented chefs but Brooke will win. Because Tom will make it happen.
Shirley has been my girl ever since her season but I agree with you. It’s all about the Last Chance Kitchen storyline.
I think that like Shirley said, she’s better in elimination challenges and Brooke is better in quickfire. When Brooke messes up, she messes up kinda big. I would love Shirley to win.
While I was pulling for Sheldon, all 3 of these chefs are ones I really enjoy watching. They are humble, cook from the heart, and produce food with a soul. I think Tom and Padma have a soft spot for all 3. Hopefully they do another all stars and Sheldon, or even our beloved Jim, can come back and win it all.
Devastated. I was hoping Sheldon would be in the finale and win. I will not watch next week’s finale, will read it here instead.
i have disliked Shirley ever since her first season when she fell over running for ingredients and then when a guy helped her up – she stole his ingredients! I think the final 3 should have cooked head to head. Go Brooke!
As a Filipino and Hawaiian, I would have thought Sheldon has grilled many fish in his life. How could he make such a mistake?
Totally over Padma “I have breasts ” Lakshmi.
Jane. great point on the Hawaiian who can’t grill thing. Now that is VERY weird.
I actually really do like all 3 of them…although I think I have the softest spot for Sheldon so I’m sad to see him go. I do think that the finale is going to be great to watch! Brooke and Shirley are both beasts in the kitchen!!!
I was looking forward to Sheldon and Shirley being in the finale..I think they put their heart and soul into their dishes vs. Brooke…
I do like all three, however, I really thought that Sheldon and Shirley would be in the finale. Although, I am hoping that Shirley win. I think that it is going to be Brook because is has been winning a lot of the challenges back to back.
I can’t wait to watch tonight! I’m hoping Shirley wins, so that means Brook probably will. 🙂