This week Brian is feeling a lot better about his place in the competition after winning Restaurant Wars last week. Then all the chefs arrive to the kitchens to discover that Last Chance Kitchen is happening. There are some of our favorite chefs from seasons past, Brother Luck, Jim the chef from Alabama we loved, and more. Nini is up against Brother Luck in a mini restaurant wars challenge where they each have to make three courses. This years chefs are divided into two team to help out. The winning team gets an advantage in the elimination challenge. No one is too excited to be on Brother Lucks’ team because they all want Nini back. Nini is barking orders and seems very organized. Brother Luck will have to work hard to beat this team.
WOW! Brother won. I did not see that coming. No one wants Brother back in the house. They are going to be mean to him and to a certain degree mean to the chefs that helped him win.
The elimination challenge is to make a canapé based on a prohibition era drink. They have $400 each to make a fucking canapé ! The Project Runway people don’t get that kind of budget for a dress! They bought a shit ton of food so perhaps they have to make 100 or something and I missed that part. Apparently, the are catering a roaring twenties party. I suppose this is the elimination challenge. Brother has mad knife skills,watching him slice the carrots into long sticks is pure poetry.
The location for the party is The Sealbach Hilton in Louisville. It is stunning and very “roaring twenties.” This is such a fast-paced challenge I can’t keep up with what everyone is making.
Eddie’s salmon looks amazing. The judges liked it. Padma says it needs salt. Brandon has a duck and artichoke croquette, Brother has a chicken thigh salad with liver mousse and about 19 other things in one teeny little bite. The judges think it is really spicy hot and has nothing to do with the drink he chose. He’s in trouble.
Brian did a pork sausage thingy that he had to fry instead of pan sear due to time constraints. The judges said there was an aftertaste of oil. No bueno. Kelsey made a scallop ceviche. The judges loved Kelsey’s dish. Michelle did some liver thing with cherries. It sounds gross. The judges thought it didn’t have anything to do with her drink.
Justin did a duck a l’orange. the judges really like it. Sara did a scallop with avacado. The don’t like it. It’s all mushy and doesn’t seem inspired by her cocktail. Eric shucked 200 oysters in just over an hour to complete his dish. The judges can’t say enough good things about them. Team Beard is coming out strong this round.
David did a cold shrimp tartare with cucumber, apple and radish. The judges liked the radish. Adrienne made shrimp and avocado toast. It was oily and not their favorite.
The top three dishes were Kelsey, Eric and Eddie. Eddie should win this. They have a lot of kind words for all three. Eric did win! He is thrilled.
The bottom three chefs are Brian, Sara and Brother. Are they going to send Brother right back out? They hate all three. Any of them could go. But in the end, it’s Brother that was sent home. But he is going back to Last Chance Kitchen and he seems to thrive there.
TT great recap. The show was terrific. The way they talked I really expected Brian to go home. Fried and greasy sausage and fried nuiko, hell I know I didn’t spell that right but I know they didn’t like the grease left in their mouths. I think Brian May have had an advantage since he won restaurant wars last week.
Gnocchi?
Thanks, Vicki ! I am shocked at the lack of comments. maybe this can be one of my shows I just enjoy on my own!
Agree with Vicki! Thanks for the great recap TT. Wish I had the time to watch the full episodes bc I love this show but your recaps will do just better than fine. I think the probation era drink challenge was a good idea.
I can’t believe Brother got eliminated for the same thing twice; not embracing the challenge and just doing what he wants. This seems almost insulting to Tom.
IDK that deep fried gnocchi looked gross. I’m happy Kelsey seems to be doing well, I like her a lot.
Right? I was really suprised Brother took himself out like that. Kelsey is my favorite right now.
I’m always amazed at these chefs and their ability turn out beautiful divine food in such a short amount of time. All those oysters, just wow, my hands hurt for Eric! I just stood in front of my refrigerator God knows how long, gave up trying to decide what to cook tonight, I’ll try again later.
The house and hotel are wonderful, big stars of the show. Actually everything they’re showcasing in Kentucky has been fun to watch.
Thank you so much for the recap Tamara!
I just finished watching the show. One of the drawbacks of living in Vegas is that we get the shows hours after you do. That hotel is beautiful and some of the canapes looked delicious. I was glad that Eric won. Shucking that many oysters in such a short period of time was amazing. He earned it. I was disappointed that Brother Luck got sent out so soon. Please don’t stop recapping this one!
No, no, no TT. Keep recapping, I just had to go to bed as I was worn out. I agree. $4.00 a canapé is pricey but in a way, it forces the chefs to edit and not throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into one bite like Brother did. I wanted Nini back too. She won challenges and had some amazing food and I wanted to see more. The hotel was amazing. I have no reason to go to Louisville but that hotel was definitely a reason to find one.
Thanks TT! Love this show! So glad Eric won! My husband is team Brother all the way, but after listening to the contestants bitch about him being back it made me think. I know that in every reality show the people complain when previous contestants come back, so that is not new. But, this show, unlike any other, is s career-changer. I get their frustration. This is a serious life-changer in their field & now someone from their season lost a chance to come back.. I love Brother, but Nini was crazy talented and I would have liked to see what else she could do!
Eddie is definitely growing on me. He wears his heart on his sleeve and It’s hard to imagine him in a brutal kitchen atmosphere .
I was peeved that the first segment was a rehash of LCK. It seemed like a cheap production move.
Padma looked great.
I am really routing for Eric, I’ve liked him a lot since the beginning.
Even though Eddie’s Resting Stress Face kinda bothers me, I was quite glad for him coming in top 3.
I would love to taste all those cocktails, they sounded really good. I’ve always been a fan of Whiskey Sours.
I love this show too! Thank you for the recaps, keep them coming!
This season is really good. My favorites are Eric, Kelsey, Eddie, Justin, and David. I am good with either one winning. As for the Last Chance Kitchen. I am glad Nini lost. She irks me for some reason. Don’t like her vibe. She was God awful, during restaurant war. We see bring back Brother Luck was a waste of time. I wish Bravo would give Last Chance Kitchen 30 minutes air time slot after Top Chef. I all in for this season.
The Seelbach Hotel. A thing of beauty and great history. F. Scott Fittzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” from memories of attending over the top parties at the Seelbach. Also, scenes from “The Insider”, with Russell Crowe & Al Pacino, were filmed at the Seelbach. I lived in Louisville for a couple of years and almost took a job at the Seelbach, but decided to work somewhere else. Just standing in the lobby of that hotel is like other worldly.
Seeing the basement, on Top Chef, was quite a treat.
I’m not seeing the banter between the chefs, the jokes, the digs, etc.
Hard to gage my admiration for them thus far.
But, I LOVE that they are filming in Lu-A-Vul.
Can we talk about how many of the chefs made appetizers, but not actual canapés?
Yeah, what’s the difference between an appetizer, an amuse bouche and a canapé? Does a canapé have to be on a cracker?
Technically, a canapé has a base of a bread sometimes toasted, cracker or pastry.
That is what I thought. I think they all presented and amuse bouche. It was really weird.
Watch Last Chance Kitchen for this episode. It has a heck of a surprise.
Love this show. The only Bravo show I watch at least twice each week. Producers are there to make the story line, but you can tell that these are real people cooking their hearts out, not just there to be on a show. Please keep up the recaps, I love them.
I really enjoyed this episode. They are doing a wonderful job of showcasing Kentucky.
Love that Eric won and that Eddie was up there, too. They are humble, or at least seem to be, so it is nice to see them do well.
I can’t believe Brother screwed this up, quit trying to force your brand on the challenge…in LCK he listens to the challenge and embraces it.
Tom tasting the gnocchi was hilarious, he actually flinched.
OK, I admit I have a crush on Brian… I was routing for Nini but like someone said above, she totally lost me in restaurant wars.
OT- TT are you going to recap 60 Days In ?
Happy Friday
I thought the whole show was a waste. DO NOT bring back contestants from the previous season and then kick them off on the same episode. Nothing was accomplished and we are back with the same group of chefs. However, Padma has never been more beautiful she was rocking that wig and fringe dress.
Thanks for the recap. I am happy Eric won. Shucking so many oysters and delivering on flavor is a big deal. Sometimes, the chefs do a lot of prep and the final product is not good.
I can take or leave Nini, at least she got another chance after her poor restaurant wars performance. She won a few challenges so she will be fine.
Anyone else think of Rocky’s oyster from BD when Eric was describing what he was doing? I thought he was doomed but glad he came out on top.
That was my thought too from the moment he mentioned the grenadine. I was waiting for the judges to run from the table. I like Eric and am glad all his hard work paid off
Yes! I totally thought ‘man Rocky is going to feel so redeemed now!!’
Love this show. I didn’t like how they were acting as though they wouldn’t welcome Brother. That felt very housewives picking the rooms producer crap.
Can’t believe how Brother slayed in lck and then came up short during the challenge. I thought that gnocchi would lose but like another commenter said, it did feel as if Tom was insulted by that.
Please please don’t stop recapping this show! I love hearing your thoughts about this one so much.
Fatima from last season is probably in her final days…I admire her strength
I saw that. It was too sad to post about. Padma is on her way to her side. It’s just heartbreaking news. She is such a beautiful soul.
That just made me cry. I love Padma for caring so much.
It just shows how quickly things can go downhill. Fatima was such a vibrant presence on her season. And a good chef too. Bless Padma.
I wanted Mini back.
Just was able to watch this, so I didn’t read any recaps until I finished.
Is there still a way for Mimi to come back or is she out out?
Love this show and your recaps – please keep doing them!
Nini..
It breaks my heart about Fatima. She was determined that her last months would be rich and full. I wanted her to have so much more.
I sent the link to Tamara.
Fatima is asking for prayers for those of you who do such things. I am having a hard time with this.
Love, Love, Love this show! I can’t believe Brother blew his chance. He was so good in LCK then just didn’t listen to the instructions. Tom was definitely annoyed by that. The gnocchi looked disgusting and probs would have lost if Brother hadn’t angered Tom by not listening, again.
THe hotel and all the party guests were just stunning. So FUN!!
I will pray for Fatima.
I think I liked Padma’s wig better than her crossover hair from last week.
Definitely recap this one, TT. I don’t get to watch most shows till days later so my comments are always late. I won’t get to watch ’60 Days In’ or ‘MDLLA’ for a bit, unfortunately.
Sad news about Fatima. A nice girl.
I loved the wig too! Did I mention how much I find Padma yummy? Maybe I didn’t this week……………………..
Sorry, my mind wandered. I am completely sticking with my team but, Padma has everything I would need to consider,……………sorry, my mind wandered again. I think she’s lovely.?
Did anyone else catch Brother saying he is drawn to Asian flavors because his parents were both exotic dancers who worked their way through Japan? I am still trying to figure that one out.
Yeah. He sort of explained that on his season. You know in so much as you can explain such things. There were old photos of them and everything.
People!! There’s a new LCK! You must watch. Very Fun!!
Please don’t discuss it here!
Great episode. Thanks for recapping Tamara. I am so late to watch these because of kids hogging the TV LOL. But I love reading your recaps and also the opinions of the faithful commenters!