I’m writing this Top Chef recap while asleep. I’m just now waking up. I had an early morning virtual graduation to attend this morning. I almost stayed up all night to attend this morning then when it was over I went back to bed and slept all day. Expect this to make less sense than usual. 🙂
We start with Jaime coming coming back into the kitchen to join the remaining eight contestants. Everyone is just happy it isn’t Gabriel. The quickfire is about a second chance at a dish they previously failed at. The ingredients are all gross…overripe fruit, moldy cheese, fish heads and… chicken feet! None of these dishes sound good to me. Avishar cracks me up with his “older, flaccid cucumbers.” Maria did shrimp but she is allergic to shellfish and can’t taste it. She’s nervous Maria, Byron and Avishar were in the bottom. Dawn, Shota and Gabe were in the top. My guy, Shota won! He gets the last immunity of the season.
Jose Andres Provides The Elimination Challenge
Jose Andres is my favorite chef and one of my favorite people on the planet. I donate to World Central Kitchen whenever I am available. He literally feeds everyone around the globe. During the 2020 election, his people showed up to feed those of us with very long wait times at the polls. Of course the republican party has now made it illegal to provide food and water to voters waiting to vote. Kwame is there to assist with this challenge. The chefs have to make 65 servings of to go meals for hospital workers. The ingredients they have to work with are limited.
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Oh no, Dawn gets a phone call home. This is either a good thing or a bad thing. Maria is making tortillas. The people using the wood burning oven are all struggling. Everyone is very emotionally invested in this challenge are really want to do well. Jaime made a tofu soup with raised pork with eggplant and steamed rice. Carrie went vegetarian with lentil falafel, a tomato salad and flatbread. Shota is miso braised drumsticks with cauliflower pickles and cabbage. The judges love Jaime’s soup and everything else. They loved Carrie’s dish as well. The do not like Shota’s dish. Thank god he has immunity.
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Even though it is an elimination challenge, everyone is pulling together to make sure all the frontline workers get fed. I want Maria’s tacos. Bring them to my mouf! Avishar made a beef curry with rice. Byron’s chicken dish looks amazing. The judges don’t think Avishar’s dish has enough flavor. The love Maria’s dish. Until, they realize that the tortilla is raw. Byron’s chicken is a huge hit.
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The last trio struggles down to the wire to get their meals packed before time runs out. Chris made a grilled chicken that looks good but not as delicious as Byron’s. Byron probably won this challenge. Gabe also did chicken with his usual Tex Mex style. I’m hungry! Dawn made a top sirloin with coconut rice and braised onions. Chris’s dish lacks seasoning and is undercooked. Gabe’s chicken is dry. They love Dawn’s dish. With Gabriel gone, there is nothing but love between this cast. It is very touching. Avishar and Chris are in trouble.
The Judges Table
They started off by showing videos of the frontline workers thanking them for their meals. Dawn, Jaime and Sara had the top dishes! YAY! We rarely get three female chefs in the top! And look at Jaime coming back into the kitchen on fire. OMG! Jaime won!!! YAY!
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Avishar, Chris and Maria are in the bottom. I don’t want any of these three to be eliminated! 🙁 Tom basically tells Shota that he would have been in the bottom if he didn’t have immunity. Maria meal was delicious but her tortilla was raw on one side. Chris is in the bottom for lack of flavor. Avishar also had no flavor. If I had to guess it will be Chris leaving. OMG! It’s Avishar. That makes me sad. I hope he rocks Last Chance Kitchen. He should be able to beat Sasha. I’ll update you in comments. Next week is RESTAURANT WARS! I was not sure we would have that this season. P.S. I’m awake now. And hungry.
I was getting worried about you. I was afraid maybe you had gotten sick from your vaccine. It was relief to see this recap come up.
Aw sorry to make you worry. I feel fine. I don’t do well with early morning appointments so sometimes it is best for me to just stay up. My favorite nephew graduated from law school this morning, magna cum laude, law review, huge accolades for his pro bono hours. I had no idea how great he was doing in law school. I got to see him, his wife their beautiful baby named after my father, my brother, his ex wife and his twin sisters! It was a weird graduation but I am glad I got to see the pride on his face. It was very special. Then I had a few other things to do and at some point I finally crashed out. I’m up now!
LAST CHANCE KITCHEN SPOILER!!
Sasha beat the pants off of Avishar! Sasha has LCK down to a science. She was one of the very first eliminated and has taken down a ton of great chefs including Avishar, and Gabriel. I’ve totally underestimated her. She’s in her groove.
Congratulations to your nephew! Great family genes!
P.S. I emailed you a notification I received earlier today from our local news that I’d thought you’d like to see.
I like all the cheftestants left. I would be happy for any of them to win. Congrats to your nephew. I hope you had a nice time. I am so a morning person. I am up at 4:30 am and by 8:00 pm, I am in baed.
I really want to eat Dawn’s food. Shota’s drumsticks and sweet potatoes is something I would make.
I didn’t want to spoil myself as I’m in the middle of watching it.
Lol, I often see results then watch the show. Either because I don’t like to stress if my favorite gets kicked off or I like seeing how they get there!
I can’t stand to be spoiled. I was surprised it was not shown on the show how the guy with the bum knee left with a medical issue and that Gabriel lost two rounds.
After I saw Shota’s sad looking drumsticks, I was thinking no, I would never do that to drumsticks. I can get a crispy flavorful skin with a bone in, skin on piece of chicken.
Go Shita! Go Jamie!
I love them all, but especially Chef Jose Andres!
restaurant wars always catches me by surprise, but this year it did seem to get down to 8 quickly. I forgot about the guy with the knee! The one cooking on the stump, right?
Congratulations to your nephew!
I can’t deal with Jaime’s noises. I wasn’t thrilled she won.
I’m still confused how she came back already. I thought lol brought back someone towards the end of the competition
They are going to bring back another one at the end.