Guess what? It’s another great day at Chez Tamara. And on top of that, it’s Top Chef recap night! We are down to the final five and I would be happy with a win by any of them. I love them all! It’s a win, win, win, win, win situation!
Oh No! I had to let Banjo out he’s having a rough day so I got back about ten minutes in. It should not have mattered but for some reason it was not taping! So I am a bit confused about what is going on? Whut I Miss? It looks like they are working in teams. Not sure how that is possible with five remaining chefs. And one team member cooks something in the dark and the other one has to recreate it in the dark by only feeling and tasting the dish? Or maybe just feeling! My DVR is such a PITA lately. Oh I see they are not in pairs. They are all recreating a the same dish that I image one of the judges made.
A Little Love From Home
Dawn is killing it. She has all the ingredients I think. But, apparently carrots were already cooking for her and she wasted some time peeling carrots? Sorry, the chefs are not the only ones coming into this challenge blind. So am I. Apparently, they ARE working in teams? Meanwhile, Maria has a brain fart and forgets how to butcher a squab. Oh, Dawn’s teammate is Brooke. Dawn was better than Brooke at the challenge. I didn’t like Brooke on her season. Dawn was far and away the winner.
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Then, Padma tells all the chefs that they can have the night off. This sounds too good to be true. This never happens. What’s the catch? The chefs all go back to their living quarters only to find Brooke and Melissa already there and five big brown boxes. Ut Oh. Now what? Melissa says these are care packages for each of them sent from home. I’m still skeptical. They start with letters of support from their loved ones, they all start sobbing while reading them. OMG! Dawn’s mom is home recovering from a stroke. Okay, she has to win this. #TeamDawn
The Elimination Challenge
Then, they are told that for the elimination challenge they have to use items from their care packages. Dum, dum, dum, duummmmmm. Jaime is not thrilled with her chicken wings. The judges say they don’t have to use everything in their box. But their dish should represent the box. Most of them seem to see their box as a bit challenging. Maria is making wings. Never cook chicken on Top Chef! Jaime is making a brisket. She’ll be using a pressure cooker for the first time. Shota is making steak and mushrooms with a fruit salad. Gabe mom sent him all the ingredients for a Latin American dish, the first dish she taught him to make. But, he decided it wasn’t elevated enough for this point in the competition. Dawn is making pork belly with red eye gravy. Jaime is struggling during prep.
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Maria is up first with chicken wings and a bean sprout salad. It sounds boring but it looks delicious! Maria was worried about the salad dressing and the judges though the vinaigrette was watered down by the sprouts. Ut oh. Jaime is up next and Dawn helps her plate. I love these chefs. Jaime’s dish is brisket over rice with a caramelized jus and pickled veggies. They loved the brisket, hated the rice and thought it lacked a singular point of view. Ut oh. Shota made wagyu shoulder with a mushroom puree and a persimmon salad. The judges LOVED It. Gabe made a braised pork dish that looks like a fancy carnitas to me. It was also a big hit. Dawn has her work cut out for her. C’mon girl! Once again she is running behind. She should not have helped Jaime plate! She made pork belly with with red eye gravy, sweet potato and sauce. More than one judge’s plate didn’t have the gravy. SIGH.
The Judges Table
Tom says that little mistakes will be the reason someone goes home at this point in the competition. Someone Dawn is still in the top three with Shota and Gabe. YAY! I feel like they want her to win. But this week the winner is Gabe. Maria is already crying. Jaime is crying during her feedback too. The judges decide to send Maria home. Jaime stops the judges and says she thinks Maria has more to give! I am getting some allergies here. I love all these chefs. They are so loving to each other.
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Jaime is trying to sacrifice herself for Maria. Sorry. I’m having trouble seeing the screen, my eyes are blurry. They are both sobbing and arguing with each other. Jaime said she already had a second chance and begs the judges to give Maria a second chance. Maria refuses the offer. The judges stick by their decision. WOW! The most shocking judges table EVER. Brooke is crying. I’m crying. We are all crying. Next week the top four have to use cheese five ways. THAT I would LOVE to judge. Wow. What an emotional episode.
I’m so excited for the episode. I read a bit but didn’t want to be spoiled. I’m with you though that any one of them winning would be okay with me. West Coast, sigh. I’m always late for your recaps.
Love me some Dawn!!!!!!
I’m crying….Best season ever.
This has been such an excellent season and I hate to see it come to an end. Is the finale going to be in Portland?
I love everyone but I think it might come down to either Gabe or Dawn for the win.
Very emotional episode 😢
I think Dawn has it in the bag. But I wouldn’t mind a Shota win. I thought for sure he won on this episode.
Shota and Dawn are definitely the front runners IMO but they are all strong chefs. Really great season!
Dawn should have gone home for not completely plating her food. Other chefs have been eliminated when not having immunity.
With Maria out, I also think it is Dawn and Gabe.
These chefs are all so good and nice. Another thing I really like is the judges are past contestants. They understand what they are going through and are more sympathetic. I liked all the judges. I could do with less Richard Blais but he seems to be a fixture.
The chefs are winners and so is the displaced Southern Girl’s abode of Portland! I’m so happy for the chefs, who are fabulous, and Portland, Oregon, which is a gorgeous place.
I thought the rounds should have been reversed. The black box challenge was much more exciting and challenging than making a dish from what your family sent you. Plus, once we saw what Maria and Jamie received in their boxes, I think we all knew they were doomed to be the bottom two. Yes, a really talented chef should be able to make an amazing dish from almost nothing. It just seemed to be an unlevel playing field for an elimination challenge. And I feel bad for Maria’s wife and child. Who knows how Top Chef presented it to them.
(Having said that, I do remember an 8-year-old on Master Chef Junior rising to the occasion with only 1 ingredient. There was some game where how many you got right meant the number of ingredients for the next round. This 8-year-old was terrible in the game and only had one ingredient. However, she managed to take that one ingredient, asparagus, and use it like five different ways on the plate. She made asparagus soup, roasted asparagus, etc. I can’t remember the rest. It was brilliant! It looked like a course on an over-priced tasting menu.)
Gabe has not been my favorite. But this week when he went over and hugged Dawn after she read her letter warmed my heart.
I was surprised that Dawn was one of the top 3. She missed some ingredients on a few of the judges plates. Usually, that’s held against them.
I agree I have not seen one episode where if one of the chefs missed an ingredient they were not eliminated. Not sure why Dawn was not sent home for her mistake, as Tom says at this stage chefs are sent home for minor mistakes but apparently not Dawn.
Yes, me too. But then I figured it meant that her plate even without the sauce was better than Maria’s and Jamie’s. 12 is not an unmanageable number of plates to sauce. Line them up and throw some gravy on them!
Wow, that was an emotional episode. I went through a few tissues because of the onion fairies getting to me. The judges got so emotional too with Jaime and Maria.
This has to be the absolute best set of chefs in one season that they have ever had.
I really like them all very much.
I love the words Tom spoke to Maria at the end. She is beautiful inside and out. I want to travel to Tuscon just to eat at her restaurant. This is the best Bravo show on right now.
Me too. She is a beautiful woman.I also want to eat all of their food.
Me too! She was my favorite and made me get ready eyed almost every episode.
I probably most wanted to eat Gabe’s and Dawn’s dishes. Yes, Dawn didn’t get the red eye gravy on every plate, but just imagine how delicious it was that they probably shared. She’s the one I want to win.
This is such a wonderful season to watch. I always love top chef but to see people supporting each (especially when the other person is your competition) is beautiful. It’s been a brutal year for most so I am loving watching kind humans on tv. 🥰
Yes! Seeing the kindness, hugs, and helping in a challenge is wonderful to see. You can tell they like each other.
TOP CHEF….The ONLY reality show that renews your faith in humanity. There was not one person on the show this season who did not appear to be congenial and kind. I’m rooting for Dawn, but I’m OK with ANY of these guys winning. They are simply a delight to watch in the kitchen and in general. I cried this week too. This show is everything I need to get by.
Top 3 should be there, next week Jamie gets the boot, if it anyone else I’ll be crushed. Yes Gabe’s take on a carnitas was that but omg just shovel it in my mouth! Dawn, Shota, Gabe all the way!! They should keep this black box challenge get to see how fine tuned their palettes are.
I thought Jamie would be eliminated over Maria based on the feedback of the judges. Jamie’s dish was described as lacking flavor while Maria’s chicken wings had a great flavorful sauce. Not sure how Maria’s bean sprout salad ended up watery. I’ve put bean sprouts in salads many times and they don’t leak. did she wash them and not dry them?
I’m glad Maria did not accept Jamie’s offer of sticking around. No one should accept an offer like that. The judges have asked you to pack your knives and so you should. Who wants to stick around for the next competition after you’ve been told your dish was the least favorite. The judges will always have that in their minds. I doubt Jamie would have made the same offer to Gabe.
Such a good show this season! Kind talented adults who actually support each other! My choices in order- Dawn Shota Gabe. But will be happy with any of them. 🙂
I agree that whoever the judges decide should pack their knives should go. But it was a very kind gesture.