On tonight’s Top Chef recap the final three will be responsible for catching their proteins themselves. They will be catching and cooking clams and crabs.
The Final Quickfire
Sadly, it’s time for the last quickfire of the season. I don’t want this season to end. Dawn is beating herself up for her plating issues. The next morning at 5 am Padma wakes them up to tell them it’s time to go dig for clams. They seem less than thrilled. Dawn has never really cooked with clams so she is concerned. I may have to whip up some clam chowder after this! I always have cans of minced clams in the pantry! They are finding tons of clams! Shota finds huge clams that are…well…phallic looking.
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Once again their cooking stations are outside. I’m sorry, Shota’s clams are grossing me out. Dawn struggles to shuck the clams. And she seems to have no firm plan about how to cook them. Shota just wants to beat Gabe in the quickfire. Gabe has never won a quickfire. Oh no! Shota has cut himself pretty badly while opening his clam. He cooks with one hand while the medic bandages him up. Everyone is really struggling with the time constraint. Gabe dish is Latin inspired. It looks pretty. Dawn made a clam bisque. She basically pureed the clams. Probably not the best way to showcase them. Shota went Japanese style and I expect him to beat the other two literally one-handed. NOPE! Gabe actually wins his first quickfire.
The Elimination Challenge
The final elimination honors the memory of James Beard, who was born and raised on the Oregon coast. Both Dawn and Shota have been nominated for a James Beard award but did not win in their categories. Still very impressive. Gabe gets an extra hundred dollars in his food budget for winning the quickfire. The top two contenders for fan favorite and Dawn and Shota. I think I’ll vote for Shota. But, the both deserve to win. All three jump in boats to catch some crab! It is amazing how many clams and crabs they caught! They just drop a basket and pull it up and it’s literally brimming with crab. Yum!
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The three then get to eat some crab that they just caught at a place that cooks them up for you. Shota talks about being ashamed of being Japanese at lunch time as a kid. I went to elementary school with a Japanese kid and his lunchbox was always rice and seaweed. He was very quiet. I had a crush on him for a bit. I had several crushes in elementary school. lol. Shota is hoping his time on the show will make kids proud of their heritage and food. Gregory tells Dawn that if she is having trouble getting her plating done, maybe she is trying to put too much on her plate.
Let’s Get Crabby!
The final three have to make two dishes featuring their crabs, one hot, and one cold. I’d make crab dip for my could dish and serve it with crudité. My hot dish would be sort of a low country boil. They only have 30 minutes to shop and the local food market. I knew it could not be this easy. Tom comes in with a twist. The famous farm to table chef, Alice Waters Zooms in to encourage the chefs. Dawn is very emotional, she’s a huge fan. Wow! No twist! I thought for sure he was going to say something like, one crab dish has to be a desert or something. They are all stressing about the two hour cook time for two dishes when they have to breakdown the crabs.
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The chefs present their cold dishes first. Shota made crab sushi two ways. They are all really struggling with their first dishes. Shota decides not to present the second type of sushi to the judges. Wow. That’s kind of bad. The judges get all three cold courses at the same time. Gabe dish is crab and lobster mushroom in a broth. The soup is hot because he didn’t have time to cool it. That is also bad. Dawn made crab with a cold cashew soup and pickled oyster mushrooms. Everybody loves Shota’s sushi, but Kwame says serving the crab only one way after the menu said two is unacceptable at this point in the game. Ut Oh. The also loved Gabe’s not so cold dish. They loved the Dawn’s crab and cashew dish. But some thought there was too much unnecessary garnish. Was Gregory’s advice included as foreshadowing?
The Judges’ Table
After serving their cold dishes that had an hour to work on their hot dishes. Dawn is struggling with time. Gabe ruins one of his tortillas so he will be one tortilla short. Dawn doesn’t get her potatoes plated. Shota seems like the only one who got it all done! Dawn is sure she is going home. Gabe’s dish is a molé and seems to be sort of a make your own taco kind of thing? That will be hard for the judge with no tortilla. Shota’s crab and daikon dish is very “elevated” looking. I think he is safe for final two. They RAVE about Dawn’s dish! The reviews are mixed for Gabe. Some complain about an overpowering taste of artichoke. Others think that gives a depth of flavor. The adore the restraint of Shota’s dish. He’s the frontrunner.
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The judges loved Dawn’s dish, so why did she have to tell them she had potatoes but ran out of time? Just say thank you, that’s exactly what I was going for! She’s throwing herself in the line of fire! The liked Gabe’s first dish best. It seems like Dawn’s second dish was their favorite. Oh no! Shota is in trouble! Oh Shota WON! They mislead us! But, YAY! Then, the judges decide to send all three of them through to the finale because they could not decide! Next week is the finale! Not just three chefs in the finale but they are all people of color! They all have to make a four course progressive meal. I can’t wait.
They always seem to push all three through when the underdog over performs. I’m still anxious to see all three. Loved Gabe offering to help Dawn with the clams. Great season.
I’m happy too, but not wanting the end. This season gave me true joy :-).
Literally THE.BEST.SEASON.EVER! I did also like Season 14 Charleston and loved Jim from Alabama that season but he didn’t go very far.
Ok, obviously this is a set up for Dawn to win. Doesn’t matter if she gets everything on the plate or not….usually not. Unless I misunderstood, she basically boiled the crabs then put some kind of sauce on them. She didn’t crack and open them and use the meat like the others did. I’m sure the sauce or whatever was good but the others did use the crab meat in their dish. Then she doesn’t get half of her food plated…AGAIN. I know people like her but I think this is bullshit. Shota or Gabe for the win
The interesting thing about her is that she competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in long jump.
While I think you are being a bit harsh with regard to Dawn, they did chose her dish as the best hot dish without the potatoes. She should have just kept her mouth shut.
That said, I’m rooting for Shota (The Japanese John Legend…I don’t know why he reminds me of him with his facial expressions and genera demeanor) for the win. But I will be happy if Dawn or Gabe wins.
I do see your point that there seems to be some editing for a Dawn win. But on the other hand, they have also sort of tainted it if she does win. The judges probably learned about some sort of questionable behavior with Gabe’s last chef position that hasn’t fully been disclosed so I feel like Shota will win and be fan favorite.
Harsh ? Holy hell, she has not finished 5? of her plates ? I would bet they knew she had missed the potato. If they didn’t then the odds were in their favor that she missed something. They also had a menu printed of their food. A crab boil is not crab in a sauce Gabe missed one tortilla and Dale commented how bad that was. Usually, people go home the first time they are missing food. The point (which I made last wk ) is that a timed challenge is just that. Why bother if it doesn’t matter if you complete your dish on time. I don’t care how good her food is…she isn’t completing the challenge. The other guys are working their asses off and have time management skills to get their food done.
You seem ANGRY. The rest of us are all fine with whoever wins. It was a beautiful season. As I said, I want Shota to win and some might say his edit of losing his restaurant is encouraging his win for Fan Fav. We get it you hate Dawn. But the judges love her food.
Wrong, you are making alot of assumptions. I am not ANGRY . I just think it’s very unfair to the other contestants to let her do this constantly. And I am happy that the rest of you all agree. However, that isn’t true either. Last wks recap there were quite a few people that agreed with me on this subject. But I have a different opinion. And I loved this season with bringing back the previous winners. Also, I don’t hate Dawn. I think she is a great chef that has no time management skills and doesn’t complete the competitions. I would have no problem eating her food But I would call ahead for the order to be sure it was finished.
Also this week Shota left something off of his plate as well. Gabe was short a tortilla. It’s worse in my opinion to miss one plate as Gabe did than it is to leave them all off like Shota and Dawn did. I’ll be happy for whoever wins. But I hope it is Shota.
I’m with you. Literally every other season they eliminate a contestant for not plating part of their meals but the rules changed for Dawn. I don’t care if it’s the best food they’ve ever eaten, Dawn didn’t plate all the components of her meal numerous times
Honestly if Dawn wins I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch next year. Dawn being passed through time and time again despite incomplete plates has been a blight on an otherwise awesome season.
Shota left the rice off off because he didn’t think it was perfect, Dawn left the potato off because SHE RAN OUT OF TIME, which she does every episode! Gabe missed ONE tortilla, Dawn should have gone home. As for her “admitting “ to it, wasn’t it on the menu? I am rooting for Shota! But if you get to slide through even though there are time limits, why have them…
I also agree with Japanese John Legend-felt it as soon as you stated this 🙂
Good grief. Has she missed half her food or missed a plate? Obviously, the way her food tastes is what is keeping her there. I don’t know what Gabe did outside the show but I think Shota will be the winner. Maybe Dawn fan fave
She made crab and potatoes. She missed the potatoes. I would consider that missing half.
And yet, the judges said she had the best hot dish out of all of them.
Then why did Shota win ?
Consistency. They LOVED his cold dish but he left something off the plate. Shota for me is the most consistently excellent chef. I don’t recall him ever being in the bottom. Pretty sure both Dawn and Gabe have been at one time or another.
There is a chef on there Massimo Dolcechino? I am sure I spelled that wrong who REALLY REALLY wants Dawn to win. He continues to fight for her to stay.
I’ve watched every single episode of Top Chef and sometimes twice. So I get the outrage over PEOPLE (not just Dawn) not going home for plating issues this season. But clearly, at least one judge, and apparently more, think Dawn’s so good that she has to stay.
You are welcome to your opinion that I somewhat agree with, right up to the part where you say she doesn’t deserve to be in the finals. We are not eating the food. There have been slip ups from all the final three that could have gotten them sent home…especially on other seasons.
But the whole “I’ll never watch again if Dawn wins” thing is ridiculous. I do think Dawn and Shota will be final two. But we shall see. It’s a cooking show. It’s not that serious. I’m fine with all the decisions the judges have made this season. It was a Covid season. It was HARD they cooked outside almost every challenge. It was a much harder season than usual so they may have lightened up on them a bit. It’s going to be okay.
insert random Ramona Singer CALM DOWN! TAKE A XANAX HERE! 🙂
Shota for the win.
P.S. If Shota doesn’t win I’m going to be pissed too. So I may have to take a Xanax and calm down myself.
This was in fact the best season of Top Chef EVER!
It seems Dawn can do no wrong. She seems whiney to me and not a lot of fun to have around. It would be nice if Top Chef gave the chefs enough time ONCE. All that cooking, let alone clamming and catching crabs is tiring yet the judges insist on giving the contestants 30 minutes to one hour less than they need.
I believe Shota will win, it seems obvious.
I didn’t catch the whinyness. Probably because it’s the usual TC chef talk when they are stumped or disappointed with their food
I do want Shota to win. I just read this, as I fell asleep before the end.
I think he will
I am hoping for Shota to win. His food looks amazing. I love that he always bow to the judges, a true gentleman. I do agree that in the past, if you didn’t get everything on the plate they would eliminate you. Dawn probably should have been eliminated in some of the tasks but not last night. If she didn’t tell the judges that she forgot to put her potatoes on the plate, they would not have known.
Of course they would have known. The cameras caught the whole thing. HELLO!
Thats really SH***Y to hope she would have cheated. Gabe and Shota knew.
Good grief people.
THE JUDGES AREN’T WATCHING THE SHOW YOU MORON. They are not in the kitchen. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE POTATOES WERE LEFT OFF UNTIL SHE TOLD ON HERSELF. She totally should have kept her mouth shut.
You seem ANGRY ? They specifically asked about having something else besides what she served. I think they either knew or guessed. I can’t remember what was on the menu that was printed out. Crab boil ? It would have been worse if she lied or didn’t bring it up and they found out. She did the right thing.
And what you said above to Tortilla is really harsh. She’s right, the other 2 did know.
Tortilla came in HARSH with her very first comment ever. And said stupid shit like she thought the judges had access to video from the kitchen before judging.
And NO THE JUDGES HAD NO CLUE she left off her potatoes before judging. They loved her dish and wished for a biscuit to sop up the gravy with.
Obviously she doesn’t realize the judges don’t see the video. So explain that to her. I doubt she will have a 2nd comment.
But the other 2 and production would know and someone would have said something. And really create some bad feeling. I give her credit for being honest. Omitting that would have really had everyone pissed off along with missing so many components of her dish. She is from PA so I was all for her winning. But missing things is really getting old.
I figured Dawn would go home so I am so glad she is staying, I figure her food must be THAT good to forgive not plating everything, I just love her so much I can forgive that. I am sure the judges know about the potatoes, they seem to know about every omission because every contestant speaks up about it.
I dont know why people dont love Gabe as much, because he is not my favorite either! He seems vey nice and it sounds like his food is amazing so I dont know why. Shota for the win, I’m guessing, but I am always wrong, lol!
I loved the season so much! And these 3 were my initial picks so that makes me happy too. And I LOVE crab. Would rather have that than lobster and it reminded me of my crabbing days with my brother. Ah memory lane….
It made sense for all 3 to go to the finale because they all made an omission to a dish – Shoyta had only one piece of sushi, Gabe was missing a tortilla and Dawn didn’t have the potato (tho why she chose to tell them…dare I think “integrity?”). Should be a great finale and I would like to see Dawn win but I kinda think this is Shota’s to lose.
Season 17 and 18 of Top Chef are definitely top tier. I really don’t want this season to end 😔
I am hoping Dawn win, although I like all three!
Top Chef Instagram has a lot of people letting them know that Dawn should have been eliminated. If Dawn wins, I will be done with Top Chef. Fair is Fair! This has not been fair!
Agree 100 percent! You can’t miss something on your plate every time and win…I don’t get it, and you’re right, fair is fair and this is not….
Did the final winner of LCK get brought in yet or is that for the finale? Don’t know if I missed that! Also agreement of Shota for the win!
Shota for the win! But I really do like all 3. Gabe offering Dawn help this late in the game is amazingI I have to agree that they’ve let Dawn skate an awful lot but her food must taste awesome. I’d like to hear from former eliminated chefs!
Feels like Project Runway where they keep 3.
I prefer a final 2
Really do not get why Dawn is still there. She seems like a nice enough person but is so whiny and lacks confidence. Even the picture at the top that TT uses shows her with a mopey face. And while her hot dish may have been tasty, it didn’t seem like a very elevated dish. The judges were splashing sauce all over the place. It was a mess. Not really “Top Chef” material – and I’ve watched every season. Shota, Shota, Shota for the win!!
I will miss this season too. I like that there is a diversity of backgrounds and flavors with the final three. I find all three likable and I like knowing the cultures they draw inspiration from.
I love Shota and his creativeness with bringing Japanese cuisine into the challenges. I know some people are annoyed that Dawn has “skated by” with her time management issues but that just tells me that her food is knock your socks off good. The judges wanted something to scoop up that sauce on Dawn’s hot dish and they had so much fun with it (bits of shell flying everywhere, sauce on their faces). Her skill definitely seems to be sauces and seasonings. Gabe is proud of his heritage and I would love to taste his food too. He does like his mole.
It’s been a while since I’ve been up in Washington, but dungeness crab is a must. I have photos somewhere of my walk on the Dungeness Spit.
I want them all to win. I love them all.
I agree the judges are being more lenient I. The way they are judging people but I don’t agree it’s only for Dawn.
Gave served a hot dish for the cold challenge for Christ sake. In past seasons that would have been cause for elimination as well. You can def see production having a hand this season. I mean look at how they did the LCK, 2 people got to come back? It made no sense…
HEY!
I’m late to the conversation – but I’ve been LOVING this season! One, I have family in the Portland area – so I know it is very much a foodie scene and a great pick for Top Chef. Willamette Valley is abundant with wonderful foods and for them to highlight diversity? Great step forward (for a state that is literally the one white flight state in our history – it was in its constitution that black people couldn’t live in it)
But the move to Cannon Beach and surrounding locations? BE STILL MY HEART. Cannon Beach is one of my top happy places. (I’m a little sad they haven’t shown you the little Main Street and locations like Bruce’s Candy Kitchen (great taffy) or beer from Bill’s Tavern (they are struggling in the pandy, I think) Oh, if you ever visit Tillamook Cheese Factory, grab a bite in the cafeteria. I recommend the toasted cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Oh, at Bill’s the burger is good – get the slice of Tillamook on it even if you don’t usually do cheeseburgers. But I usually get the shrimp and cheese sandwich. Don’t knock it until you try it!
But they were smart to stay close to Haystack Rock 🙂 Especially when PNW weather set in (I have to wonder when they filmed!!!)
I’m rooting for Shota – my home state guy! He had to close one restaurant, but his friend chicken place is still open in Seattle. Not far from where I stay when I go for Broadway productions, etc. Definitely getting a to go bucket or something the next time I am there.