Top Chef All-Stars Episode 11
Top Chef All-Stars (Wednesdays at 8PM on BRAVO)
"Balls of Butter!" - Paula Deen
Angelo was sent packing last week and Tiffany's surprised she made the cut. I am a little bit too, but I'm glad the judges are judging on the dish in front of them, not the chef-testants prior work. One bad dish... can send you packing. And we learn that lesson again last night. But I'm getting ahead of myself...
Let's discuss the QUICKFIRE with guest judges Paula Deen. The chef-testants had to use the deep-frying machines in front of them to fry up something good enough to impress Paula in 30 minutes to win $5000.
TOP 3
Mike - Fried Chicken Oysters with Mustard Gravy and Oyster Liquore (served on a half-shell) - although he happened to get the idea from Richard's little black book, Paula loved the clever take and execution, dubbing him the winner.
Richard - Fried Bacon with Fried Mayonnaise, Tomato and Cucumber - he used liquid nitrogen to freeze dollups of mayonnaise and Paula loved it.
Antonia - Fried Avocado, Shrimp & Jalapeno; Grilled Corn, Tomato and Fried Herbs - She would have won it, but she failed to plate on 2 dishes and therefore couldn't win based on technicality.
Richard - Fried Bacon with Fried Mayonnaise, Tomato and Cucumber - he used liquid nitrogen to freeze dollups of mayonnaise and Paula loved it.
Antonia - Fried Avocado, Shrimp & Jalapeno; Grilled Corn, Tomato and Fried Herbs - She would have won it, but she failed to plate on 2 dishes and therefore couldn't win based on technicality.
BOTTOM 3
Carla - Catfish with Dijon Mustard, Hushpuppies, Coleslaw with May, Hot Sauce and Mint - everything felt heavy
Dale - Fried Steak Wrapped Oyster with Egg Yok Omelet, Parsley Tips and Chives - Paula didn't think it had much flavor.
Tiffanny - Fried Chicken & Pickles, Honey Mustard Sauce with Cilantro and Cumin Salad
Dale - Fried Steak Wrapped Oyster with Egg Yok Omelet, Parsley Tips and Chives - Paula didn't think it had much flavor.
Tiffanny - Fried Chicken & Pickles, Honey Mustard Sauce with Cilantro and Cumin Salad
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - was to cook for 300 people using "Gulf Proteins" for a charity event. To help, past-cheftestants were back to be sous-chefs. When picking the protein, they got the sous-chef as well.
Mike chose first because he won the QUICKFIRE... he chose Tiffani and her Brown Shrimp. Richard choice Fabio and the Red Snapper. Carla chose Tre and the Grouper. Tiffany chose the White Shrimp (& Marcel). Antonia choice Spike's crabs and Dale ended up with Angelo's Amber Jack.
The went off shopping and then had 2 hours to prepare before heading to the event where they had 30 more minutes before guests arrived. Biggest highlights of the preparations were:
Photo Credit - Bravo
1. Tiffany shooting down Marcel's "shrimp heads" idea
2. Carla surprised Tre didn't know Southern cooking
3. Dale freaks out and Angelo tries to confort him
4. Fabio and Richard have a tiff in front of the judges
5. Marcel has to re-make the honey sauce for Tiffany's shrimp
2. Carla surprised Tre didn't know Southern cooking
3. Dale freaks out and Angelo tries to confort him
4. Fabio and Richard have a tiff in front of the judges
5. Marcel has to re-make the honey sauce for Tiffany's shrimp
Photo Credit - Bravo
TOP 3
WINNER - Richard - Crispy Gulf Snapper with Pulled Pork and Citrus Grits - the judges loved his unique pairing of the snapper and the pulled pork.
Mike - Grit-Crusted Gulf Shrimp, Sour Cream and Chive Potatoes with Pork and Lobster Sauce - the judges thought it was really smart to coat the shrimp in grits and he won Paula over with his potatoes.
Antonia - Blue Crab Cake, Corn, Jalapeno and Andouille Relish with Crab Broth - I thought she had won this one when the judge raved about the tenderness and flavors... she must have just missed out.
BOTTOM 3
Carla - Fried Grouper with Collard Greens and Chow-Chow Pico - The judges didn't understand why she paired these three together and just didn't think it worked.
Tiffany - Honey Glazed Shrimp, Grits with Jalapeno and Cheese, and Shellfish Sauce - The judges thought the shrimp were overcooked (although Marcel did those) and that the honey sauce was far too sweet (Marcel made the second batch, and she didn't have time to taste it nor tell him to cut it with water)
ELIMINATED - Dale - Amberjack Stew with Andouille Sausage and Potatoes, Creole Mustard Crouton - The judges found his potatoes undercooked, and the mustard crouton too over-powering that the fish was lost, sending him home.
Photo Credit - Bravo
Photo Credit - Bravo
