Top Chef All-Stars Final 5
Top Chef All-Stars (Wednesdays at 10PM on BRAVO)
So as the remaining chef-testants sucked in the unexpected exit of "Not-So-Angry-Anymore" Dale and the anticipation/anxiety of their final competition in NYC before the finals... They knew something was up.
"I think Padma's gonna show up..." Antonia said right before the beautiful Padma let herself into their Chef-Dorm and requested their presence on the roof.
That's where she told them they were headed off on a ferry to Ellis Island.
When they got to the ferry, Padma clued them in on this week's QUICKFIRE - make a dish using what you see in the snack section of the ferry, and you only have the ferry ride to complete the dish.
Photo Credit - Bravo
They did something like this with a vending machine challenge, but at least the chef-testants in that challenge had a pantry to work with... this time they had nothing, unless you count stuff in your pouch (like Richard). Chef Dan Barber, who loves using sustainable, local and natural ingredients had to eat a bunch of this crap and judge it...
WINNER - Carla - Orange and Papaya Salad with Carrrot and Rosemary Juice - she's the only one that went the healthy route, and although Richard thought it was creative enough, Dan called it refreshing. She won!
RUNNER-UP - Richard - Hot Dog and Beef Jerky Sandwich with Jalapeno, Pork Rinds, Lettuce and Apple - "a take on banh mi" and he used dehydrated miltary food bags, for something... He thought he was the winner for creative, but it wasn't to be.
MIDDLER - Antonia - Grilled Cheese with Apples on Raisin Bread - She "took some cheese from one sandwich, bread from another, then toasted it." according to Richard who was less than impressed with his cohorts dishes. I'm sure it tasted pretty yummy though compared to others.
BOTTOM # 1 - Tiffany - Nachos with Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Jalapenos, Banana Peppers and Sour Cream & Popcorn with Candied Mangoes and Pineapples - Dan called it a throw-away combo of dishes... she basically just assembled the ingredients instead of adding any sort of creativity or actual cooking skills.
BOTTOM # 2 - Mike - Bread Soup with Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Green Chili and Pork Rinds - It sounded and looked AWFUL. He told us he wouldn't serve it to his cat, yet offered it up to Padma and Dan. They hated it.
Did Carla win anything for that?! I don't remember... I don't think so.
And next thing we know, it's the ELIMINATION CHALLENGE rules segment. Padma tells them in order to gain a spot into the finale and win a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, they must take their geneology and turn it into a dish with the help of a ancestral file "one of the best genealogist in the country" put together for each one of them.
To help them gain even more inspiration a loved one for each of the Final 5 came walking over... <3
Richard and his then-pregnant wife, Jazmin (since taping gave birth to a daughter, Embry Lotus Blais... Congrats!) hugged and kissed.
Tiffany and her mom "God is good!" Carla and her match.com husband. Antonia and her mom. And Mike and his mom.
Richard found out he's a mutt of Irish and English decent, and he had relatives that were meat store owners and one was a chemist, which means he can do exactly the kind of food he wants, plus do it on meat and potatos.
Both Tiffany and Carla found out their ancestry leads back to the South and the slave-era, and both decide to do Southern Cuisine. Tiffany taking her family meals to a new level, and Carla redeeming herself from past failed Southern Cuisine tries during the season.
That leaves Mike, who is obviously full-blown Italian and Antonia horrified that the two have common ancestors. They're long lost cousins... which they take as complete and utter proof as to why Antonia is fully annoyed every time her and Mike are in the same space.
Photo Credit - Bravo
Mike tells us how he learned to cook from his grand-mother, who passed away, and he hasn't cooked her kind of food ever since, but he's gonna do it this time. And Antonio also decides to go Italian.
They had to say good-bye to their loved ones and headed off shopping. The cooking pretty much went off without a hitch (there were a few things but nothing major) and then they all presented to rave reviews from their loved ones and the judges...
Antonia's mom even offering up a "Have you ever had a Final 5?"
JUDGING TABLE
WINNER - Antonia - Braised Veal, Rapini Leaf, and Fava Bean Risotto - She was worried about doing a risotto, because of Tre's elimination early in the season, but she knew she could do it right. Tom loved that the risotto was about the rice and sauce with the veggies in the right porportion adding the extra touch. They thought the meat was a bit salty on it's own, but they took that back and said it was a "perfect plate". She's the first to be sent to the Finale in the Bahamas, and she won the Toyota Highlander Hybrid to boot!
RUNNER UP - Mike - Potato Gnocchi with Braised Pork Shank Ragu and Burrata Cheese - Everyone loved it calling the gnocchi, hard to get right, but perfect here ("light pillows") and they loved his mom's story about watching his grandma cook when he was 3 years old and how she thinks he did the dish better. Dan thought he could have reduced the amount of pork on the dish, but overall the judges thought it was a big winner and Mike even broke down a little when the judges relayed his mom's words. AWE!
FAKE OUT # 1 - Richard - Short Ribs, Potatoes, Fried Bone Marrow, Corn Puree and Pickled Glass Wart - It seemed everyone had something different they loved on the dish: his wife and Dan loved the corn pure, Carla's husband, Mike's mom and Gail loved the fried bone marrow, Tom loved the pickled glass wart (enough to steal the idea) and in my opinion it was the prettiest dish to hit the table that night. Padma faked him out when it was just him, Carla and Tiffany left saying "Richard... please pack your knives and go... to the FINALS!" That was MEAN!
THEN THE BEST THING EVER...
Carla - Braised Pork Shoulder, Fried Grits, Corn and Sweet Potato Hash with Cheddar Biscuits - Everyone loved the story of Match.com, but they also loved the family-style passing of the biscuits, that were delicious. Tom loved the heck out of the sauce and Gail was impressed with Carla's use of liquid nitrogen on her amazingly tasty grits. They had a little problem with the veggies, but not enough to send her home.
Tiffany - Braised Short Rib with Mustard Greens, Stewed Okra and Ox-tail Marmalade - She wanted so badly to change Tom C's mind about "slimy okra" and set out to do it. She succeeded... he called it "rich" instead of slimy. Dan loved the ox-tail marmalde and they called it her "Coco Chanel moment" on a plate. Her and Carla both get to duke it out in the finale!
I'm so happy the judges decided to expand it to a Final 5. They say they judge based on the individual challenge, not anything in the past, which worked in Tiffany's favor this time for sure. I think they all put their best foot forward this challenge and I'm glad no one got penalized for something extremely minor.
The finale looks like it's going to a rollercoaster with past Top Chef Winners coming back to challenge the All-Stars... should be interesting!!
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