Top Chef - Season 5 - "Gail's Bridal Shower"

In the quickfire the contestants are paired off. They are then given a sauce to identify the ingredients. This one is always fun and is done in a name that tune style. That means you say how many ingredients you can name and the person has the chance to one-up you or call your bluff.

So it is mostly only 3 or 4 ingredients. I can't believe the challenge is going so low.

In the second round we start off with SEVEN ingredients. Then EIGHT! Wow, the second round is impressive. Stefan is starting to rub people the wrong way and being exposed as an ass. They are just hating on the foreigner. However Stefan ends up losing and Hosea wins!


I like these palette tests but I prefer when they have to identify the individual components. That seems like more fun.

The elimination challenge is to create a course for Gail's bridal shower. They are divided up into teams of three (four teams) and given one of the following themes: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. They will be cooking for the 45 ladies at Gail's bridal shower, many of whom work with Gail at Food & Wine Magazine. So many of the guests should know what they are talking about.

Tom is not invited into the party so he is waiting in the kitchen. The judges deliberate. The "old" course and the "borrowed" course are asked to see the judges. They are the favorites. Hosea was on the "old" course and he had immunity anyways. That is good to see. Also on his team is Stefan (the ass) and Jeff. Jeff's sorbet was a stand out. On the "borrowed" team Jamie's carrot puree was the standout but Ariane's lamb was a success. The funny thing was they were unsure about its doneness while in the kitchen. Radhika was the third member of the team.

As they are about to announce the winner, Jamie whispers "I want this one". Something to keep an eye on. Not that I think she will become bitter, she jsut might get frustrated. Always the bridesmaid as Jamie says.

Now the losers! Team "new" with their disassembled sushi. Carla and Eugene were not happy with the plates they put out. Danny added mushrooms to Carla's salad without her knowing. Team "blue" with Leah, Melissa and Fabio created the "old people food". The food was passable but the dish was nothing special. The deadly phrase "playing it safe" was uttered.

Team "Blue" was quickly dismissed. They were really only there because 2 teams had to be on the bottom. They weren't great but as I said, it was passable.

Tom call Carla out for no speaking up. Carla disagreed with the dish from the get go and did not speak up at any point. That should've hurt her here but it doesn't. Luckily for her Danny was able to screw up many things including submarining someone else's dish.

So that is it. Danny is asked to pack up his knives and leave.

Labels: Television, Top Chef

- posted by Doug @ 11:27:00 PM