Top Chef - Season 5 -
"Restaurant Wars"

The quickfire challenge is to create one dish to showcase a prospective restaurant. There is no immunity on the line but the top 2 finishers get to be the chef-owners for the restaurant wars.

Jeff was not impressive with his salmon. Fabio's lunch concept didn't do it either. However Radhika impressed the judge. Her opponent in restaurant wars is going to be Leah. Wow. Leah is one of the weaker chefs remaining so it is odd that she will be the chef-owner for this challenge.

Interestingly enough, Stefan is the last chef picked despite being one of the strongest. This just shows how much people do not like working with him.

In Radhika's restaurant the meal is received well. That is all the main courses and starters are received well. Not surprisingly the deserts are widely thought to be poor. As usual the deserts are a weak point on Top Chef. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the seasons.

In Leah's restaurant, "Sunset Lounge", the judges like Fabio's greeting but are not impressed with the amuse-bouche. Not a great start. The meal does improve in the appetizers but not by much. The short ribs are cooked well but the fish was not cooked well. That was Leah's fish. Team captain Leah. It would be tough to see her surviving. This time, the deserts are well received and actually called the best part of the meal. Stefan nailed these deserts.

The judges decide the Leah's team was the winners. The attribute the win to Fabio's personality and Stefan's deserts. Leah would've been going home for her cod if her team had not won. Stefan was named the winner for this challenge.

Radhika's restaurant, "Sahana", was the losing restaurant, albeit by a slim margin. The food was probably better in this restaurant but the front of the house and the desert really set them back. Radhika is getting pummeled in this judges table and I think there is really no other choice.

Sure enough it was Radhika who was sent home. She was unable to control her restaurant and make the adjustments with the failing deserts. Radhika is asked to pack her knives and go.

As usual I have included where I would've ranked Radhika. This is the ranking of who is most likely to win Top Chef. Not much has changed this week as I was unable to think of a reason to shuffle my top 5 too much. The only change was dropping Hosea down and bumping Fabio up.
1) Stefan (was 1)
2) Jeff (was 2)
3) Jamie (was 3)
4) Fabio (was 4)
5) Hosea (was 5)
6) Radhika (was 6)
7) Leah (was 7)
8) Carla (was 8)

Labels: Television, Top Chef

- posted by Doug @ 10:00:00 PM