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Top Chef: Whole-a Whole-Lotta Lamb
Yet another photo appropriated from the fine Top Chef section of Bravo's Web site.
Ahhh parrots, lambs, and pepper monkeys -- welcome back to our review of the Top Chef animal farm. Another Top Chef episode in the can; the season will be over shortly, so watch it while you can. Although, as we told you last week, that the show's been picked up for another season, this is the last chance for this cast of characters (and this is the last chance to see the epitome of evil amongst food-based game show contestants.) Sadly, there won't be much regarding our fair San Francisco in the next few episodes: tonight's episode is a reunion (and presumably something of a clip show), and the finals are in Las Vegas.
So, to recap last week: Tiffani makes some statement about she's "not here to be anyone's friend." Yeah, it shows. Lee Anne calls her a "chameleon." We liked our "Jeckyl/Hyde/Banner/Hulk" analogy better.
With only four contestants, the "quickfire" challenge no longer grants immunity, but Chef Tom says it will be a factor in the ultimate decision. The challenge: the table is laden with junk/snack food; the contestants must pick an ingredient/snack and "class it up." Harold grabs the popcorn, turns it into a popcorn cake, and uses it as a starch for a ceviche dish. Dave totally goes "chicken without its head," as usual, and manages to make, er, "nachos." Wow, the culinary excellence. What's next, toaster waffles? Tiffani makes a classed-up corndog, the ingredients of which include chorizo and camembert cream as a sauce. Lee Anne also goes for something in the "dog" family: a Japanese seafood hotdog with hot and spicy mustard. The winner? Clearly Harold; Chef Tom lauds his "clean flavors." Judge Gail pretty much is Chef Tom's parrot and repeats what he says. "Clean flavors . . . ba-gawk!"
The BIG CHALLENGE: The kids are up in Napa and must serve a Périgord black truffle-oriented dish to a council of chefs--a cavalcade of Bay Area guest-stars composed of, per Gail's show blog on Bravo's Web site:
"Victor Scargle of Julia's Kitchen at COPIA and our gracious host for the day, Cindy Pawclyn of Mustards Grill, Philippe Jeanty of Bistro Jeanty, Lissa Doumani and Hiro Sone of Terra and Ame, James McDevitt of Budo, Greg Cole of Celadon, Keith Luce of Press Restaurant, Doug Keane of Cyrus, and of course John Schafer of Schafer Vineyards"
The four contestants get one hour in which to spend $250 bucks at Sunshine Foods in preparation.
One wrinkle: The black truffle-oriented dish must pair well with a specific wine the contestants are allowed to sample, one that will be served to all the judges.
Harold goes for lamb. Lee Anne goes for lamb. Tiffani? Lamb.
Dave? Dave goes for the beef. Advantage? Perhaps.
They prepare their plates in the Julia Child Kitchen. Lee Anne mentions how meaningful it is, that she met the great lady of cuisine herself. It's quite touching until Bitchani sort of rolls her eyes, gives her the "so blanking what" look, and pops off that she "met her too."
Tiffani continues her charming ways by insisting that folks be quieter while she cooks. Artist at work, people! The results: her lamb dish contains some cauliflower, which makes the acidity in the wine stand out. The judges seem to like it but for that fact. Harold's dish (pictured above) goes over well, but his mushrooms are described as "gritty." Tiff thinks Lee Anne's using too many ingredients and is over-ambitious; unfortunately, the chefs seem to agree. One calls her dish "a starchy mess."
And then there's the non-lamb. Dave, during his presentation, is described as having "diarrhea of the mouth." And, condescendingly, as a "pepper monkey," due to his evident vast overuse of pepper. However, he gets some great reactions to his dish, basically a mac & cheese that incorporates the truffles, even to the point of having a little truffle-ific surprise waiting at the bottom of the pasta part of his dish.
Harold's good (if slightly flawed) dish, plus his victory in the quickfire challenge, earn him a spot in the Las Vegas final. Chef Tom lauds Dave for taking "an expensive ingredient and still making it soulful." Dave sheds some of his patented tears of joy -- he's going to Vegas. Holy crap. That means one of Tiff or Lee Anne, both heavily favored by SFist pundits (er, uh, Jeremy and Rita) throughout the competition, is going home.
There's some semi-posery self-promotion time, where the judges ask the two ladies to justify their place in the finals. But it's kind of a foregone conclusion. Lee Anne's gone . . . ultimately her execution fell short. She's been a stalwart to this point, and she picked the wrong wrong wrong time to overcomplicate.
We'll see Tiffani (both of her), Dave, and Harold at the finals in Vegas in a few weeks. But first? Tonight's reuinion episode. Keep your eyes peeled for the Top Chef Bonus Coverage: The Top Chef Drinking Game to help you fully enjoy that experience.