Recap of Top Chef Las Vegas, Episode 7
The Chefs are Challenged to Deconstruct Classic Dishes
The show begins with various chefs discussing how sad they are that Mattin was sent home last episode. They don’t understand why Robin is still on the show, because she can’t cook. Robin knows that she was in the bottom last episode and vows to work herself back up to the top.
Quickfire – Angel versus Devil
Let the competition begin! The chefs are tested to an Angel versus Devil Quickfire. This Quickfire uses the angle on one shoulder and devil on the other shoulder premise on order to have the chefs create two dishes. One dish is their angel, and the other is their devil.
Older brother Voltaggio (Bryan) uses a sinful, dark chocolate dessert and a light, white dessert. His concept is fine, but the flavors do not impress the judges. His younger brother, Michael, makes a dish of two different types of salmon, and the judges love it.
The judges are not fond of Laurine’s dish because it was completely unmemorable. Ash also messes up when he only provides a devil dish (his angel dish didn’t make it).
The unpopular Robin makes an apple crisp and a salad. The apple crisp is her devil because it has sugar in it and since she used to have cancer, she knows she shouldn’t eat sugar. Robin wins the Quickfire and Eli is mad. He complains that Robin threw the cancer card (and she kind of did) just for a win. Alas, she is granted immunity and does not stop talking the entire episode.
Elimination Challenge – Deconstruct a Classic Dish
Magician duo Penn and the silent Teller are the guests for this challenge. For episode 6’s elimination challenge, the chefs must deconstruct a classic dish. The dishes in question are: Clam Chowder, Shepard’s Pie, Meatloaf, Rueben Sandwich, Caesar Salad, Chicken Mole Negro, Pot Roast and so on.
The chefs prepare their deconstructed dishes and box them up into Glad plastic containers in hopes that head judge Tom Colicchio will love what they have made. Laurine is annoyed at Robin because Robin never stops muttering to herself about cancer. Ashley annoys the viewers because she never stops reminding them that she grew up poor. The Voltaggio brothers have their normal sibling rivalry fists up, as the elder calls the younger a show-off for making his own brioche.
The big judging night is upon the chefs, and (un)fortunately the judges are joined by guest judge, Toby Young. Toby Young is known to be a bit of a tough critic who thinks it is weird to pronounce “paella” correctly. It seems that Tom Colicchio thinks Toby is wrong. Toby should know not to mess with the Almighty Tom Colicchio.
The contestants serve their dishes, and the judges eat. Penn and Teller give honest commentary, and Toby hates everything (and the judges hate him, so they all hate something). Some dishes are winners are some are losers.
Final Judgment
First up are the four chefs who were the best. Jennifer was there. She did a deconstructed meatloaf that the judges loved. They thought each element was simple and done beautifully. Ashley, the girl who never had pot roast because she was so poor, sure knows how to deconstruct a pot roast. She was also one of the top chefs.
Michael V, who is always in the top, wowed the judges with his Caesar Salad. He baked his own bread and made a little capsule that when poked would explode with dressing. Penn and Teller did not appreciate the lack of explosion, but they liked the food.
Kevin did a Chicken in a Mole Sauce that beat all the rest. The dish has many complexities and Kevin artfully deconstructed each one and impressed the judges with his cooking and the flavor of his dish. Kevin is thrilled to be the big winner of episode 6.
Next up, is the bottom three chefs. Ash picks Shepard’s pie and mucks it all up; he doesn’t even include potatoes! Laurine picks fish and chips and might not be sure what the chip in fish and chips means. Ron picks Paella and does not even know what “deconstruct” means. It was a mess. The level of cooking and creativity was poor. Finally, Padma asks Ron to pack his knives and go. Do not feel bad for him, as he has lived the American dream and he is happy.
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