The chefs take a two-month hiatus. When they return, we see not much is changed. Sam, Elia and Ilan still hate Marcel. Ugh!
INTRODUCTION:
We get a mini-tour of the chef’s lives since the main competition aired. It’s been two months since the finalists were chosen. Since then, Sam has learned more about pastry. Ilan has studied Hawaiian cuisine. Elia has cooked and tried not to stress, and Marcel has done chemical testing to improve his skills. He’s such a food geek.
THE PLANE RIDE:
We see that some things have not changed as Elia and Sam get on the plane first and sit next to each other. They leave Ilan to sit next to Marcel. Hey, it’s first class, people. Stop kvetching! Oy vey!
HAWAIIAN LUAU:
They arrive in Hawaii and get lei’d by Miss Hawaii (hehe). Then, they are whisked away to a sumptuous luau feast that they’ll share with Tom, Padma, Gail and guest chef, Alan Wong. Mr. Wong is a master of regional Hawaiian cuisine. He tells the chefs about the techniques and tastes in the traditional fare they’re chowing down on. They are told to listen and remember these details.
Why?
CHALLENGE TIME:
The chefs must each prepare two dishes for Mr. Wong’s birthday luau. They have to fuse Hawaiian elements with their own style. Two chefs will be eliminated after this challenge is said and done.
Sam took the ‘safe route’ and made Opakapaka poke with sea beans. It was sort of ceviche-style. His second dish was a coconut dessert with mascarpone cheese that everyone loved. Elia made ahi poke with olives and Mediterranean flavors. Secondly, she did a snapped steamed in ti leaves. It featured veggies like carrots and peas. Marcel made a raw pineapple poi, using xantham gum to thicken it. It was paired with a Hamachi poke. The second dish featured a tomato foam – big shocker there. He also used Lomi lomi salmon. Finally, Ilan infused Spanish elements into his dishes. He put saffron in his fried-coconut donut and used taro leaves with his squid and morcilla (blood sausage) dish.
DELIBERATIONS:
The judges liked all the food, but they had to choose two to stay and two to leave. They decided that Marcel did better than Elia but couldn’t really decide what to do with Sam and Ilan. Chef Wong liked Sam’s dishes until Tom pointed out that he didn’t actually cook anything. Padma was like, “so?” I was with her. Food preparation isn’t always about the cooking. It’s about the flavor and the fish and other elements are very good raw.
MORE DRAMA:
Elia, Ilan and Sam are talking while the judges do their thing. Elia is upset because Marcel disrespects them in the kitchen. She wants to speak out. Ilan is like, “Do it!” He says he’ll back her up. Sam sort of stays out of it but hints that the only way to get Marcel out is to prove he’s been cheating.
VERDICT TIME:
The judges are ready to tell two chefs to “pack their knives & go.” Elia says that Marcel doesn’t respect the kitchen or the food. Ilan doesn’t say a word…
Tom tells her that they’re not judging behavior. They’re judging the work in the kitchen. In the end, Padma, who looks like she's about to cry, delivers the news that Elia and Sam are going home.
Marcel and Ilan will be facing each other in the Top Chef final showdown which airs next week.
