Top Chef: New York heads to New Orleans for the final two episodes. After last week’s elimination, only four chefs remain in the running -- Carla Hall, Fabio Viviani, Stefan Richter, and Hosea Rosenberg. Carla feels that she is still looked at as the underdog by her fellow competitors, while Stefan seems to be unconcerned about the chefs that are left.
Quickfire Challenge - Jamie, Leah, and Jeff Return
Arriving in New Orleans in their street clothes, the chefs are taken to Houmas House Plantation and Gardens for a Quickfire Challenge. When they arrive, they notice that there are only three tables set up. Host Padma Lakshmi, Head Judge Tom Colicchio, and guest judge Chef Emeril Lagasse talk to the chefs about New Orleans food and announce that the remaining contestants will not be competing in the Quickfire Challenge.
Out of the house emerge Jamie Lauren, Leah Cohen, and Jeff McInnis, three competitors who had been eliminated. The winner of the Quickfire will receive the chance to compete in this week’s Elimination Challenge and may have a shot at being named Top Chef. They have one hour to create a crawfish-based dish for the judges. Jeff wins the competition and a copy of Emeril’s new book, Emeril at the Grill. However, he learns that in order to advance to the finale, he must win the Elimination Challenge. Emeril tells the chefs that they will be dining at his flagship restaurant, Emeril’s Delmonico, that evening.
Elimination Challenge - Krewe of Orpheus Masquerade Ball
The next day, the five chefs meet Padma and Emeril at Mardi Gras World to find out what their Elimination Challenge will be. They tell them that the Krewe of Orpheus Masquerade Ball is going to take place at the New Orleans Museum of Art, and they will be catering. Each chef will be responsible for creating two dishes and one cocktail for the guests. However, one of those dishes must be in the Creole style of cooking. They will have five hours to prepare their dishes at Emeril’s Delmonico and one hour to set up at the Museum.
The chefs all had very different cooking styles. In the kitchen at Delmonico, Stefan seemed arrogant about his chances and took the time to try and rattle the other chefs. Even Tom noticed the attitude when he walked through the kitchen. Meanwhile, Hosea spent much of his prep time working on a roux for gumbo. Carla worked on an oyster stew, though she had little experience shucking oysters. She also decided to prepare a non-alcoholic cocktail, because she does not drink and rarely has many choices at events like the Ball. Jeff’s priority in this elimination challenge was simplifying his dishes, as the judges frequently commented that he tried to do too much.
Judge’s Table and Elimination
For this elimination, Gail Simmons of Food & Wine magazine has returned and her replacement, Toby Young, was not their. Emeril stayed on as the guest judge for the elimination as well. Each of the five chefs was given positive feedback, although only Carla and Jeff seemed to avoid any criticism. Jeff had the judge’s favorite cocktail of the night, with his cucumber mojito. The judge’s had wondered about Carla’s choice of a non-alcoholic beverage, until they drank it.
Carla, Jeff, and Hosea were the judge’s top three contestants. However, since Carla beat Jeff by a small margin, he will not be continuing to the finale. Carla was also given a 2009 Toyota Venza as a prize for winning the challenge. The three chefs leave the room as Stefan and Fabio face the judges. These two chefs had been at the top of the pack for most of the season. Padma asked Fabio to pack his knives and go.
Stay tuned for the next episode of Bravo’s hit reality series, Top Chef: New York as the last three chefs compete in New Orleans. New episodes air on Wednesday nights at 10 PM. Visit the Top Chef: New York Page for more episode summaries, cast profiles, and gossip on the show.
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