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For Stefan, Emeril says that in his 28 years living in Louisiana, he's never had gumbo over grits...but that the grits were good. Not so much with the gumbo, which was not as dark and didn't have as strong a flavor as he would have liked. Emeril also loved the concept of his beignet, but wanted it hotter. Tom strongly criticizes Stefan's attitude (IT'S ABOUT FREAKING TIME) saying that in the kitchen he was calm to the point of being overconfident.

"I'm 36-years-old," Stefan says callously with a shrug. "If it works out then it works out and if it doesn't then, fine." Wow, you really sound like you want to win this thing.

Carla is smiling before the judges even get to her and she has every right. "There was nothing wrong with that stew," says Tom, "we all agree that it was very good." Carla is thrilled. Emeril says that he was thrown off by her decision to serve a non-alcoholic drink with it being Mardi Gras and all but says that it was fizzy and very well done. Gail says that Carla's beignets were her favorite dish of the night and she could have kept popping them in her mouth for hours.

Hosea gets some big props for his gumbo, with the judges complimenting his roux and developed flavors. Hosea smirks. Stefan scowls. Emeril says that if he'd been blindfolded and tasted Hosea's gumbo, he might have assumed that it came out of any great restaurant in New Orleans. Tom says that he initially thought that Hosea's fish was overcomplicated but that it didn't taste that way at all.

Brimming with (mostly) praise, the chefs return to the "Stew Room" (which is actually a gorgeous, comfortable suite at a fantastic hotel) and the judges discuss. They immediately agree that Carla had the top dishes. Gail calls her oyster dish "perfect," and Emeril agrees by calling it a "home run." Tom says that the beignet was a home run as well.

"The food certainly had a level of care to it," he adds.

"And sophistication," pipes in Gail. Okay, Carla is totally safe.

Hosea and Jeff also get some positive marks but in Jeff's case, things are a little different.

"It was a strong effort," Tom says, "but he has to win this [to make it to the finale]. Quite frankly, I think that he is in the Top Three." But that's not good enough. Sounds like he's going home and either Fabio or Stefan will get that last spot.

With Stefan, the judges mostly have a problem with the fact that none of them felt compelled to go back for seconds of any of his food. Beyond that, he just didn't get the essence of New Orleans cooking.

"It was lovely but it didn't have soul," says Gail.

"He was overconfident," criticizes Tom.

"It was a laissez-faire attitude," she agrees. "He doesn't really care." Ouch.

As for Fabio, if he gets sent home, it's because he didn't have strong layering of flavors, with some ingredients not cooked long enough or put together correctly. Padma wishes that his pasta had a tang of tomato. Tom laments the missed opportunity with Fabio's drink, which could have been great.

I still say that Stefan and Jeff are going home.

The chefs are called back out and Emeril says that there was a clear winner in this challenge. This chef presented a wonderful representation of New Orleans food and that he appreciated their "balance, flavor, temperature, simplicity yet creativity." And the winner is...CARLA!!! I'm thrilled and so is she. I think Carla totally deserved it - and you know what she also deserved?

(*in my best Price Is Right impression*) A BRAND NEW CARRRRRRRRRRRR!!

Carla is doubly or triply thrilled. Wow, her husband must love her. Tickets to the Super Bowl and a new Toyota.

Unfortunately for Jeff, the announcement that Carla has won means that he's going home. Emeril tells him that he did a fantastic job, but I don't think Jeff has any idea how close he was to making it to the final three.

With little fanfare, Hosea is told that he's safe. He brought a little something extra, says Tom, with strong dishes and a strong performance. Hosea smirks. Stefan scowls.

It's the end of Team Euro. Two chefs, one spot left. Tom gives the final pronouncements. Stefan's food was good but his gumbo was second best. He came off as cocky and didn't deliver. For Fabio, he cooked a traditional dish along with something from Italy. However, his flavors weren't layered correctly and just missed the mark.

It's crazy tense as Padma waits to say which chef has made it to the finale.

. . .

. . .

"Fabio," Padma says, "please pack your knives and go."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Darth Vader is not happy.

Fabio immediately turns to Stefan and says, "If you don't win, I'll kick your ass." It's a touching moment but I'm hoping beyond hope that Stefan doesn't win. Fabio insists that Stefan will win since the only person that could have beaten him was himself - and, well, he's eliminated.

I beg to differ. Stefan has been on the brink of elimination for the past two challenges. He's been beaten both times by the two chefs that are in the finale with him: Carla and Hosea. This is not over. Not by a long shot.

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