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The fallout from Restaurant Wars resonates throughout this week’s Power Rankings. There are several dramatic changes, not because I believe that the dynamic of the players competing has fundamentally changed but instead due to the importance of this particular challenge. Anyone who excelled/struggled should receive a re-evaluation. Restaurant Wars has symbolic significance each season. Its impact often permeates throughout the final few episodes.

1) Nina
I could not in good conscience remove Nina from the top of the Power Rankings. What transpired with Found was a catastrophe largely beyond her control. She did not take the train off the tracks with the design conversation that prevented menu population. Her personality was not one of the two that led the project down the wrong path. And she cooked the best meal for her team according to the judges. What I would note is that Nina has not won in three consecutive episodes. If she continues to struggle (at least by her standards), her early season dominance will carry less weight in future Power Rankings.

2) Nicholas
As I have stated previously, Nick has underachieved a great deal relative to the level of talent I believe he possesses. Restaurant Wars was his time to shine as the executive chef of Fin. What transpired is a testament to his level of skill not only as a chef but also a natural leader. Fin may not have served the best food in the history of Top Chef – I presume that honor will always be held by the Voltaggio brothers – but his team can stake a claim as the most harmonious unit in 11 seasons. Being the best organized group of 22 competing teams is a lofty achievement. Nick deserves a great deal of credit for it.

3) Carrie
She moves up two spots this week because I give her a great deal of credit for her team’s success. Carrie’s dish was heavily lauded. She was also the only one of the players whom I had ranked in the top four last week who seemed able to leave her ego at the door during Restaurant Wars. Even Nina became controlling at a few key moments during the episode. Perhaps the editing was favorable to her, but Carrie smiled and laughed throughout the proceedings, a sign of her comfort level at this stage of the game. If anyone can unseat Nina as the best player this season, I think it is Carrie.

4) Shirley
I toyed with the notion of dropping her further. Then, I remembered that Shirley did the smartest thing possible during Restaurant Wars. She understood the battle of wills between her more combative teammates. Rather than adding her overwhelming (but well intended) personality into the mix, Shirley humbled herself by putting her head down. She was a great worker bee during a combustible situation. Also, while the judges eventually deferred to Nina, Shirley’s dish was heavily praised as the best from Found for at least a time. I see no reason to ding her for the mistakes of her peers.

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