New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

The start of the episode has been Nick-extensive, which is probably not a good sign for his Top Chef future. What is notable during the first phase of the Quickfire challenge is that Nick has an epiphany. He has (finally) deduced that chefs using three or four ingredients are winning challenges. He has been using seven or eight. Finally embracing simplicity, Nick utilizes deckle of beef, the key flavor in rib eye, to craft a steak and potatoes dish.

The realization of how Top Chef is about pleasing the judges rather than displaying impeccable dishes could be what saves Nick. The judges commented last week that his carrot dish demonstrated a lot of skill; it simply lacked imagination. Nick is finally thinking through a challenge and developing an endgame strategy. It’s about time.

Shirley also crafts a steak dish although she seems to use more ingredients. Carlos outdoes her with a shrimp dish with a complex gastrique. Nina also selects shrimp with pancetta. She crafts an escabeche that strikes me as a perfect demonstration of her natural skill. I stop typing, rewind and watch her technique. Nina is amazing.

Before the judging begins, we have another instance of Nick having a flare up. He accuses Shirley of changing the temperature in the oven from 300 degrees. His paranoia over oven temperature is understandable given what transpired last week. Shirley barks back at him in a way that identifies how such a small woman can demand respect in the kitchen. She is a firebrand. She also laughs during a monologue about how “Nick always act like a dick," noting that she never takes anything personally in the kitchen. I sincerely hope that Nick is watching these episodes and re-evaluating his behavior. There is a lot of truth to be discovered in that mirror.

During the presentation to the judges, Shirley experiences the worst fate. All parts of her bite collapse, falling off the fork. She has to rebuild her dish on the fly. With only four players remaining, that sort of mistake is automatically fatal. Nina is praised by Tom Colicchio for her shrimp flavors; her dish is too greasy, though. In a huge upset, both men advance to round two while the superior chefs, the ladies, are left watching.

The second heat requires Nick and Carlos to showcase their choice of eggplant or red bell pepper. Obviously, the feudin’ fellas embrace the heads up competition. Carlos crafts a soup, noting that when he wins, the dish will be added to his restaurant menu. He will call it Red Toyota Corolla Red Pepper Soup. Nick quickly forgets everything he just learned and builds two different versions of eggplant. He again wants to demonstrate his expertise.

Carlos is giddy at this turn of events. More than anyone else on Top Chef this season, Carlos appreciates the beauty of simplicity. The judges agree. In a slight upset, Carlos is chosen as the winner of the Quickfire challenge. Hey Mexique customers, enjoy your Red Toyota Corolla Red Pepper Soup! Carlos’ victory is a bad sign for Nick, who now lacks momentum and has been beaten in a one on one challenge by the other chef most likely to be eliminated tonight. Nick is in trouble.

Emeril joins the other judges in Top Chef Kitchen. He announces the details of the Elimination challenge, the final one in New Orleans. The chefs are required to combine all of their experiences in the Big Easy, crafting a dish that will leave an indelible impression on the city. It is a fitting challenge. Top Chef was derided for accepting taxpayer money to film in New Orleans. The producers of the show took that criticism to heart and embraced the local culture better than they have in any other season to date. A final dish that reflects this journey is the perfect decision.

I do not want to overstate the importance of this challenge. With only four players remaining, everyone including Louis will be heading to the next destination after New Orleans. This is not quite an all or nothing situation. The player eliminated tonight will have a chance to earn re-entry into the competition via two or three wins in Last Chance Kitchen. All that happens to the losing player is that they begin in the loser’s bracket when they reach the new location, which my TiVo tells me is Maui.

Continued:       1       2       3       4