Twelve contestants remain, having been spared last week from the chopping block due to a technicality. This week's episode began with some debate over the judges' decision not to send anyone home. Betty defended herself over and over that her mistake was due to a misunderstanding of the rules, while others felt it was an unfair call not to send her home. While cameraderie seemed fairly strong last episode, it appears that alliances have since been formed: Josie and Marisa have formed a close bond, while Betty and Mia--despite the fact it was Mia that called out Betty's indiscretion--seemed to ally themselves based on their similar culinary points-of-view.
Padma, joined by guest judge, Michelle Bernstein of Michy's in Florida and Social Restaurants in California, announced this week's Quickfire Challenge: to create a dish using "leftovers." Of course, not the leftovers you and I are thinking, but those random cuts of meat that are "left over" from butchering. The counter was piled with hearts and heads and tails and feet and all sorts of awful offal. Contestants with high end restaurant experience tended to be more familiar with such products and set off to devise their creations.
Mia turned back to her Southern roots and offered up Braised Pigs Feet with Cornbread, while Marcel went German and created a Sweetbread Schnitzel with a sauce containing pig's blood. Carlos prepared Sauteed Sweetbreads with herbs; Marisa served up Beef Cheeks over Papardelle; Frank presented an Arugula-Sweetbread Tart; Mike topped his Veal Tail and Tongue Stew with toasted bread and fried egg; and Betty made a Fish Head-Beef Cheek in Brodo.
Michelle Bernstein was pleasantly surprised by most of the contestants’ preparations, but still managed to identify two that failed to satisfy: Marisa’s Seared Lamb Kidneys had not been soaked or cleaned properly and, therefore, tasted terribly, while Josie’s Oxtail in Carrot Broth with Cracklings was simply too tough and inedible.
On the up side, Ilan’s Almond-Dusted Sweetbreads with Champagne Vinegar Sauce and Cliff’s Braised Oxtail were praised for their high quality and flavor. But, it was Sam’s Sweetbread Beignets flavored with Chinese 5-Spice that won this week’s Quickfire.
The next day, the contestants gathered at off-site for their next Elimination Challenge, at Social Restaurant in Hollywood. Their task: to create a six-course tasting menu for a party of 60, hosted by actress Jennifer Coolidge (best known for her kooky blonde roles in “Best in Show,” “Friends,” and “American Pie,” as Stiffler’s Mom). Again, the theme for this challenge was “leftovers,” but this time, it really meant leftovers: they were to create their menu from food that remained from the previous evening’s dinner.
The contestants were informed that they were to choose a partner and work in pairs—each pair would draw knives to determine which of the six courses they would be preparing. Responsible for Course 1 would be Frank and Marcel, an odd coupling to say the least. After being asked by Frank to partner up with him, Marcel likened the moment to “going to prom” with someone you don’t particularly want to go with. Course 2 went to Cliff and Sam, who showed some promise for a perfect partnership. Course 3 was designated to what seemed to be another odd coupe, Mike and Ilan. However, over the past few challenges, they had formed quite a friendship themselves. Mia and Betty drew Course 4, Marisa and Josie took on Course 5, and rounding out on Course 6 were Carlos and Elia.
As they raced back to the Social kitchen, Mia and Betty immediately tried to rally the troops and discuss the overall menu, but to no avail. The remaining teams set off on their own missions, without regard to what any of the other teams were doing. As soon became evident, their failure to plan caused a few bumps along the way.
Course 1: Not without some argument, Marcel and Frank put out a Salmon Duo, consisting of salmon tartare and salmon mousse. From proper butchering technique to whose sauce was better, these two butted heads all throughout the entire challenge. At the dining table, the judges criticized the textural combination of the two dishes, referring to it simply as “bad.”
Course 2: Working like a well-oiled machine, Cliff and Sam paired up a Seared Scallop and Foie Gras with Fig Puree, which drew raves from the entire room.
Course 3: The seemingly odd pairing of Mike and Ilan won over the crowd with their Seafood Paella topped with a Sauteed Soft-shell Crab.
Course 4: The judges panned the Duck Napoleon with Mashed Sweet Potatoes prepared by Mia and Betty, for their overcooked duck and unnecessary puff pastry.
Course 5: Josie and Marisa made a technical error by offering an intermezzo so late in the menu. They had prepared an “Awakening Trio” to cleanse the palate: Pineapple Salad, Apple-Fennel Salad, and Soup of Coconut, Lime, and Prickly Pear. The judges felt the two had completely missed the mark—the three dishes seemed disconnected and did anything but cleanse their palates. On top of this, their poor decision to offer a palate cleanser as a 5th course was simply a wrong move.
Course 6: Elia and Carlos served up a dessert trio, consisting of Pineapple Sorbet, Mascarpone-Phyllo Napoleon, and a Pomegranate-Orange Juice Shooter with Basil. In addition to criticizing the disconnectedness of the components, the judges also complained that the pomegranate juice tasted as if it had sat out for two days.
At the judges’ table, two teams were called out for their excellent preparations: Ilan/Mike and Cliff/Sam. Though the judges expressed some disappointment that the contestants had failed to use some of the better “leftover” ingredients—duck confit (one of my favorite things in the world!), purple artichokes—they proclaimed these teams’ dishes as the most superior. In the end, it was the combination of Ilan and Mike, with their paella and soft-shell crab combination that won the honors, and Ilan was singled out for the added bonus: to work with Michelle Bernstein in the upcoming South Beach Food and Wine Festival.
Called next to the judges table were the combinations of Betty/Mia, Carlos/Elia, and Josie/Marisa. On top of being unnecessary, Betty and Mia’s puff pastry was criticized for being undercooked—a pet peeve of Tom Colicchio. Carlos and Elia were admonished for their poor judgment in putting out three really bad desserts instead of using their time and resources to put together one really good dessert. Finally, Josie and Marisa’s failed attempt at an intermezzo garnered the most criticism—not only did they technically not cook anything, but the product they put out simply did not work. And for this lapse in judgment, the team of Josie and Marisa was told to pack their knives and go. In her exit interview, Josie railed and railed that she had the talent to make it to the end, but because of one bad judgment call, she was out. I guess we’ll never know.
Padma, joined by guest judge, Michelle Bernstein of Michy's in Florida and Social Restaurants in California, announced this week's Quickfire Challenge: to create a dish using "leftovers." Of course, not the leftovers you and I are thinking, but those random cuts of meat that are "left over" from butchering. The counter was piled with hearts and heads and tails and feet and all sorts of awful offal. Contestants with high end restaurant experience tended to be more familiar with such products and set off to devise their creations.
Mia turned back to her Southern roots and offered up Braised Pigs Feet with Cornbread, while Marcel went German and created a Sweetbread Schnitzel with a sauce containing pig's blood. Carlos prepared Sauteed Sweetbreads with herbs; Marisa served up Beef Cheeks over Papardelle; Frank presented an Arugula-Sweetbread Tart; Mike topped his Veal Tail and Tongue Stew with toasted bread and fried egg; and Betty made a Fish Head-Beef Cheek in Brodo.
Michelle Bernstein was pleasantly surprised by most of the contestants’ preparations, but still managed to identify two that failed to satisfy: Marisa’s Seared Lamb Kidneys had not been soaked or cleaned properly and, therefore, tasted terribly, while Josie’s Oxtail in Carrot Broth with Cracklings was simply too tough and inedible.
On the up side, Ilan’s Almond-Dusted Sweetbreads with Champagne Vinegar Sauce and Cliff’s Braised Oxtail were praised for their high quality and flavor. But, it was Sam’s Sweetbread Beignets flavored with Chinese 5-Spice that won this week’s Quickfire.
The next day, the contestants gathered at off-site for their next Elimination Challenge, at Social Restaurant in Hollywood. Their task: to create a six-course tasting menu for a party of 60, hosted by actress Jennifer Coolidge (best known for her kooky blonde roles in “Best in Show,” “Friends,” and “American Pie,” as Stiffler’s Mom). Again, the theme for this challenge was “leftovers,” but this time, it really meant leftovers: they were to create their menu from food that remained from the previous evening’s dinner.
The contestants were informed that they were to choose a partner and work in pairs—each pair would draw knives to determine which of the six courses they would be preparing. Responsible for Course 1 would be Frank and Marcel, an odd coupling to say the least. After being asked by Frank to partner up with him, Marcel likened the moment to “going to prom” with someone you don’t particularly want to go with. Course 2 went to Cliff and Sam, who showed some promise for a perfect partnership. Course 3 was designated to what seemed to be another odd coupe, Mike and Ilan. However, over the past few challenges, they had formed quite a friendship themselves. Mia and Betty drew Course 4, Marisa and Josie took on Course 5, and rounding out on Course 6 were Carlos and Elia.
As they raced back to the Social kitchen, Mia and Betty immediately tried to rally the troops and discuss the overall menu, but to no avail. The remaining teams set off on their own missions, without regard to what any of the other teams were doing. As soon became evident, their failure to plan caused a few bumps along the way.
Course 1: Not without some argument, Marcel and Frank put out a Salmon Duo, consisting of salmon tartare and salmon mousse. From proper butchering technique to whose sauce was better, these two butted heads all throughout the entire challenge. At the dining table, the judges criticized the textural combination of the two dishes, referring to it simply as “bad.”
Course 2: Working like a well-oiled machine, Cliff and Sam paired up a Seared Scallop and Foie Gras with Fig Puree, which drew raves from the entire room.
Course 3: The seemingly odd pairing of Mike and Ilan won over the crowd with their Seafood Paella topped with a Sauteed Soft-shell Crab.
Course 4: The judges panned the Duck Napoleon with Mashed Sweet Potatoes prepared by Mia and Betty, for their overcooked duck and unnecessary puff pastry.
Course 5: Josie and Marisa made a technical error by offering an intermezzo so late in the menu. They had prepared an “Awakening Trio” to cleanse the palate: Pineapple Salad, Apple-Fennel Salad, and Soup of Coconut, Lime, and Prickly Pear. The judges felt the two had completely missed the mark—the three dishes seemed disconnected and did anything but cleanse their palates. On top of this, their poor decision to offer a palate cleanser as a 5th course was simply a wrong move.
Course 6: Elia and Carlos served up a dessert trio, consisting of Pineapple Sorbet, Mascarpone-Phyllo Napoleon, and a Pomegranate-Orange Juice Shooter with Basil. In addition to criticizing the disconnectedness of the components, the judges also complained that the pomegranate juice tasted as if it had sat out for two days.
At the judges’ table, two teams were called out for their excellent preparations: Ilan/Mike and Cliff/Sam. Though the judges expressed some disappointment that the contestants had failed to use some of the better “leftover” ingredients—duck confit (one of my favorite things in the world!), purple artichokes—they proclaimed these teams’ dishes as the most superior. In the end, it was the combination of Ilan and Mike, with their paella and soft-shell crab combination that won the honors, and Ilan was singled out for the added bonus: to work with Michelle Bernstein in the upcoming South Beach Food and Wine Festival.
Called next to the judges table were the combinations of Betty/Mia, Carlos/Elia, and Josie/Marisa. On top of being unnecessary, Betty and Mia’s puff pastry was criticized for being undercooked—a pet peeve of Tom Colicchio. Carlos and Elia were admonished for their poor judgment in putting out three really bad desserts instead of using their time and resources to put together one really good dessert. Finally, Josie and Marisa’s failed attempt at an intermezzo garnered the most criticism—not only did they technically not cook anything, but the product they put out simply did not work. And for this lapse in judgment, the team of Josie and Marisa was told to pack their knives and go. In her exit interview, Josie railed and railed that she had the talent to make it to the end, but because of one bad judgment call, she was out. I guess we’ll never know.
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