Top Chef Texas Recap: The Finalists Are Chosen

Pictured: (l-r) Edward Lee, Sarah Grueneberg, Lindsay Autry, Paul Qui -- Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo

Welcome back, fans. We have been out of the country but have returned to recap this week's Top Chef Texas. Let's see what's going on!

Edward predicts that Beverly is returning to the competition. Sarah believes it will be Grayson.

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs walk into the kitchen and are soon joined by Beverly - winner of the Last Chance Kitchen. The chefs are given blindfolds and must pick their ingredients without the benefit of sight. Then they must use every one of those chosen ingredients in their dish. Winner can choose a new car or a guaranteed spot in the final four. The chefs fumble around the pantry, grabbing ingredients.

Beverly offers striped bass with avocado, lime and jalapeno. Paul did a sauteed prawn with Thai-style tomato salad. Edward presents "udon" with ribbons of zucchini, mushrooms and scallions. Sarah made corn soup with onion, red chili, roasted mushrooms and peaches. Lindsay made fish with bulgar wheat, marscapone and broccoli rabe. Winner is: Sarah. She chooses the guaranteed spot in the final four so she goes off to enjoy time with her mentor rather than cook.

Elimination Challenge. Mentors for each chef enter the kitchen. Chef Tony Mantuono for Sarah, Michelle Bernstein for Linsday, Chef Sarah Stegner for Beverly, Chef Tyson Cole for Paul and Chef Frank Crispo for Edward. The chefs are challenged to make a dish that would exceed the expectations of their mentor. Winner gets a new car and gets into the finale.

Beverly: Gulf shrimp and BBQ Pork Singapore noodles. The judges are fairly muted but Tom is impressed she cooked with a wok.

Lindsay: Seafood "stew" over toasted couscous and broth with emulsified cream. Judges think it was a nice job overall though Chef Bernstein questions the addition of cream to the broth.

Paul: Chilled sunchoke and dashi soup with summer vegetables. Tom remarks that this is unlike anything Paul has made previously.

Edward: Braised pork belly and smoked oyster crema with pickled vegetables. Gail states that he packed a lot of flavor on to the plate. Tom does not like the oyster sauce. The judges love the pickled vegetables.

Judges Table. Paul is praised by Tom for knowing when 'enough is enough' and not over-adding ingredients to his dish. Gail describes Paul's dish as a "well prepared, thoughtful dish." Beverly's dish is highly praised, as well. She explains that she used two woks to prepare the food. Paul and Beverly are told they have the favorite dishes and will be moving on to the final. The winner is: Paul! New car for a bowl of soup. Not bad!

The judges now look to Ed and Lindsay. Gail asks Lindsay about her addition of the cream and Lindsay explains that she believed the dish needed it to make the dish come together. Tom and Hugh comment on the dry herb flavor. Gail tells Ed that she loved the pickles but that the oyster sauce had something off about it. It comes out that the oysters were canned and Tom looks like someone punched him in the balloon knot.

Going home this week... Edward. He expresses some Beverly bitterness. We'll see how it shakes down in the finale!

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By L. Stolpman in Arts & Entertainment, Food on February 10, 2012 1:20 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Mslizard

Lindsay used a base for her seafood broth. It looked like Minor's. She was seen putting a lid on a container after she served her dish. It looked like a Minor's Soupbase container....

Nicholas

Beverly was ousted in a very tough competition where there were no outstanding flaws in any dishes. Plus, she cooked her way back into the show, so nobody can say she did not earn her spot. I liked that some chef said they would have refused the tempting prize of immunity. But, it is one thing to say it and another to do it. So, Sarah did the right thing,although it may be an indication of a slight lack of confidence. Ed, who I liked, should have been booted a week ago instead of my beloved Grayson. I loved how she talked back to the judges, especially Tom C. who clearly weren't used to getting such smack from the usually cowed Chefs at judges table. Using canned oysters was a fatal flaw. Tom C. never forgives using pre-made foods. I knew he was a goner the minute I saw him choose them. But, had he been able to use fresh oyster,he may have been saved. I really liked the idea of oyster cream with pork belly, even if the judges didn't like it (likely due to the canned ingredient). Then Lindsay would have been gone. I don't like her much, so that would be OK with me. She does have some cooking talent, tho.

Laura Stolpman

Nicholas, that is such a thoughtful comment.

I agree that Beverly left during a particularly difficult challenge when the judges were forced to split hairs.

Imagine taking the car and then getting booted. That would sting. However, if it was Paul, he might not be *quite* as upset as the others only because with the 70K or so he's already won (I think it's about that much??) plus the car, he's made a serious dent in the potential prize money offered.

There are definitely some deadly sins in Top Chef. Canned anything, salty to the point inedible, etc.

Sad to see Ed go - would have preferred it was Lindsay.

Thank you for the great comment, Nicholas!
Laura