Top Chef Chicago Recap, Week 6
By L. Stolpman in Food on Apr 17, 2008 2:16PM
Welcome back, Chicago foodies! We see the chefs in recovery mode the day after the meltdowns we witnessed last week. Jennifer is now calm, after kicking a chair the night before in true whiskey-dad fashion. You know the type: the kind that get all mean and shit after a few drinks, but are sweet as hell the next morning fixing pancakes while the kids shiver in fear at their plates, unsure if they can request eggs. Dale apologizes to Lisa in a way that sounds like, "I'm sorry I yelled at you…it's just that your personality sucks so hard." Lisa greasies, "Dale can go f*bomb himself."
Quickfire Challenge. The chefs walk into the kitchen to find pitchers of different beers lined up on the bar, behind which stands Padma and guest judge Koren Grieveson from Avec. It seems as if she and Lisa have the same hairdresser. Namely, their pillow. Despite this, Grieveson's uber poker face is impressive and we vow never to sit across a card table with this woman who would totally smoke our sausage and eat our cigarettes. Each chef gets to pick a beer and create a meal in 30 minutes that goes well with said beer. Stephanie says that pairing a beer with food is an art because you don't want the food to overpower the beer or the beer to overpower the food. In lesser circles, this is known as maintaining your buzz without losing it and falling asleep or getting ill and spoiling it entirely (Ed. Note: Aaaaa-men!). It's almost as if Bravo has tossed in the towel about hiding Padma's drinking and has decided to simply incorporate it into challenges. Lisa says she loves beer. Oh, honey, we could have told you that.
Bottom three: Dale lands in the bottom with a pan-roasted pork tenderloin with a miso caramel, topped with crushed pretzels. Lisa smugs her approval at this. Nikki makes citrus marinated, battered shrimp with an Asian coleslaw. We're pleased to say that her shrimp were not battered by Jennifer. Spike lands here, too, by making an over-glorified snack tray.
Top three: Richard, who makes a grilled tuna sandwich with pickled vegetables, mustard seeds and coriander. Stephanie impresses Grieveson with a dish of steamed mussels with cilantro vinaigrette and grilled bread. Jenniferscores with shrimp and scallop beignets with fennel, avocado and pepper puree.
Winner: Jennifer! Good on you, whiskey dad!
Elimination Challenge. The chefs will be serving food at a tailgate party for a Bears game with the fans deciding the top and bottom three chefs. After shopping, the chefs scramble around the kitchen. Andrew mentions the addition of bacon to his dish because it's Chicago… and Chicagoans love bacon. You know, it's actually hard to argue with the guy on this point (Ed. Note: Again, Aaaa-men!). The chefs do their prep work before heading home to relax before the big game. Spike and the Hobbit drink some beers and hang out in the bathtub which the other chefs seem to identify as "play wrestling" that ends with some kissing. Eh, we think they were both in need of some down time. We get a glimpse of the Hobbit stewing in dirty bath water which looks like chicken stock gone bad.
At the game, all of the fans appear to be enjoying the food, with the small complaint that Ryan's food is difficult to eat. Guest judge for this round is Paul Kahan, owner of Blackbird and Avec. Spike asks some fans when the Bears won the Super Bowl last and the editors kindly refrain from adding in the sound of a needle careening off a record. The judges make the rounds and, overall, are fairly impressed. However, Nikki has managed to serve all of her peppers before the judges can taste them. The Hobbit bumbles around his charcoal grill, making a mess of his station, looking just like Hyde from "That 70's Show" as he serves the judges.
Judges Table. At the top, the fans have chosen Stephanie, who did a great pork tenderloin and a potato, bacon and pear salad with rosemary vinaigrette. Dale does well with the fans after grilling a great rack of ribs made with a Tandoori marinade and a warm potato salad with mango and raisins. Antonia impressed with her jerk chicken, served with grilled banana and pineapple. Colicchio comments on Stephanie being in the top once more but this week, the winner is… Dale for his complex ribs. Lisa banshee cries in the background somewhere.
Ryan ends up in the bottom three for trying to create a California-style Ponderosa at the tailgate – too many things, none of them all that good. Nikki finds herself facing her failure to make sausage and save some peppers for the judges. And the Hobbit gets called out for his sloppy work area and unsanitary tasting techniques. The judges don't even comment on his chicken and scallion skewers with soy and onion glaze. Padma sobers long enough to send Ryan off packing his knives.
Next week: The chefs tackle pastries and take on comedy. Let's hope for some excitement to shake up the season.