Top Chef

Episode Report Card
Kim: A | 705 USERS: B-
YOU GRADE IT
It's Up to The Egg At This Point

The cheftestants hop on the train and start cooking. They have tons of grapes from which to choose, and Michael interviews that they all have different flavors. Kevin admits that he's a little rusty at these challenges. They're all hustling and bustling about, while trying to account for the movement of the train. Michael grabs a prep table all by itself near the door, and Bryan interviews that he almost grabbed that table for himself, and he's pissed that he missed the opportunity. SIBLING RIVALRY! DO YOU GET IT???

Kevin is the only one doing dessert, and I suddenly realize that Kevin is going to win the whole thing because he is the only one willing to totally name check the brand of pots they are using with no raised eyebrow. Anyway, Kevin worries also that he chose a less flavorful grape. Jen thinks she's been able to develop a lot of flavor quickly. It's nice to see her with her confidence back.

With five minutes left, the scrambling begins. Michael interviews that he loves the challenges and trying to be creative, and he plans to use as many parts of the grape vine as he can. Bryan has never won a Quickfire, so it would mean a lot to him to win.

And...time! Kevin serves Padma and Chiarello first: a honey and fromage blanc mousse, glazed grapes, olive oil, and sea salt. He's garnished with some edible flowers, and it's quite pretty. Chiarello's only comment is that he likes the olive oil. Michael is up next; he serves grape leaf stuffed with "couscous," served with a vinegar-glazed grape and scallop kebab, and he used a grape branch as the skewer. If you watched Masters, you know Chiarello loves this shit, since he set grape vines on fire and served them smoking with his final dish.

Bryan serves roasted hen, bacon, Brussels sprouts, Concord grape reduction, ruby quinoa, and arugula. I feel like he might have overcomplicated things. Finally, Jen serves sautéed chicken livers, steamed clams, macerated Cabernet grapes, wild mushrooms, and tendrils.

The train pulls into a station as Padma asks Chiarello what he thinks about the food. He thinks Kevin did well, but could have used more grape flavor. He loved Michael's use of so many different parts of the grape, of course. With Bryan's dish, he felt the bacon's smokiness overpowered the grape flavor. He pays Jen a compliment when he says he's totally going to steal the dish for one of his restaurants. Chiarello has to give a tribute to Napa Valley first, and he says that one chef told a story with his dish: Michael. What story did he tell? The story of how to kiss up to the judges? You know Michael saw Masters and used the idea. I mean, I'm sure the food was good and all, but it seemed like Jen's dish was better based on the reaction we saw. Anyway, Michael wins the Prius.

Top Chef

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