The cheftestants head back to the Stew Room to wait. Tiffany is happy that the judges liked their food and compliments Mike on how open he was and emotional. Mike says he thought he was past missing his grandmother, and Carla tells him that cooking is more than a job and you can taste when someone puts love into the food. Antonia breaks up the love-fest when she reminds them that someone still needs to go home.

The judges deliberate. Tom says that he doesn't even know where to start, and he can only nitpick tiny things. He cleaned his plate on Antonia's dish, and her proportions were perfect. Gail can only say that the veal was "just a hair salty." Dan thought Mike's gnocchi was brilliant and Tom thought it was absolutely delicious. The only criticism is that Dan would have used a little less meat. Moving on to Blais, Dan says that the flavors were perfect. Tom loved the sea beans, but Padma wanted more green. Gail loved how he embraced his past but moved it into the future. Tom thought Carla's broth was the best part of the dish but the garnish got lost. Gail loved the grits cake and they laugh over how she froze it in liquid nitrogen. Gail points out that everything on Tiffany's plate was a window into her life, but Tom thought she needed to lose some accessories. Tom thinks this is an impossible decision, but apparently they have made one. And at this point, they have given no hint about who's going home because all the problems were so minute! What's going to happen?

Padma reminds them that the winner gets to move on to the finals and also wins a new car. Dan gets to announce the winner. He says that it was an incredible dinner with great dishes, but the one that rose above was the dish made by Antonia. She is giddy with delight. I love how happy Tiffany and Carla are for her. Richard and Mike are still grouchy and nervous, though. Padma says that she also gets to go to the finals, which will take place in the Bahamas. And then Tom tells Mike that he's safe and will be going to the Bahamas as well, and Padma sends them out. Tom's announcement was totally added in post, which was weird. Anyway, Mike and Antonia go back to the Stew Room and are so, so happy.