Originally aired on Wednesday, 10/25/2006
Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)
Episode Overview: The chefs have to set aside their individual competitive natures to work as teams for the first time. And - since this is Bravo TV - we have our first rule-breaking scandal!
Episode Highlights:
- After a mildly nerve-wracking sushi Quickfire Challenge, the chefs learn they will be working as a team for the Elimination Challenge.
- One group of chefs manages to work together well, while the other suffers from internal lack of focus.
- One chef makes a critical error in judgment that the outcome of the elimination.
Recap:
Last week's eliminations have the chefs feeling thoughtful. For
Elia Aboumrad ,
Suyia Steinhauer's departure drove home that this is a competition. For
Otto Borsich, being one of the chefs on the chopping block made him realize he needs to get back on track for this next competition.
Early the next morning - and by early, I mean 4:30 AM - the chefs receive a wake up call from
Tom Calicchio, who tells them they need to get up in order to get to the fish market for the best catch.
At the market, they meet with
Padma Lakshmi who informs them the Quickfire Challenge this week is to make sushi.
Mia Gaines-Alt , the upscale BBQ chef was already not feeling so hot and just the mention of sushi at 5:00 AM seems to make her queasy.
Michael Midgley , who's never made sushi before, is concerned about his skill level and worries about "how [he's] going to stay in the middle on this one." "Stay in the middle"? There's the true spirit of a champion!
They have $100 to shop for fresh fish and will then have thirty minutes to cook.
After Mia takes a moment to delicately hurl outside the market, the chefs get busy shopping, and then bring their catch back to the kitchen. There, Padma introduces them to their guest judge for this challenge, Executive Chef Hiroshi Shima.
Some of the chefs rise to this challenge. Otto wins praise for his rolling technique, Elia gets credit for innovating with flavors, and
Ilan Hall (my boy!) is singled out for his fresh flavors. Ultimately,
Cliff Crooks is the winner for his oyster dish and wins immunity.
Now it's time for the Elimination Challenge. The chefs draw knives and are separated into two groups. Each group will work as a team to cook Vietnamese-style food, and the other, Korean-style food for an event for 1000 people! They have only $500 to shop.
Back at the apartment, the teams strategize. Team Vietnam, consisting of Michael Midgley,
Josie Smith-Malave,
Sam Talbot,
Betty Fraser,
Emily Sprissler, Mia and
Carlos Fernandez. Betty, who has catering experience, helps to coordinate the most efficient usage of their time and money, while Josie, who's worked for a Vietnamese chef, steps into a leadership role with the menu. The team seems to come together well.
With Team Korea, it's not quite the same unified effort. Cliff,
Frank Terzoli and Ilan start the meeting off right by mixing up some batches of sangria, and they seem a little more focused on partying then planning.
Marcel Vigneron, Otto,
Marisa Churchill and Elia are also on the team. Marisa and Elia attempt to get the group to focus on planning but their efforts are not rewarded.
The teams shopping trips reflect the group dynamics; Team Vietnam is organized and efficient, while a hungover Team Korea is chaotic and all over the map. And upon leaving the market, we have our first scandal! Otto mentions to teammate Marisa that they received a case of lychees for "free," meaning, apparently, the cashier missed them in the cart.
Marisa and Elia are disturbed by this breach of the rules, and later, when Tom C. is making his rounds, they mention it to him. Tom calls out Otto and makes him return to the store to give the lychees back. Another challenge for Team Korea is the prospect of making kimchee - a fermented food that usually takes quite a while to prepare - in just a couple days. Additionally, their dessert, which Marisa the pastry chef was excited to take ownership of, does not turn out correctly, with the gelatin ingredient setting too firmly.
Over at Team Vietnam, things are moving along smoothly. The team has added a third optional dish, a beverage that Betty is making from cucumber and aloe juice.
At the event, Team Vietnam has a few bobbles: their spring rolls tend to fall apart when cut, their pork dish is a sub par, and Josie rubs Michael the wrong way with her authoritative attitude. Team Korea's food is decent, but Tom and guest judge Ming Tsai, chef from Blue Ginger, have issues with the rice and dessert they offer.
In the judging room, Team Vietnam learns they are the winner, and Betty is singled out and awarded with a rare sushi knife for her individual performance. Team Korea are called out as losers, and my boy Ilan snaps back that he thinks Team Vietnam's dishes were under seasoned. Oh my. Not very professional. It's okay, he's just young. Young and adorable. He's excused.
The team falls apart under questioning from the panel, with fingers being pointed every which way. This frustrates Frank, who thinks they should stand together as a team. Then Otto, who's pretty much raked over the coals for his lapse in judgment or poor ethics involved in the free lychee incident, makes the dramatic decision to step out of the competition. The panel accepts his decision and so he has to pack his knives and go.
-Leslie Seaton