Post by bbfanatik on Jul 12, 2007 13:26:13 GMT -5
Last night’s episode was entitled “Sunny Delights” because everything focused around the “good ol’ summer time.”
Let’s get right to the action! We see a beautiful day dawn over the resort and the chefs getting out of bed. The only one who really seems prepared for the day is Brian who knows he is in for a fight. Sandee feels determined. After all she did go from wine to chef in two months at the restaurant where she works. Micah lets us know she doesn’t feel comfortable in the environment – too many people. Micah – it’s a big space. I’m sorry you didn’t get a bedroom to yourself. She’s also missing her daughter, we later learn. Howie keeps saying there will be no free passes from here on in! Yeah – you got that last week.
The chefs head to the kitchen for the “Quick Challenge” with celebrity judge Norman Van Aken who owns Norman’s in Miami and Orlando. Howie is excited. He calls Norman the “godfather” of the Miami restaurant world. The chefs are told that sunshine is what the area is known for along with their citrus products. They have 30 minutes to create a “citrus dish” from the fruit and the pantry.
Sara N. feels confident yet there is indecision in the kitchen. Micah is full of indecision. She can’t decide what to make. Tre and Hung are both full of themselves. Everyone is running around the kitchen and getting in each other’s way. Sara’s shrimp need peeling but she finds that out a little late.
Tom and company inspect the dish. CJ gets called on leaving seeds in his dish. The next one to goof big time is Sara with her shrimp. Of course, we knew that one was coming. Hung gets the praise he thought he should have. The three worse dishes are Sara N., Sandee, and Micah. The best are: CJ, Hung, and Tre. The prize goes to Hung who will not face elimination.
The chefs then learn what their elimination challenge will be. Another “sunshine” quality of Miami is it’s celebrities. The Chefs with be cooking for a high-end barbeque hosted by Lee Shrader to be held outdoors at the Intracoastal Waterway. This is the Kingsford Challenge. The chefs will have $200 each, 30 minutes to shop at the Fresh Market, and 2 hours prep time. The next day, they will have 2 hours to cook.
We then get the chefs opinion of the event. Tre is overconfident. Howie knows what to expect. The barbeque will also feature beauty, wine, and the crème of society. Sara N. knows that elegance should reign.
The chefs make their way to Fresh Market and all but Micah hits the meat counter first. When someone makes a comment about how much meat to buy, CJ becomes slightly arrogant and refuses to offer advice. Brian decides to go seafood while Micah, who started in produce, decides to do lamb. Sara is looking at rib eyes and places her offer; and Hung, of all people, comes to her aid with advice.
The chefs head back to the kitchen to start their prep. I must say this for Hung. When he makes a mess, he tries to clean it up. Brian is doing something interesting. While the rest are doing the expected, he is working on preparing a “seafood sausage.” If this works, it could put him in the same category as Tre and Hung. Each are finding a way to use citrus in their barbeque and each are using some form of meat. Again, I ask: What will you serve vegetarians.
The next day, the chefs are up early. Some exercise, some relax. Both Hung and Brian decide to dress up for the event. Sara N. is worried – she has no idea if she will return. They pack their coolers and preps and head out.
When they arrive at the Intracostal Waterway, they find grills set up for each of them. They have 2 hours for service. Tre is intrigued because Kingsford has provided different flavors (if you will) of charcoal. Sara N. is a little nervous because she has never started a grill before. CJ finds that his height is causing him some problems with the grills which are low. When Tom comes by to check, he finds Hung is all business. Tom asks Hung why he isn’t relaxing since he doesn’t have to really worry about the challenge. You can tell that Tom is expecting great things from Tre with the throw away line of “this is old hat for you!” When he gets to Brian, Tom is intrigued but Brian refuses to divulge too much information. This may be to Tom’s benefit as we later learn.
The guest start to arrive and they make their way down the table. I won’t go into detail on each individual dish, but I will say that Sara N., Lia and Brian all make a splash with what they have prepared. Lia’s shrimp lettuce wrap is considered one of the best ideas in service. Howie again has problems as he has started his dish too early. One of the guest actually refers to it as “sawdust.” Sandee is in trouble from the get-go. I have never been to a barbeque where they served lobster tails. Seems they are more poached than barbequed and this will spell trouble for her later. Hung is serving a watermelon drink which makes Joey mad. Seems Joey feels that Hung stole it from him during the “Quick Challenge.”
At the “Judges’ Table,” the judges are having a problem with their decision. All was very good and they see this as one of their most competitive groups. Hung’s dish was a blast – simple but good. Tre was sloppy! My how the fortunes have changed for one of last week’s winners! Sandee is named by most judges as their least favorite. Gail points out that it was not barbequed. Brian was their favorite because of the taste and uniqueness. They are pleased with Sara N. and Micah who both have stepped up their game after the “Quick Challenge”.
Padma goes to the kitchen and calls Sara N, Micah and Brian to the “Judges’ Table”. These are the top three for the challenge. Sara is praised for her simple yet elegant dish. It was clean and easy to eat. Brian, while he refused to divulge too much information, is called “eccentric.” Micah is praised for coming through her problems of the day before and complimented on her lamb and the brightness of her service. Brian is announced the winner and they are sent back with orders on who will come next before the judges.
The bottom four of the night now face the judges. Howie, again is in the bottom four with a dish that was too simple and dried out. Howie admits it was not his best work. Joey, who served chicken, is told his dish wasn’t upscale enough. He is reminded that he even told them that it was something his family ate back home. Sandee, with her lobster, is called on the carpet for the dish being more poached than barbequed. The final one, Tre, just could not seem to get his sauces and seasoning right in the judges’ eyes. When asked who should be dismissed, Joey points a finger at Howie because the dish was dry. Of course, he hadn’t sampled Howie’s dish – only Tre and Sandee’s.
When they are dismissed to the kitchen to wait their fate, Joey and Howie get into it. Heck Joey gets into it with just about everyone. More on my opinion of this in a minute.
The four return to the “Judges’ Table.” Tom tells them that is was a hard call. This was an upscale barbeque. The issue for Sandee was her dish wasn’t barbequed. Joey was not upscale enough. Tre’s food was not barbequed enough. Howie shot himself in the foot again. All the judges agree that the bar has been raised and their biggest determination had to depend on whether it was a barbequed dish or whether the dish wasn’t upscale enough. In the end, the barbeque issue won out and Sandee is told to pack her knifes. When they return to the kitchen, no one can believe she’s gone.
Let’s get right to the action! We see a beautiful day dawn over the resort and the chefs getting out of bed. The only one who really seems prepared for the day is Brian who knows he is in for a fight. Sandee feels determined. After all she did go from wine to chef in two months at the restaurant where she works. Micah lets us know she doesn’t feel comfortable in the environment – too many people. Micah – it’s a big space. I’m sorry you didn’t get a bedroom to yourself. She’s also missing her daughter, we later learn. Howie keeps saying there will be no free passes from here on in! Yeah – you got that last week.
The chefs head to the kitchen for the “Quick Challenge” with celebrity judge Norman Van Aken who owns Norman’s in Miami and Orlando. Howie is excited. He calls Norman the “godfather” of the Miami restaurant world. The chefs are told that sunshine is what the area is known for along with their citrus products. They have 30 minutes to create a “citrus dish” from the fruit and the pantry.
Sara N. feels confident yet there is indecision in the kitchen. Micah is full of indecision. She can’t decide what to make. Tre and Hung are both full of themselves. Everyone is running around the kitchen and getting in each other’s way. Sara’s shrimp need peeling but she finds that out a little late.
Tom and company inspect the dish. CJ gets called on leaving seeds in his dish. The next one to goof big time is Sara with her shrimp. Of course, we knew that one was coming. Hung gets the praise he thought he should have. The three worse dishes are Sara N., Sandee, and Micah. The best are: CJ, Hung, and Tre. The prize goes to Hung who will not face elimination.
The chefs then learn what their elimination challenge will be. Another “sunshine” quality of Miami is it’s celebrities. The Chefs with be cooking for a high-end barbeque hosted by Lee Shrader to be held outdoors at the Intracoastal Waterway. This is the Kingsford Challenge. The chefs will have $200 each, 30 minutes to shop at the Fresh Market, and 2 hours prep time. The next day, they will have 2 hours to cook.
We then get the chefs opinion of the event. Tre is overconfident. Howie knows what to expect. The barbeque will also feature beauty, wine, and the crème of society. Sara N. knows that elegance should reign.
The chefs make their way to Fresh Market and all but Micah hits the meat counter first. When someone makes a comment about how much meat to buy, CJ becomes slightly arrogant and refuses to offer advice. Brian decides to go seafood while Micah, who started in produce, decides to do lamb. Sara is looking at rib eyes and places her offer; and Hung, of all people, comes to her aid with advice.
The chefs head back to the kitchen to start their prep. I must say this for Hung. When he makes a mess, he tries to clean it up. Brian is doing something interesting. While the rest are doing the expected, he is working on preparing a “seafood sausage.” If this works, it could put him in the same category as Tre and Hung. Each are finding a way to use citrus in their barbeque and each are using some form of meat. Again, I ask: What will you serve vegetarians.
The next day, the chefs are up early. Some exercise, some relax. Both Hung and Brian decide to dress up for the event. Sara N. is worried – she has no idea if she will return. They pack their coolers and preps and head out.
When they arrive at the Intracostal Waterway, they find grills set up for each of them. They have 2 hours for service. Tre is intrigued because Kingsford has provided different flavors (if you will) of charcoal. Sara N. is a little nervous because she has never started a grill before. CJ finds that his height is causing him some problems with the grills which are low. When Tom comes by to check, he finds Hung is all business. Tom asks Hung why he isn’t relaxing since he doesn’t have to really worry about the challenge. You can tell that Tom is expecting great things from Tre with the throw away line of “this is old hat for you!” When he gets to Brian, Tom is intrigued but Brian refuses to divulge too much information. This may be to Tom’s benefit as we later learn.
The guest start to arrive and they make their way down the table. I won’t go into detail on each individual dish, but I will say that Sara N., Lia and Brian all make a splash with what they have prepared. Lia’s shrimp lettuce wrap is considered one of the best ideas in service. Howie again has problems as he has started his dish too early. One of the guest actually refers to it as “sawdust.” Sandee is in trouble from the get-go. I have never been to a barbeque where they served lobster tails. Seems they are more poached than barbequed and this will spell trouble for her later. Hung is serving a watermelon drink which makes Joey mad. Seems Joey feels that Hung stole it from him during the “Quick Challenge.”
At the “Judges’ Table,” the judges are having a problem with their decision. All was very good and they see this as one of their most competitive groups. Hung’s dish was a blast – simple but good. Tre was sloppy! My how the fortunes have changed for one of last week’s winners! Sandee is named by most judges as their least favorite. Gail points out that it was not barbequed. Brian was their favorite because of the taste and uniqueness. They are pleased with Sara N. and Micah who both have stepped up their game after the “Quick Challenge”.
Padma goes to the kitchen and calls Sara N, Micah and Brian to the “Judges’ Table”. These are the top three for the challenge. Sara is praised for her simple yet elegant dish. It was clean and easy to eat. Brian, while he refused to divulge too much information, is called “eccentric.” Micah is praised for coming through her problems of the day before and complimented on her lamb and the brightness of her service. Brian is announced the winner and they are sent back with orders on who will come next before the judges.
The bottom four of the night now face the judges. Howie, again is in the bottom four with a dish that was too simple and dried out. Howie admits it was not his best work. Joey, who served chicken, is told his dish wasn’t upscale enough. He is reminded that he even told them that it was something his family ate back home. Sandee, with her lobster, is called on the carpet for the dish being more poached than barbequed. The final one, Tre, just could not seem to get his sauces and seasoning right in the judges’ eyes. When asked who should be dismissed, Joey points a finger at Howie because the dish was dry. Of course, he hadn’t sampled Howie’s dish – only Tre and Sandee’s.
When they are dismissed to the kitchen to wait their fate, Joey and Howie get into it. Heck Joey gets into it with just about everyone. More on my opinion of this in a minute.
The four return to the “Judges’ Table.” Tom tells them that is was a hard call. This was an upscale barbeque. The issue for Sandee was her dish wasn’t barbequed. Joey was not upscale enough. Tre’s food was not barbequed enough. Howie shot himself in the foot again. All the judges agree that the bar has been raised and their biggest determination had to depend on whether it was a barbequed dish or whether the dish wasn’t upscale enough. In the end, the barbeque issue won out and Sandee is told to pack her knifes. When they return to the kitchen, no one can believe she’s gone.
