Post by bbfanatik on Aug 17, 2007 10:25:48 GMT -5
We open with the usual recap. The only new fact we get from this is that Howie feels like he has a “bullseye” on his back and he is going to come out fighting! Way to go Howie!!
Thirteen remain after the departure of Sandee. People are in shock because it has finally come home to them that they can be out the door. They seem friendly enough – even Joey and Howie are on speaking terms – but they are watching their respected backs as they head to the kitchen
The “Quickfire Challenge” will be with Alfred Portale, a well know New York chef. Each contestant must use shellfish like scallops, crawfish, etc. in an original dish. The catch is that they must scoop their ingredients out of the fish tank and they are alive. They will have 30 seconds to catch the shellfish then 30 minutes to make their dish. Hung and Brian are excited, the rest dubious. Hung gets to go first and attacks the tank aggressively. Boy, does he stir up the sand in the bottom of the tank. It’s going to be hard for the others to see where everything is after he finishes. When they call time, Hung pulls out a net full of shellfish. A crawfish lands on the floor and Hung walks away, angering some of the other contestants. Hung looks back: “I don’t need it!” As the other fish and walk away with their catch, we learn that Sam feels this is the hardest challenge and Tre only got 18 pieces.
The cooking part begins. Each contestant quickly realizes that there is a time challenge. When you cook with shellfish, you must shuck and clean the little critters or they are gritty and hard. Almost everyone of the contestants have received a conch and it is almost comical to watch Sara and Micah try to get to the meat. I’ve never seen a cleaver used to break open the conch’s shell. Of course, we just bleach it and use it as decorations. Howie has an idea and goes for it.
The judge seems to like most of the dishes. Hung’s dish brought a complaint of too much bread or coutons. He gets highly offended of course, and we see just how “full of himself” Hung is. Hung is definitely this year’s Marcel. In the bottom three are Micah who presentation and performance did not go well; Lia who used tea as base unsuccessfully; and Tre who had his proportions off. The top three were Howie who went with a more traditional dish; Brian who went simple and smart; and Chris (CJ) who impressed the judges with the taste but not the look. The winner was Brian with his skill of going from raw to cook and Hung is really mad. He doesn’t understand why he didn’t win the whole thing. Howie is just happy for getting an honorable mention.
In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are presented with “family fare” that are high in cholesterol. These dishes which are well loved by American familys are not healthy so the chefs are to update them. Each must pick a plate and modify the dish so that the cholesterol count is down while not destroying the well loved taste. Since Casey went last with the shellfish, she gets to go first and chooses the sloppy joes. Chris gets Tuna; Howie picks pork chops; Micah does meatloaf; Chris takes the stuffed cabbage. When Dale picks, he chooses the chicken and dumplings. He already has a recipe in mind and is very aware of what cholesterol can do. Brian plans to take chances with his dish and Lia is working with “franks and beans.” Hung is last and not happy with updating fried chicken and mac and cheese.
Each contestant gets $75 for the ingredients for their dish and 30 minutes to shop. Apparently, they all know what the dish taste like because I didn’t notice any even looking at what they will prepare. They will have one hour prep time upon returning from the Fresh Market and 1 hour to prepare their dish the next day at the local Elk Club to feed two generations of a family. They quickly go about their business and feel confident that is well for the next day.
That night they all enjoy the hot tub and the beverage of their choice. The only one who doesn’t seem to be getting into “tubbing” is Howie. Howie feels no connection with the others and doesn’t appear to want one. He is there to prove himself.
On the day of the Elimination Challenge, they arrive at the Elks Club ready to work. Chris (CJ) doesn’t want to mess with the original too much. When Tom comes by to check on the progress, he’s surprised that people are taking the dishes literally and is not impressed with their creativity. He is a little upset with them over this but doesn’t say a word. Remember, he is a judge and not their mentor! Sara M. runs into a problem with her grilled chicken. When she goes to put it in the oven, it is in cool down mode. Hung has turned it down when he finished his dish. Told you Hung was this year’s Marcel didn’t I.
Chris’s dish looks simple and good initially but he has trouble when he takes to place it on the plate. It is a mess! As he serves it, we learn that the judges find is greasy and mushy. Sara M. grilled chicken adapt ion gets no reaction while Lia has used chicken sausage in her “franks and beans.” By looking at the faces, you realize that the judges aren’t impressed. The Elks aren’t afraid of voicing their concern. They are not happy with Lia’s dish because the lentils are not cooked properly. Dale’s chicken and dumplings prove to be a hit with people as they were found tasty and they loved the sauce. Hung’s dish gets a skeptical look even before Tom tries it. He has used yogurt in the ingredients. Saran N. earns a very good for her fish and chips while Micah’s meat loaf is terrible and dry. Brian has used lobster in his stuffed cabbage and lobster is high in cholesterol – that didn’t go over well with the judges. Camille’s tacos are too spicy while Casey and Joey both get a “good” for their endeavors. Howie gets a superb for his pork chops and apple sauce remake – everyone loves Howie tonight.
After the meal, the Elks Club rate the food and the scores are taken to the Judges Table. The judges are under whelmed with the chefs’ endeavors and feel they didn’t really give it the creativity that was needed. They loved Howie’s pork chops but hated Micah’s meat loaf. The Elks loved Dale’s chicken and dumplings. Padma goes and asks Dale and Howie to come out. Howie is looking so concerned when they told him that he was one of the top two that they tell him to smile. He explains that he sees apple sauce as good for only babies and he adapted that to make the pork chops tastier. Dale is called on the instant mashed potatoes but tells them he did it to save time. Tom compliments him on it and tells him that no one picked up on the time-saving feature. Howie is named the winner and given books from Alfred with an invitation to come spend a week working with him at his restaurant in New York.
The next ones to face the judges are the bottom five. that’s right – five! Micah, Chris (CJ), Lia, Sara, and Brian are called before the judges. With immunity, Brian is safe but he is lectured on his choice of lobster. They tell him they know he likes seafood but he needs to start using meat at some point. Micah’s dish was the least favorite of the Elks. The judges were not happy with the texture or odd after flavor. Sara’s chicken a la king ingredients held no resemblance to the original while CJ’s had an original concept but was greasy and muddy in flavor. Lia’s dish was a realistic recreation but served with undercooked lentils. Tom tells Lia that she feels safe in the middle. Each take the opportunity to explain their dish. Chris admits he felt his should have had more flavor and Micah is told that her dish got a “yuck.”
The bottom four are dismissed to the kitchen and the judges agree that it is between Sara and Micah as having the worse dish. Tom thinks that they all thought to straight forward. Micah’s dish showed a definite lack of imagination and the flavors were off. Sara’s dish just didn’t come together, CJ’s dish had muddy flavors and Lia’s dish showed a lack of work The one to pack their knives is Micah but she seems okay with her dismissal because she is going home to her daughter. Micah also fears that it is going to get ugly in the kitchen.
Thirteen remain after the departure of Sandee. People are in shock because it has finally come home to them that they can be out the door. They seem friendly enough – even Joey and Howie are on speaking terms – but they are watching their respected backs as they head to the kitchen
The “Quickfire Challenge” will be with Alfred Portale, a well know New York chef. Each contestant must use shellfish like scallops, crawfish, etc. in an original dish. The catch is that they must scoop their ingredients out of the fish tank and they are alive. They will have 30 seconds to catch the shellfish then 30 minutes to make their dish. Hung and Brian are excited, the rest dubious. Hung gets to go first and attacks the tank aggressively. Boy, does he stir up the sand in the bottom of the tank. It’s going to be hard for the others to see where everything is after he finishes. When they call time, Hung pulls out a net full of shellfish. A crawfish lands on the floor and Hung walks away, angering some of the other contestants. Hung looks back: “I don’t need it!” As the other fish and walk away with their catch, we learn that Sam feels this is the hardest challenge and Tre only got 18 pieces.
The cooking part begins. Each contestant quickly realizes that there is a time challenge. When you cook with shellfish, you must shuck and clean the little critters or they are gritty and hard. Almost everyone of the contestants have received a conch and it is almost comical to watch Sara and Micah try to get to the meat. I’ve never seen a cleaver used to break open the conch’s shell. Of course, we just bleach it and use it as decorations. Howie has an idea and goes for it.
The judge seems to like most of the dishes. Hung’s dish brought a complaint of too much bread or coutons. He gets highly offended of course, and we see just how “full of himself” Hung is. Hung is definitely this year’s Marcel. In the bottom three are Micah who presentation and performance did not go well; Lia who used tea as base unsuccessfully; and Tre who had his proportions off. The top three were Howie who went with a more traditional dish; Brian who went simple and smart; and Chris (CJ) who impressed the judges with the taste but not the look. The winner was Brian with his skill of going from raw to cook and Hung is really mad. He doesn’t understand why he didn’t win the whole thing. Howie is just happy for getting an honorable mention.
In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are presented with “family fare” that are high in cholesterol. These dishes which are well loved by American familys are not healthy so the chefs are to update them. Each must pick a plate and modify the dish so that the cholesterol count is down while not destroying the well loved taste. Since Casey went last with the shellfish, she gets to go first and chooses the sloppy joes. Chris gets Tuna; Howie picks pork chops; Micah does meatloaf; Chris takes the stuffed cabbage. When Dale picks, he chooses the chicken and dumplings. He already has a recipe in mind and is very aware of what cholesterol can do. Brian plans to take chances with his dish and Lia is working with “franks and beans.” Hung is last and not happy with updating fried chicken and mac and cheese.
Each contestant gets $75 for the ingredients for their dish and 30 minutes to shop. Apparently, they all know what the dish taste like because I didn’t notice any even looking at what they will prepare. They will have one hour prep time upon returning from the Fresh Market and 1 hour to prepare their dish the next day at the local Elk Club to feed two generations of a family. They quickly go about their business and feel confident that is well for the next day.
That night they all enjoy the hot tub and the beverage of their choice. The only one who doesn’t seem to be getting into “tubbing” is Howie. Howie feels no connection with the others and doesn’t appear to want one. He is there to prove himself.
On the day of the Elimination Challenge, they arrive at the Elks Club ready to work. Chris (CJ) doesn’t want to mess with the original too much. When Tom comes by to check on the progress, he’s surprised that people are taking the dishes literally and is not impressed with their creativity. He is a little upset with them over this but doesn’t say a word. Remember, he is a judge and not their mentor! Sara M. runs into a problem with her grilled chicken. When she goes to put it in the oven, it is in cool down mode. Hung has turned it down when he finished his dish. Told you Hung was this year’s Marcel didn’t I.
Chris’s dish looks simple and good initially but he has trouble when he takes to place it on the plate. It is a mess! As he serves it, we learn that the judges find is greasy and mushy. Sara M. grilled chicken adapt ion gets no reaction while Lia has used chicken sausage in her “franks and beans.” By looking at the faces, you realize that the judges aren’t impressed. The Elks aren’t afraid of voicing their concern. They are not happy with Lia’s dish because the lentils are not cooked properly. Dale’s chicken and dumplings prove to be a hit with people as they were found tasty and they loved the sauce. Hung’s dish gets a skeptical look even before Tom tries it. He has used yogurt in the ingredients. Saran N. earns a very good for her fish and chips while Micah’s meat loaf is terrible and dry. Brian has used lobster in his stuffed cabbage and lobster is high in cholesterol – that didn’t go over well with the judges. Camille’s tacos are too spicy while Casey and Joey both get a “good” for their endeavors. Howie gets a superb for his pork chops and apple sauce remake – everyone loves Howie tonight.
After the meal, the Elks Club rate the food and the scores are taken to the Judges Table. The judges are under whelmed with the chefs’ endeavors and feel they didn’t really give it the creativity that was needed. They loved Howie’s pork chops but hated Micah’s meat loaf. The Elks loved Dale’s chicken and dumplings. Padma goes and asks Dale and Howie to come out. Howie is looking so concerned when they told him that he was one of the top two that they tell him to smile. He explains that he sees apple sauce as good for only babies and he adapted that to make the pork chops tastier. Dale is called on the instant mashed potatoes but tells them he did it to save time. Tom compliments him on it and tells him that no one picked up on the time-saving feature. Howie is named the winner and given books from Alfred with an invitation to come spend a week working with him at his restaurant in New York.
The next ones to face the judges are the bottom five. that’s right – five! Micah, Chris (CJ), Lia, Sara, and Brian are called before the judges. With immunity, Brian is safe but he is lectured on his choice of lobster. They tell him they know he likes seafood but he needs to start using meat at some point. Micah’s dish was the least favorite of the Elks. The judges were not happy with the texture or odd after flavor. Sara’s chicken a la king ingredients held no resemblance to the original while CJ’s had an original concept but was greasy and muddy in flavor. Lia’s dish was a realistic recreation but served with undercooked lentils. Tom tells Lia that she feels safe in the middle. Each take the opportunity to explain their dish. Chris admits he felt his should have had more flavor and Micah is told that her dish got a “yuck.”
The bottom four are dismissed to the kitchen and the judges agree that it is between Sara and Micah as having the worse dish. Tom thinks that they all thought to straight forward. Micah’s dish showed a definite lack of imagination and the flavors were off. Sara’s dish just didn’t come together, CJ’s dish had muddy flavors and Lia’s dish showed a lack of work The one to pack their knives is Micah but she seems okay with her dismissal because she is going home to her daughter. Micah also fears that it is going to get ugly in the kitchen.
