by Michael J. Lamp

 

"Dim Sum Dummies"

 

This week's Quickfire Challenge is to create a winning dish in less than eight minutes and 37 seconds. Why eight minutes and 37 seconds, you ask? Because that's how long it took ol' Tom Collichio to create a stellar fish dish. He claims this is the first (and last) time he will cook on Top Chef. We shall see, friends. We shall see.

 

Dale is in the bottom three, as heattempted pad thai and the result was a sad noodle and some clam sauce. Jamie and Angelo round out the bottom group. Angelo made a crudo dish, which Tom specifically said to avoid. Oh, and Jamie's clams didn't open. Shocker.

Mike Isabella beats out Richard and Marcel to claim victory in Tom's Quickfire. Mike wins immunity and a new Toyota Prius. Go green or go home, yo.

 

This week's Elimination Challenge is a trip to Chinatown, specifically to dim sum restaurant Grand Harmony, where the chefs will handle the lunch rush. If you've ever been lucky enough to see the storm of sassy, hungry people in Chinatown at lunchtime (or any time, for that matter), you know that managing the lunch hour is no small task.

 

The chefs are planning their group menu the evening before the challenge. Carla and Casey volunteer to work it on the floor, which basically means they will be the ones out in the restaurant, pushing dishes on the hungry patrons. A couple of the chefs must create more than one dish, to ensure that enough food is available. Much to my surprise, Jamie volunteers for double the cooking. This is unexpected, because - ya know - Jamie hasn't really cooked much this season.

 

Suser Lee (you'll recognize him from Top Chef: Masters) is this week's guest judge. During service, the entire kitchen to dining room scene is one helluva hot ass mess. Food isn't ready in time, and there are lots of angry Chinese eyeballs rolling into the backs of angry Chinese heads. At one point, the term "Caucasian Dim Sum" can be heard in the dining room, and that is just hilarious.

 

Antonia, Carla, Jamie, Casey and Trey get called to Judges' Table first. Surprise! They are the bottom group. Oh, Top Chef. You and your tricks. After finding out that they are among the worst, the judges send them back to the stew room and ask them to send back this week's winners.

 

Tiffany D., Fabio, Angelo and Dale are at the top of the pack this week, with Dale taking home the victory. Maybe he could've helped his fellow chefs with all the spare time he had, instead of tying his shoes so meticulously. Even Dale admits that this challenge was basically a big ball of fail, but he's not giving back his win. Can you blame him? I think not.

 

The winners are swapped out for the, um, non-winners one last time and Casey is sent packing. With that, Jamie redeems what I can only assume to be her ninth life. I can't wait to hear what Casey has to say about this.

 

 

Top Chef: All Stars airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa

 

For more Top Chef links, visit SirLinksALot.net