by Gina Scarpa

 

On last week's Top Chef: Texas, the cheftestants meet up with Padma and guest judge Tim Love, former Top Chef Master and owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro. For their Quickfire challenge, they'll have to make a dish that pairs well with Don Julio tequila.

 

Immediately, everyone starts bragging about their experience with and knowledge of tequila. Only one of them is going to get $5,000 - there's no immunity up for grabs this time.

 

That's a lot of tequila for Padma and Tim to drink but they were able to come to some decisions. Heather, Chris J, and Sarah fell short while Chris C, Lindsay, and Ty-Lor are the favorites of the day. Ty ends up winning his first Quickfire and feels he's redeemed himself after stumbling a bi in the competition. I love how Sarah said she wouldn't change the way she cooked her food just because Tim didn't like it. No, doesn't listen to the expert...

 

As if it wasn't tough enough for Heather to have her dish be compared to that of a special on a chain restaurant menu by Tim, she's paired with Beverly for the Elimination Challenge. Chefs must prepare one course for a game dinner at Tim Love's restaurant. He also brings in his friends (some heavy hitting chefs and restaurant owners) and if that's not intimidating enough, Padma reveals the twist that the contestants will be judging one another. Oh yeah, AND it's a double elimination!

 

The teams and assigned game are: Nyesha and Dakota (venison), Sarah and Paul (squab), Grayson and Chris J (elk), Chris C and Lindsay (boar), Heather and Beverly (duck), and Ed and Ty-Lor (quail). You would think people would be worried that their partner would drag them down but equally, people are worried that they'll be the reason their partner gets sent home. Let's just say emotions are definitely running high for some.

 

Ed and Ty-Lor's dish (Sorghum Quail with Pickled Cherries and Eggplant) ends up winning and pair split $10,000 as their prize. Afterwards, the teams have to come together and decide on a bottom three, which is rough. It turns out that the ones who worried or weren't cohesive units are the ones who have to face the judges - Grayson and Chris J, Beverly and Heather, and Nyesha and Dakota.

 

Heather boasts that she's in the bottom this week because her fellow contestants conspired to get her out, given that she was in the top last week. Of course, she takes shots at Beverly, which I can't understand because there's no point in going after your teammate when this is a DOUBLE ELIMINATION CHALLENGE.

 

As abrasive as Heather is, that dish was not that bad and they'll be back to argue more with one another next week. Unfortunately, Dakota and Nyesha undercooked their venison and that was enough to send them packing to Last Chance Kitchen to face Whitney.

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

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