by Gina Scarpa

 

It was quite the wakeup call last week on Top Chef, when Tom revealed that there was no winner for the Pike Place Market challenge. Perhaps they'll have a better showing this week. The guest judge in the Quickfire is non other than Grand Forks Herald columnist and food writer Marilyn Hagerty. If the name doesn't ring a bell, her review earlier this year of the new Olive Garden in her town might. She want a sweet and savory dish, and the chefs have to use Truvia, which is twice as sweet as regular sugar so they better be careful. Everyone draws knives and each one says "Off Limits" except for Lizzie's, which means she has the only knife that can be used. Oh, twists!

 

Marilyn felt Bart's dish had too much going on and you can't blame her, what with the waffles, the celery three ways, the prosciutto, the lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Micah's dish was inventive but his tamale was too dry - or as Marilyn called it, a taco. Her favorites were Josh, Stefan, and Brooke, who right before tasting, was embarrassed to put her apple pie out to try. Silly Brooke, you're the winner and you have immunity! No more doubting yourself.

 

 

Padma welcomes in celebrities (and married couple) Anna Faris and Chris Pratt, who are home for the holidays. Since they're both from western Washington, they're having a celebration with friends and family, and the chefs will be providing the meal. Whoever serves the best dish will win a Toyota Prius. When John finds out that Rick Mooney will be one of the judges, he gets a little nervous, since he once worked for him and feels he will be extra critical of whatever he puts out.

 

On a side note, I have to say it's always a little weird when Padma introduces the regular judges to the chefs. I get it's for television purposes but it's still awkward when we're six episodes in and she's saying, "Bart, let me introduce head judge Tom Colicchio."

 

Chris says that his friends felt Kristen's tortellini was their favorite and Rick calls it the perfect bite. Micah's dish wasn't as successful, with everyone feeling it had too much cream, and Anna was hoping for more flavor in Lizzie's fish. Tom said that Eliza's elk was okay, albeit a bit thin, but hates her carrots. Chris loved Danyele's boar with the tomato bacon jam but I think he's the only one singing the praises of that dish. Josh's pork dish is a huge portion that's under seasoned. Josie's dish sounded good in theory but Rick says it doesn't have enough contrast, and the meal ends with everyone swooning over John's seafood chowder.

 

John, Kristen, Brooke, and Sheldon are the favorites of the evening.  Brooke admits that she was doubting herself thus far in the competition but tried taking a risk with her dish - and that she did, with her Lamb-Stuffed Squid on Black Rice with Coconut Mil!  Tom promises her that if she keeps cooking like that, she'll do very well and speaking of, she's the winner.  Eliza, Danyele, Josh, and Micah are this week's bottom group.  Eliza and Danyele are there because their cooking was uneven, MIcah's celery root was too grainy, and Josh's pork was not flavorful.  In fact, Padma tells him to stop saying he's known for pork because it hasn't done squat for him in this competition.

 

The judges unanimously decide that Eliza should pack her knives and go.  In Last Chance Kitchen, she faced CJ and Tyler in a battle to create a dish that highlighted pickles and carrots (loving this redemption theme) but CJ emerged victorious.

 

 

Top Chef: Seattle airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa