by Michael J. Lamp

 

It's hard to believe we're down to the final six cheftestants, and it's even harder to believe that Kenny is dunzo, while Amanda keeps on keepin' on. Tonight's episode of Top Chef: DC begins with Ed wearing Tiffany's dress. Go ahead, Ed. Go ahead. We also learn that Angelo used to pray to a shrine of world renowned chefs. Whoa.

 

Rick Moonen is with Padma (whom I recently ran into - literally - it was amazing/embarrassing) in the Top Chef kitchen. He'll be this

week's guest judge.

 

The Quickfire Challenge is to create a dish based on a food idiom, like "bigger fish to fry" or "don't spill the beans." Funny stuff here, friends. The winning dish will become a frozen meal and added to the Schwan's delivery truck. I do have such fond, childhood memories of Schwan's push-up pops, but I digress.

 

The other chefs appear to still hate Amanda. Ed calls her a ‘slob.' Ouch. Everyone's looking like a hot mess during this challenge, though - not just Amanda. They are all running around like a bunch of crazies.

 

Kelly and Amanda have Rick's least favorite dishes. Kelly's grapes don't go with her Brussels sprouts and Amanda's mac and cheese/pork chop meal gets called a sledgehammer. She responds (via interview) with some hard core (and rather unpleasant) whining.

 

Meanwhile, Kevin's bacon and foam collabo, as well as Ed's yummy gnocchi made Moonen a happy man. Ed is named the winner, and Angelo cracks a joke about Ed looking like a potato. Jealous much? I've already made the playground analogy once this season, but it looks like the chefs aren't maturing very quickly.

 

The Elimination Challenge is to cook for a baseball crowd and create a high-end concession stand item at Nationals' Stadium. The chefs have to present their individual dishes as a group, so they begin planning the menu together. Kelly is long-winded and Amanda is annoyed. Tiffany is also over it. Moving on...

 

Amanda is making tuna tar tar, prompting Kevin to remind us, the viewers, that serving tuna tar tar outside, at a baseball game, is probably not the smartest idea ever. Also, Angelo is helping her, which is never a good thing, since he proved to be the kiss of culinary death for Tamesha.

 

The chefs head to the ballpark, where Angelo will lead up front by taking orders. Too bad he didn't realize it would be tough to cook and take orders at the same time. He tries to hand each chef his or her own order, but Kevin freaks out and reminds Angelo that he volunteered for the position of fast food expediter. The chefs are working in a tight space, even for six people, which probably contributed to Kevin's increasingly short fuse.

 

Amanda's Tuna is oxidizing. Yes, oxidizing. Angelo says he could've helped her, but chose not to. Kinda icky, dontcha think?

 

The fans filter in and everyone is ordering the meatball sub (Tiffany) and open-faced crab cake BLT (Kelly). On the other hand, Kevin's chicken kabob is not feeling the love. The Nationals' players are dining and speaking about the chefs' food in the DEEPEST. VOICES. EVER. It's sort of funny hearing a big ol' jock discuss shrimp fritters.

 

Padma calls all six chefs to Judges' Table, a first this season. Kevin and Tiffany immediately lash out at Angelo, leaving him in a bit of a tailspin. He tries to defend his antics up front but appears to fail at doing so.

 

Ed's shrimp and corn fritters and Tiffany's meatball sub are the favorites of the day, with Ed coming out on top. He wins Rick Moonen's book and a trip to Australia.

 

Padma sends Ed(die) and Tiffany on their way before letting the remaining four cheftestants know that they're all on the chopping block.

 

Amanda is called out for obvious tar tar terrible reasons. Kevin's chicken kabob had overly crowded flavors and a long stick skewer that nearly stabbed people in the throat. Oh, and soggy fries to complete the hot mess.

 

Rick Moonen calls Kelly's crab cake BLT ‘soft,' but that's about as rough as her critique gets. I think being one of the fan favorites will save her. Angelo's got soggy bread and a super sweet overall bite. I can't imagine he's headed home either, though.

 

In the end, Amanda gets the boot. It's definitely time, but it's definitely sad. She has said some wack-a-doodle things this season - I wonder what kind of goofiness she'll muster up when I speak with her tomorrow? Can't wait!

 

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Michael at twitter.com/mjlamp

 

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