This week on “Top Chef” we leave the silly battles and gimmicks behind, and the contestants just cook, the whole time. This is what we want to see.
It begins with a sudden death Quickfire challenge in which the chefs must make chowder for Jasper White, who wrote the book on chowder, literally. Melissa shows, for the umpteenth time, that she really does have excellent knife skills. Katie goes off the deep end, cussing and making tea and sourdough chowder with lobster. Katsuji makes something green that contains oysters. Mei gets stuck with steamers instead of littlenecks. New Yorker Adam does a Manhattan-style chowder. And Padma rocks a pair of overalls.
Jasper chooses Gregory’s, ultimately, made with sweet potatoes and curry. Note to future contestants: Make curry. Adam’s almost won, and he is sad: “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” he says. What’s that reckless look in his eye?
Katie loses because tea and sourdough chowder is gross. But at least she took a risk.
But look who’s back! The Departed! Among them George, who was gone too soon. Katie must face off against someone the eliminated chefs choose, and they choose him. They have to make rabbit. She does something Moroccan. He does loin with barley risotto and glazed carrots. George wins, and there is justice. We all knew it was wrong when the clearly talented chef was eliminated straight off the bat. But now the remaining contestants are nervous: Here is an unknown quantity, and no one felt particularly threatened by Katie. As for Katie, it is probably best she go home. She went from sweet and safe to progressively risk-embracing and foul-mouthed. A few more weeks and she’d be slugging whiskey, chain-smoking, and using the cigarette ashes to flavor her dish.
Next it’s the elimination challenge. They’ll be cooking for “Top Chef” super fans. The twist: The judges are doing the shopping. I would definitely want Tom to do my shopping. He is very thoughtful in his selections, choosing ingredients that favor the contestants’ cooking styles. Gail is getting nice stuff, but it’s stuff she wants to eat. Richard Blais is stocking the pantry with liquid nitrogen no one wants. And Padma has somehow managed to find jackfruit at Whole Foods.
Gregory surprises no one by making awesome Madras curry, with chicken and jackfruit. George makes lamb and beef meatballs with cucumber yogurt and lentils. Doug pairs mussels and chorizo: classic. There’s a cute little girl who likes his dish so much she keeps going back for more. Katsuji is doing some crazy thing involving harissa-poached shrimp, potato salad, and a white sangria on the side. Adam tries to flash-cook his shrimp with hot oil, serving them with peppadew piperade. Mei undercooks rack of lamb and serves it with eggplant puree that’s spiked with black garlic. Melissa basically makes shrimp with salad: snore. She’s focusing on her knife skills again. Girl, we already know you can cut stuff good.
George is as talented as everyone hoped he wouldn’t be. Gregory is as talented as everyone knows he is. And Doug’s mussels are excellent enough to win it for him.
Mei’s undercooked lamb, Adam’s slimy shrimp, and Melissa’s boring dish sink to the bottom. Melissa should go home. But it’s a surprise: Adam is eliminated. That wild look in his eyes did not bode well.
“This is what I breathe and bleed every day of my life,” he says, tearing up. Something tells me he’ll be back, at least for a little while.
Next time tune in to hear Padma tell Gronk to call her “honey.”
Related coverage:
• On ‘Top Chef’: We’re gonna cook like it’s 1621
• ‘Top Chef’ recap: This is war
• ‘Top Chef’ contestant arrested on domestic violence charges
• On ‘Top Chef,’ where everybody knows your name
• Fenway plays host to ‘Top Chef’ party
• A nod to first responders on ‘Top Chef’