Top Chef – Recap & Review – The Heat is On

photo: bravo

Top Chef
The Heat is On

Original Air Date: Nov 9, 2011

Ryan O – Two Cents Senior Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

This is the second episode and we’re still paring down the roster to just 16 cheftestants.

We see the final group of chefs compete for guaranteed spots or get put on the bubble and then we see the chefs in the bubble group compete for the last two spots.

Elimination Group 3

Padma introduces Tom and Hugh Acheson, who was on Top Chef Masters and was more than a bit annoying.

We meet the last group of potential cheftestants.

They have three minutes to figure out who is cooking which of 10 ingredients. They then lift the cover off of a plate next to the ingredient revealing a clock with an amount of time and the times are different. That’s how much time they’ll have to cook a dish using that ingredient.

Kim made a pan-seared lamb chop. Andrew roasted some mushrooms. Paul made grilled trout.

Tom likes Paul and so does Hugh. Padma says Kim’s lamb was greasy. Tom says it was overcooked. She’s out. Tom and Padma put Andrew on the bubble.

Chaz doesn’t get his risotto on the plate. He’s out.

Bernice made short ribs. Laurent made duck. Jonathan made brussel sprouts.

Tom and Hugh don’t like the brussel sprouts. Jonathan is out. Hugh puts Laurent on the bubble. Tom doesn’t like the dish. Padma breaks the tie and puts him on the bubble. Hugh doesn’t like the short ribs. Neither does Tome. Bernice is out.

Ashley used oxtail to make a Filipino dish known as kare-kare. Lindsay made braised veal over polenta. Beverly made Korean-style octopus.

Tom can’t say enough good things about Lindsay’s veal. Hugh agrees and she’s in. Tom wishes the oxtail needed to be cook more. Padma says bubble. Hugh says out and she’s going home. Tom likes Beverly’s octopus; so does Hugh. She’s in.

Bubble Group

Padma says there’s just two spots left for the bubble group. They can choose to cook whatever they want in 45 minutes.

Edward: Duck with BBQ Sauce and Sweet Asian Mustard.
Molly: Jumbo-Stuffed Prawn with Soy Glazed Watermelon and Rice
Janine: Seared Scallop with Baby Clam, Bacon, Corn, and Watermelon Garnish
Grayson: Polenta with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Port Wine Fig Sauce
Laurent: Scallop Two Ways, Tartare and Seared on a Bed of Fennel with Saffron
Andrew: Mussels with Sherry, Fregula, Charred Corn Panna Cotta, and Shrimp

Emeril likes Janine’s dish. Tom says Molly’s shrimp are overcooked. Emeril loves everything about Edward’s dish. Tom likes that Grayson paired figs and bacon. He says she put together a ncie dish and Emeril likes the whole combination. Emeril is confused by Andrew’s panna cotta. Tom thinks Laurent’s tartare is not appetizing and Emeril agrees.

The potential cheftestants and dismissed and the judges discuss. They’re called back.

Molly is sent home. Laurent is sent home. Edward is in. Andrew is out. Grayson is in and Janine is out.

What did you find to be tasty in this episode? Did you think anything was overdone? Give us your Two Cents below!