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Top Chef 9

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apskip:
TC9, Ep. 1

The Quickfire was to take the contents of a box and create a dish from it. The TC9 competitors knew that somehow rattlesnake was inside, but they were relieved to find out that it had been skinned and was dead. The winner would get immunity in the Elimination Challenge and $5,000. The competitors were introduced to Guest Judge Johnny Hernandez, chef/owner of La Gloria. They were given 1 hour to create their best rattlesnake dish.

The dishes created and presented were:

Kim - Rattlesnake Nigiri
Chris C. - Rattlesnake Nicoise w/ Olive Oil Pudding and Olive Panko
Chris J. - Cumin Breaded Rattlesnake w/ Bacon
Chuy - Adobo Seasoned Rattlesnake w/ Pasilla Balsamic BBQ Sauce
Dakota - Beer Battered Tempura Rattlesnake
Edward - Rattlesnake Gumbo w/ Habanero Orange Sauce
Grayson - Rattlesnake w/ Lime Zest, Fried Plantain w/ Avocado, Tequila Lime Sauce
Heather – not shown as best as I could tell
Keith - Sweet Corn Rattlesnake Griddle Cake, Beer Battered Rattlesnake Crudité
Lindsay - Grilled Rattlesnake w/ Spanish Chorizo, Avocado and Crispy Farro
Nyesha - Rattlesnake Braised w/ Tequila, Citrus, and Jalapeno
Paul - BBQ Rattlesnake w/ Peaches, Fried Peanuts, Southeast Asian Spices
Richie - Grilled Jerk Seasoned Rattlesnake w/ Roasted Corn
Sarah - Flash Fried Rattlesnake in a Brown Butter Sauce
Ty-Lor - Chicken Fried Rattlesnake, Slaw, Pickled Vegetables and Salsa
Whitney - Pan Seared Rattlesnake, Fennel, Avocado and Pomegranate Seeds

The least favorite dishes of the Guest Judge were Paul (BBQ snake with peaches, peanuts and Southeast Asian spices were not a harmonious combination), Richie and Nyesha (overcooked rattlesnake). The best dishes were Beverly, Dakota and Sarah. The winner was Dakota.

Elimination Challenge
2 teams were then formed by knife draw:
Team Green – Heather, Chris J., Richie, Paul, Grayson, Edward, Beverly and Chuy. 
Team Pink – Keith, Lindsay, Sarah, TyLor, Nyesha, Dakota, Whitney, Chris C.
Each team was given the mission of planning the food for 100 guests at a quinceanera party for a Mexican/American girl turning 15 years old. The teams were allowed to briefly question her, then they had to menu plan for 30 minutes and go shop at a Mexican store and Whole Foods with a $1500 budget. Several important decisions were made at those stores. Keith decided to forgo the work associated with fresh shrimp, so he bought them cooked and flash frozen. Both teams decided to go with purchased tortillas. The person on the Pink team
Who needed them was Keith; he was only familiar with flour tortillas, so that is what he bought.

The teams had 3 hours to cook that evening and then moved to the Adalco Restaurant, site of the party the next day. There was no formal leadership of either team except that Chuy helped his teammates as the “resident Mexican.”  Each competitor was on his/her own except for those that teamed up with someone else for a specific dish, typically a second one for them.

The dishes created and presented at the party were:
Beverly- Beef Short Rib Asada w/ Pina Kimchi
Chris C. - Choclo Con Chile
Chris J. - Green Chile, Mushroom, and Oaxaca Cheese Empanadas
Chuy - Braised Goat Birria, Cabbage, Red Peanut Salsa, and Handmade Queso Fresco
Dakota - Pineapple Strawberry Cake
Edward – Tomatillo Gazpacho w/ Watermelon, Jicama, and Pork Rinds
Grayson - Chicken in Ancho Pepita Mole w/ Pickled Red Onion, Crema, Lime
Heather - Vanilla Tres Leches Cake
Keith - Enchiladas en Salsa Verde
Lindsay and Keith - Pork Tenderloin Huarache w/ Pineapple Salsa
Nyesha - Ceviche w/ Crispy Plantain Chips and Spiced Popcorn
Paul - Shrimp Yuzu Ceviche w/ Corn Salsa and Yucca Chips
Richie - Grilled Jerk Seasoned Rattlesnake w/ Roasted Corn
Richie - Tapioca Chicharron with Pork Carnitas
Sarah and Lindsay - Cochinita Pibil
Ty-Lor - Fire Roasted Summer Fritter with Avocado Mousse
TyLor and Nyesha - Carne Asada with Pinto Beans
Whitney - Green Chili Pozole
Specific judges’ comments were:
Beverly – did a good job
Grayson – dish not exhibit much skill
Dakota’s cake – too much icing
Heather’c cake – very good taste but sloppy (leaning tower of Pisa effect)

The judges decided that the Green team won, so they were exempt.  The Pink team would be the one losing a member. The judges focused in on 4 individuals, although they also stated that Dakota would be there in the losers’ group if she did not have immunity. The 4 were TyLor, Lindsay, Sarah and Keith. The major sins of each one were:

TyLor – large, dry fritter tasted awful; he bought flour tortillas for Keith (who did not know any better)
Lindsay – cochinta pibil should have been easy for someone with experience cooking in Mexico, which Lindsay did
Sarah – cochinta pibil dish not good
Keith – used flour tortilla when Mexican cuisine demands corn tortilla; wasted shrimp by buying pre-cooked, which was rightly criticized by Hugh. Hugh had the best line of the episode in “like it or not, Keith made a burrito (not an enchilada)”.

In addition, the Pink team showed no teamwork, as Sarah and Lindsay both knew that corn tortillas should have been used and other were there when Keith bought the pre-cooked shrimp and failed to comment.

Keith was the first one to be eliminated. He went over to the “Last Chance Kitchen.”

apskip:
“Last Chance Kitchen”, episode 2 (if you are confused by the different numbering systems for the  regular show and Last chance Kitchen, I understand)

This is Andrew vs. Keith. First is a Mise en Place race, then those ingredients must be cooked in combination with clams to highlight the flavors of the clams. Andrew had Clams with Grilled Radicchio with Peperonata in Lemon Juice and Olive Oil. Keith had ceviche with one raw and raw cooked clam with lemon zest and pancetta. Tom Colicchio made the decision and declared Keith’s dish superior based on perfect ceviche and subtlety of flavors.

franxaverian:
Just to help clarifying Apskip's perfect recap, Beverly and Kim are the same person. Her full name is Beverly Kim.

Consider this post to 'subscribe' to your recap, Apskip.  :tup:

kiki:
I was surprised that there was no individual winner from the Green Team. In all the previous seasons, even in the team tasks, there was always an individual winner who received a prize, if only a recipe book. But in this episode the winning team was not called in the judges table. I hope that they will not continue like this. I enjoyed seeing the winners at the judges' table and find out if those I considered the best were also the judges' favourites.

apskip:
kiki, I too was surprised at no individual winner. I am guessing that the Judges only get so much behinds-the-scenes time at Judges Table (in this case it was where at the party they ate) and the producers elected to not spend that time on an individual winner. Remember that it gets a bit hectic with 16 competitors. Once there is a more manageable number due to eliminations, I expect we will see a return of individual rewards to complement the group reward (of being safe from elimination).

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