Immunity Is Gone and the Competitors Heats Up

Buddha Lo is a two-time High Chef winner, government chef at Hūso in New York Metropolis, and a Saratoga Spring Water model ambassador. He’s sharing his ideas after every episode of High Chef season 21, set in Wisconsin, providing a singular perspective as a former cheftestant.

Warning: This text incorporates spoilers.

The episode begins with the aftermath of Restaurant Wars. We’re over the midway level now, so issues are going to get tougher. There is no such thing as a extra room for taking part in it secure or touchdown within the center as a result of quickly there can be no center.

What I discovered fascinating on this episode was Savannah’s “warfare mirror” that she used for brainstorming. That is one thing I did in my seasons, however I might write it in my e book and maintain a chart of the earlier episodes and the challenges. I wrote down each attainable problem I assumed was attainable for an concept and crossed it off when it occurred. For instance, in my season in Houston, I knew NASA was most definitely going to be included right into a problem. I didn’t know when, however I knew as we saved getting nearer to the tip, it was extra probably. So, I deliberate a number of concepts for any final result and risk.

I additionally saved in my e book a High Chef fantasy league, the place I gave factors to winners and the highest three cooks of the Quickfire and Elimination challenges so I may see who was turning into a risk.  

THE QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE

In the beginning of this week’s Quickfire, cooks had been advised that there isn’t a extra immunity for the remainder of the season and that their efficiency within the Quickfires will even issue into who goes dwelling. I like this as a result of it makes cooks accountable for every thing they cook dinner for the rest of the competitors.

All meals is being thought of when judges determine who and what number of cooks are eradicated. It’s worthwhile to go all the best way with the most effective of your craft to point out why you’re the High Chef. It will maintain them on their toes and is an effective addition to the present.

Additionally, the Quickfires simply received more difficult as a result of the cooks at the moment are cooking for a panel of judges (Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons are becoming a member of Kristen Kish) and a visitor decide, whereas in earlier seasons it was solely Padma Lakshmi and a visitor decide. 

This Quickfire was to create a singular dish utilizing Wisconsin’s state fruit: cranberries. Total, the cooks did properly, however in contrast to most challenges, the highest three had been introduced first.

Danny actually understood the problem. He made a cranberry poached sea bass with cranberry panade that regarded lovely and artistic. He was on the highest with Michelle who made a cranberry beet soup with foie gras and maple mascarpone; and Dan who made salt and pepper scallops with cranberry pink curry and herbs.

Danny gained the Quickfire once more giving him one other $10,000. Amanda, Manny and Laura had been on the underside, making them susceptible within the Elimination Problem.

THE ELIMINATION CHALLENGE

For the Elimination Problem, the cooks had been to cook dinner a contemporary Native American dish utilizing solely conventional Native American elements, which means no wheat flour, cane sugar, dairy, pork, beef or rooster. All of the cooks used elements chosen by visitor judges Sean Sherman and Elena Terry. I do know lots about Sean as a result of I studied Native American delicacies once we had been on our solution to Tucson for the season 19 finale. Earlier than the problem, the cooks had been handled to a feast and left with a ton of data and inspiration. 

WHO WON

The highest dishes for the Elimination Problem had been made by Dan, Soo and Savannah. Soo made a wild rice gnocchi with glazed candy potato, which was genius. Dan made a dish from all components of the sunflower together with seeds and flower petals making a sunflower choke with braised goose and aronia berry puree — and the judges cherished it.

However the judges had been most impressed with Savannah’s dish: squash and maple jelly cake with aronia berries, grapes and plum jelly that was utterly new to them. All three profitable dishes had been vegetarian and crushed it.

WHO LOST

Michelle, Amanda and Laura had been on the underside for this problem. Michelle made an acorn squash polenta cake with braised rabbit, smoked onions and mushroom. The judges mentioned her cake was soggy and fell aside and the rabbit was dry. Her jus to me regarded extra like a broth than a jus and that is most definitely why it was soggy.

Amanda made an elk tataki tartar that the judges didn’t perceive. Laura made a duck tamal wrapped in mustard greens with huckleberry sauce and haroset that the judges felt had manner an excessive amount of taking place.

Michelle was saved from elimination as a result of her Quickfire efficiency got here into play. All these curveballs made the episode very fascinating, and finally led to each Amanda and Laura going dwelling.

High Chef airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.