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'Top Chef': Teaming with a Lack of Controversy

Posted by Harold Check, July 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM

This week's quickfire challenge was pairing an appetizer with a gin-based cocktail, thanks to YABS (yet another bizarre sponsor). One chef, Dale, jumped at the opportunity, since he'd recently had a consulting gig to pair food with hard alcohol. Most of the other chefs, however, seemed unenthusiastic about the challenge, and, in a nice twist, the winner, Texas girl Casey, had never tasted a gin rickey and was flying completely blind. So much for master mixology.

On the elimination challenge front, since 12 divides so nicely, the chefs were grouped into teams of three and asked to create a trio of dishes based on a single ingredient of their choice. After sorting themselves using scraps of paper and a bit of negotiation, the teams all took off to plot their strategies.

The episode, if anything, seemed to lack the kind of high drama that team competitions have brought out in the past. Nemeses Howie and Joey ended up on the same team (voluntarily!), and sparks did not fly. In fact, they spent a good amount of time bonding in solidarity against their other teammate, Casey, who found the burden of immunity hard to bear gracefully. [Warning: Spoilers after the jump.]

Team Shrimp took down the title, with Hung, Lia, and Brian all delivering well-received dishes. Not surprising based on Brian and Hung's specialties, but New York City's Lia, who had spent most of the competition glued to the middle of the pack, came out the big winner. She may have benefited from the contrast to her earlier work or perhaps just by holding her own with two previous winners. In any case, chalk one up for the affable 28-year-old who cooks at Jean-Georges. Hopefully, she'll be able to build on this performance and keep the judges happy in coming weeks.

On the losing side, two teams got dinged: the Tunas—Howie, Joey, and Casey—and the Pineapples—Dale, Camille, and Sara. After the judges' inquisition, it looked like either Howie or Joey was going to get the ax for Casey's lackluster tuna tartare, but in the end it was Camille who was asked to pack her knives and vamoose. It seemed like the judges were genuinely peeved at just about everyone, but it was Camille's inability to justify or explain her choices that led Colicchio and company to show her the door.

Visit the site for Lia's winning Poached Shrimp with Lime Syrup recipe (complete with swapped photo—check Brian's for the right look), or for Camille's valedictory speech, or for the notable silence from hostess Padma Lakshmi, who is going through a well-publicized spell of family issues.

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Tags: Top Chef, TV