Top Chef Season 3 Episode 11
“Snacks on a Plane” Heh, heh. GREAT title, I thought. The chefs were awakened by Padma, who got in bed and tussled with Casey, but was more prim in the boys room. What IS with Brian and that hat he wears to sleep in? CJ, though, seemed quite happy to see Padma, and continued his flirtatious banter. They were challenged to make her breakfast, and it sounded like everyone did a good job, though Brian got dinged for blackberry seeds in the smoothie. Spazzy Hung broke a bottle of oil so there was glass and oil on the floor, then he denied it; badly done, but he pulled out the win anyway by adding Grand Marnier to his smoothie and making a simple but exquisite steak and eggs. They then received plane tickets to Newark NJ. Upon arrival they were told their next challenge would be about plane food. The next day, they were tasked with creating a dish for first-class passengers. They had a tough time in an unfamiliar kitchen. CJ faltered badly with the timing of his dish, and early finisher Hung looked selfish for not volunteering to help him catch up, though other chefs did, as they’ve picked up that working with each other rather than for themselves succeeds all around.
This episode spawned some of the nastiest comments I’ve heard.
On Sara’s salmon: “So overcooked it’s like catfood! (Bourdain) Also, “It’s not an afterthought, it’s a fourth or fifth thought.”
On Brian’s hash: “It was disgusting,” stated flatly by Colicchio
And the death knell: “The worst dish we’ve had in three seasons” by Colicchio about CJ’s broccolini.
Padma looked down and then up with tears in her eyes (?!) before telling CJ to pack his knives.
For the second week, Casey took top spot, and earned a sweet prize. I have to take back what I wrote about her not making it to the end. What I’m now enjoying about Top Chef is that it is so variable. Great chefs can make terrible decisions, or even just bad choices, that spiral out of control. I have no idea which of the final five are going to be the final three, but I really enjoyed seeing the camaraderie and support of all the chefs but Hung, who seems to be the only cut-throat thinking contender left.