Friday, March 20, 2020

SEASON #17: ALL STARS - LOS ANGELES, CA. - MELISSA

EPISODE #1:  It's Like They Never Left.                                                            15 To Start.
HOST:  Padma Lakshmi.
JUDGES:  Tom Colicchio
                  Gail Simmons.
PRIZE:  A Feature in Food & Wine Magazine,
              An Appearance at Food & Wine Classic in Aspen,
              $250,000 ( the highest amt in Top Chef history)
              Title.
STARTS AT:  Griffith Observatory.

PLAYERS (15)
1.  ERIC ADJEPONG  S-16 Kentucky                                             Washington, D.C
2.  KAREN AKUNOWICZ  S-13  California                                   Boston, MASS.
3.  JENNIFER CARROLL S-6 Las Vegas                                        Philadelphia, PA.
4.  STEPHANIE CMAR  S-11  New Orleans                                   Boston, Mass.
5.  LISA FERNANDES  S-4  Chicago                                             Brooklyn, NY
6.  KEVIN GILLESPIE  S-6 Las Vegas                                           Atlanta, GA.
7.  GREGORY GOURDET  S-12  Boston                                       Portland, OR
8.  JAMIE LYNCH  S-14 Charleston, SC                                        Charlotte, NC.
9.  MELISSA KING  S-12  Boston                                                 San Francisco, CA
10.  BRIAN MALARKEY  S-3  Miami                                          San Diego, CA
11.  NINI NGUYEN S-16  Kentucky                                              New York City, NY
12.  JOE SASTO  S-15  Colorado                                                   Los Angels, CA
13.  ANGELO SOSA S-7  Washington DC                                    San Diego, CA
14.  BRYAN VOLTAGGIO  S-6 Las Vegas                                    Frederick, MD
15.  LEE ANN WONG  S-1  San Francisco                                   Maui, Hawaii

FIRST QUICKFIRE:  Mise En Place Race  ( but will do it differently)
- 3 Legs but after each leg the first five to finish will become a team & start cooking immediately.
1st leg:  Turn 3 Artichokes,
2nd leg:  Must Supreme 5 California Oranges,
3rd leg:  Crack 20 California Almonds  (but will have only 15 minutes to cook)
- the kitchen clock will start when last team arrives
- Use the prepped ingredients from above i 2 dishes.
TEAM 1:  Kevin, Jamie, Bryan V., Joe, & Melissa.
TEAM 2:  Nini, Stephanie, Brian M., Lisa, Karen.
TEAM 3:  Lee Ann, Jennifer, Gregory, Angelo, & Eric.
WINNER:  is the Red Team.  Now each will be captain for the next challenge.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Seafood Feast
- Cook & Serve at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.  Have 30 minutes to menu plan & shop in the pantry.  Tomorrow have 21/2 hrs to prep & cook.
BRYAN picks Eric & Lisa,
KEVIN picks Jennifer & nini,
JAMIE picks Gregory & Stephanie,
JOE picks Lee Ann & Brian M.,
Melissa picks Angelo & Karen.

JUDGES TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Jeremiah Tower
TOP TEAM:  Yellow Team & WINNER:  Gregory.
BOTTOM:  Red Team
ELIMINATED:  Joe.

NEXT CHALLENGE Begins Immediately??????????????

EPISODE #2:  The Jonathan Gold Standard.                                                   14 left.
ARRIVED ON:  Cliffside - No Quickfire Challenge but they will spend the day exploring the city using Jonathan Gold's Best 101 Restaurants of Los Angeles,  ( his last list before dying)

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Create a dish by visits to some of Jonathan Gold's favorite restaurants.  Will be served at iconic Union Station to 200 guests.
Traveling in groups (but not cooking in groups):  Melissa, Karen & Lisa.
- Kevin, Gregory, Angelo, & Eric.
- Nini, Bryan V., Jamie, Brian M.
- Lee Ann, Jennifer,  & Stephanie.
SHOPPING:  30 minutes & $700.00

JUDGES TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Ruth Reichl, Food Writer & Judge from Top Chef Masters.
TOP 3:  Nini, Kevin & Bryan V.
WINNER:  Kevin
BOTTOM 3:  Anego, Stephanie & Eric
ELIMINATED:  Angelo.

EPISODE #3:  Strokes of Genius.                                                                 13 left
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  30 minutes to Create a unique fired rice dish using at least one ingredients from display table.
JUDGES:  Ali Wong & Randall Park, Actor & Actress.
BOTTOM:  Jamie & Nini.
TOP:  Kevin, Eric & Karen.
                  WINNER:  Kevin.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Create a dish inspired by Art from the Getty Museum.
- NEOCLASSICISM:  Jennifer, Eric, Karen & Kevin,
- BAROQUE:  Bryan V., Lisa & Jamie,
- RENAISSANCE:  Brian M., Nini, & Lee Ann,
- ROCOCO:  Melissa, Gregory & Stephanie.
- Served at the Museum.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Ludo Lefebvre
TOP:  Brian M., Bryan V., Melissa & Eric.
                  WINNER:  Melissa.
BOTTOM:  LeeAnn, Stephanie, Jamie & Karen.
ELIMINATED:  Jamie.

EPISODE #4:  You're  So Fresh.                                                                     12 left.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Kelly Clarkson. - new movie"Trolls World Tour"

- Create a dish using one ingredients from each of the six colors in the display.  in 30 minutes
PRIZE:  2 Tickets to Attend the World Premiere of the Movie.
BOTTOM:  nini, Stephanie & Bryan.
TOP:  Gregory, Lisa & Karen.
       WINNER:  Gregory.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  go to Santa Monica Farmer's Market to shop
- Create a 6 Course progressive menu & dessert, must be vegetarian.  Shopping Money per team $1,200 & 45 minutes to shop.
BLUE TEAM:  Melissa, Karen, Kevin, Gregory, Jennifer & Eric.
RED TEAM:  Stephanie, Bryan, Lisa, LeeAnn, Nini & Brian.
TWIST:  You won't know what available in the Market until you get there.
COOK AT:  Birdie  G's.  GUEST JUDGE:  Jeremy Fox.

JUDGE'S TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  none.
WINNER: Blue Team & WINNER:  Melissa.
ELIMINATED:  Lisa for Brussel Sprouts being over cooked.

EPISODE #5:  Bring Your Loved One to Work.                                        11 left.
- The Chefs enter the kitchen BUT No Padma.  But, on each table is a smartphone, which they used & find they LOVED ONES answered.
- Then Padma entered & told them to hang up & will call them back.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Replicate a restaurant dish guided only by a loved one over the phone whom is in the restaurant, Osteria Mozza.
30 minutes to cook.
GUEST JUDGE:  Nancy Silverton.
BOTTOM:  Brian.
TOP 3:  Melissa, LeeAnn & Kevin.
                 WINNER:  Kevin.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Westfield Century Club.
- Create a signature specialty product & build a dish to highlight it.  $600.00 to shop & loved one will help.
- LeeAnn's mother fainted during the cooking & had to leave.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Nancy Silverton.
- Melissa sold 31 bottles & is SAFE.
TOP 3:  Gregory, Nini, & Eric.
              WINNER:  Gregory.
BOTTOM 3:  Stephanie, Jennifer & Brian.
ELIMINATED:  Jennifer.

EPISODE #6:  GEt Your Phil.                                                                    10 left.
START OFF:  Chef's House - The Chef waking up then head to kitchen.

GUEST JUDGE:  Chris Bianco, James Beard Winning Chef.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Create a dish using non-wheat flours.
  No Immunity.  PRIZE:  $5,000 in 30 minutes.
BOTTOM:  Bryan & Brian.
TOP:  Melissa, Gregory & Nini.
                WINNER:  Gregory.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  100 year Anniversary of Los Angeles Phil
- 5 Taste Profiles:  Salty, Sweet, Sour, Bitter & Umami.  Double Elimination
- Work in Pairs to find harmony between 2 flavors for the anniversary.  SERVED & COOK AT:  Iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.
PAIRS:  Nini/Karen - Sour/Umami,
              Bryan/Eric:  Bitter/Sweet,
              LeeAnn/Brian:  Umami/Bitter
              Kevin/Melissa:  Sweet/Salty
              Greg/Steph:  Sour/Salty

JUDGE'S TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Timothy Hollingworth, Chef/Owner of Otium Rest.
TOP & WINNER:  Melissa & Kevin.
BOTTOM:  Nina/Karen  and Bryan/Eric
WINNER:  Nina & Karen.

EPSIODE #7:  Pitch Perfect                                                 8 left.
START OFF:  In the house eating dinner.

NEXT DAY:  Last Chance Kitchen Winner is Brought Back:  Karen.    9 left.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Danny Trejo, Actor.
- Create a Taco using only a Machete as means of cutting.  30 minutes.
BOTTOM:  Gregory & Eric.
TOP:  LeeAnn, Karen, & Stephanie.
               WINNER:  Stephanie -has Immunity & the Last One.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:
- Stephanie Izard, Winner of Top Chef - Chicago,
  Kevin Boehm, Boco Rest. Group.
- Pitch a restaurant concept for restaurant wars, design a concept, create a menu & mood board and 1 or 2 dishes.
- At night they went bowling to relax.

JUDGES' TABLE:
   TOP:  Greg, Kevin, Brain M., & Melissa.
              WINNERS:  Kevin & Greg
  BOTTOM:  Eric, LeeAnn & Stephanie (has immunity)
ELIMINATED:  Eric.

EPISODE #8:  Restaurant Wars.                                                                      8 left.
START OFF:  In the Chef's House.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  In Two Teams create & executive restaurant based on Kevin & Gregory's concepts.  PRIZE:  $40,000 to be split.
KEVIN::  Bryan, Melissa, & Karen,
GREGORY:  Malarkey, LeeAnn, & Stephanie.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Stephanie
WINNER:  Gregory's Team.
LOSER:  Kevin's Team - he planned too much & guest did not want to leave.  He based his plans on Grandmother & what works at home doesn't work in a restaurant.
ELIMINATED:  Kevin.  What works for your family doesn't usually work in a restaurant.

EPISODE #9:  Cabin Fever.                                                                             7 left.
START OFF:  In the Chef's House - they are upset about Kevin bein being eliminated, then a message from Padma came in:  Going to Summer Camp.

ARRIVED AT:  Pali Mountain Retreat Center
- A weekend camp for mothers.
GUEST JUDGE:  Kelsey Bernard Clark, Winner of Top Chef - Kentucky.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Create a grilled dish featuring Bush's Beans. in 30 minutes.
PRIZE:  $10,000 cash.
BOTTOM:  Stephanie, Bryan & Melissa.
TOP:  Karen, LeeAnne, & Gregory.
     WINNER:  LeeAnne.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Create two brunch dishes each for 200 mom using limited ingredients in the camp kitchen.
GUEST JUDGE:  Brooke Williamson
TOP:  Karen, Bryan & Gregory.
              WINNER:  Bryan V.
BOTTOM:  LeeAnne, Melissa & Brian M.
ELIMINATED:  LeeAnne.

EPISODE #10:  Colossal Coliseum Kaiseki.                                               6 left.
START OFF:  In the Chef's house - fixing a meal.

ARRIVED IN:  The Kitchen.
GUEST JUDGE:  Chef Sherry Yard.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Create a sweet treat using ingredients correctly guessed in Blind Taste Test.  5 minute to guess 20 ingredients.
1st place:  guessing 13 - Stephanie - get 1 hour to cook,
Tied for 2nd:  guessing 13 Gregory & Melissa but Melissa use longer so Greg got 2nd - got 1 hour to cook.  Melissa get 45 minutes to cook,
4th place:  Bryan V. guess 11 get 45 minutes to cook,
5th place:  Karen guess 8 & Brian last both get only 30 minutes.
BOTTOM:  Karen & Bryan V.
TOP:  Brian & Melissa.
          WINNER:  Melissa.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Serve one dish in a 6 course progressive Kaiseki Meal for Olympic Athletes.  Will serve at the the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
PRIZE:  Trip for 2 to the Olympic in Tokyo????* because of the current situation - the games were cancelled.( the corvid virus)
JUDGES TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Niki & Carole Iide- Nakayame.
WINNER:  Stephanie.
BOTTOM:  Karen, Greg, Malarkey, & Melissa.
ELIMINATED:  Karen.

EPISODE #11:  Michael's Santa Monica.                                                                5 left.
START OFF:  Preview of Last Chance Kitchen - Winner:  Kevin.  Kevin is back.
                                                                                                                 NOW:  6 left.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:  Create an elevated airline meal consisting of an appetizer, main entree following airline restrictions in 30 minutes.
GUEST JUDGE:  Johnathan Waxman
BOTTOM:  Stephanie & Malarkey.
TOP:  Kevin & Melissa.
           WINNER:  Melissa.
5 Will Go to Finale in Tuscany, Italy.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Serve a dish inspired by a classic Michael's Santa Monica dish for their 40th anniversary.

JUDGE'S TABLE
GUEST JUDGE:  Jonathan Waxman
    WINNER:  Melissa
BOTTOM 2:  Malarkey & Gregory
ELIMINATED:  Malarkey.

EPISODE #12:  Lucca.                                                                   5 left.
MEMO:  From Tom C. about the current situation.  RE:  Cornvid Virus.

START OFF: 5:45 am Chef's House - getting packed for Italy.  Traveling first class.
ARRIVED AT:  Tuscany, Italy - staying at Renaissance Hotel. - Lucca, Italy.

QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Filippo Saporito.
- Create a traditional aperitivo inspired by regions of Italy for the locals of Lucca. in 45 minutes.
WINNER:  $10,000.
- Gregory - Italian Islands - Seafood,
- Melissa - Central Italy - Wild Game - Beef, Mussels,
- Stephanie - Northwest Italy - Venison & Tuna,
- Kevin - Northeast Italy - Cold Cuts,
- Bryan - Southern Italy - Tomatoes & Lamb.
BOTTOM:  Bryan & Stephanie (she knew she was making a mistake but didn't have the courage to stop)
TOP:  Melissa, Kevin & Gregory.
                     WINNER:  Kevin win the $10,000

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Going Hunting.
- Hunting White Truffles.
- Create dishes that feature White Truffles for a Tusan Food Festival.
- Served at:  L'Imbuto Restaurant.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Christiano Tomei, Avant-Garde Italian Chef.
TOP:  Bryan & Melissa.
             WINNER:  Melissa.
BOTTOM:  Kevin, Gregory & Stephanie.
ELIMINATED:  Gregory.  (I knew it - could not be another Black Top Chef - only 1)  There should more Black judges so we will have fair chance.  Tom did not like Gregory's food.

EPISODE  #13:  Parma.                                                                                      4 left.
               FINAL FOUR:  Melissa, Kevin, Bryan & Stephanie.
START OFF:  At the elimination.
- Sending them on One Last Journey - Emilia-Romagna-Parma.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Make a traditional Italian primi & secondi dish that features parnigiano reggioano & prosciutto di parma.
- Served at:  Antica Carte Pallavicina , Michelin Star Restaurant.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:  Evan Funke, Chef/Author.
TOP:  Melissa & Stephanie
   WINNER:  Melissa.
BOTTOM:  Kevin & Bryan
ELIMINATED:  Kevin.

EPISODE #14:  Finito.                                                                               3 left.
START OFF:  The Hotel They received a message from Padma.  Enjoy your breakfast then meet her on the the terrace.
ARRIVED ON:  The Terrace - was Tom & Padma.
- She gives them their final challenge
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:  Create a four course progressive meal, for many famous chefs.  They are given help:
- Stephanie choose Malarkey,
- Bryan choose Kevin &
- Melissa choose LeeAnn (whom filling in for Greg whom has back problems)
They go to Florence to shop for food.
Later that night Tom, Padma & Gail cook them dinner.

NEXT DAY:  Cook & serve their last meal.

JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGE:    ????????????????


THE WINNER IS:                  MELISSA.













                                               

No comments:

Post a Comment