EPISODE #1: Primal Instincts. 15 To Start.
HOST: Padma
PLACE - Houston, Texas
JUDGES: Tom Colicchio,
Gail Simmons
Many Guests Judges.
PRIZES - A Feature in Food & Wine Magazine,
An Appearance at The Food & Wine Classics in Aspen,
$250,000 Plus Title of Top Chef.
DURING THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.
PLAYERS (15)
1. ASHLEIGH SHANTI Asheville, NORTH CAROLINA
2. BUDDHA LO Brooklyn, NEW YORK
3. DAMARR BROWN Chicago, ILLINOIS
4. EVELYN GARCIA Houston, TEXAS
5. JACKSON KALB Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA
6. JOE JUNG New York City, NEW YORK
7. LEIA GACCIONE Morristown, NEW JERSEY
8. LUKE KALPIN Seattle, WASHINGTON
9. MONIQUE FEYBESSE Vallejo, CALIFORNIA
10. NICK WALLACE Jackson, MISSISSIPPI
11. ROBERT HERNANDEZ San Francisco, CALIFORNIAIA
12. SAM KANG Brooklyn, NEW YORK
13. SARAH WELCH Detroit, MICHIGAN
14. STEPHANIE MILLER Bismark, NORTH DAKOTA
15. JO CHAN Palmdale, CALIFORNIA
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - A Team Challenge.
- In 30 minutes, all your cooking styles into one cohesive dish. Each member has ONLY 10 MINUTES to work on the dish & not allowed to speak with each other.
BROWN TEAM - Jackson, Robert & Sarah,
RED TEAM - Stephanie, Joe & Leia,
GREEN TEAM - Nick, Evelyn & Damarr,
YELLOW TEAM - Buddha, Monique & Jo,
BLUE TEAM - Sam, Luke & Ashleigh.
JUDGING:
BOTTOM - The Blue Team - didn't plate their dish.
TOP - Yellow & Brown Teams
WINNER - Yellow Team - have Immunity.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Same Teams.
- Create a cohesive menu featuring Primal Cuts of Beef in 2 1/2 hours serve at Annie Cafe & Bar.
Yellow - Rib, Blue - Loin, Brown - Chuck, Green - Sirloin & Red - Round.
GUEST JUDGES: Kristen Kish,
Tom Colicchio.
- Leia is sick.
JUDGES TABLE:
TOP - Brown Team.
WINNER of Brown Team - Robert.
BOTTOM - Red Team.
ELIMINATED - Leia.
EPISODE #2 - Friday Night Bites. 14 Left.
START OFF - The Chefs entered the kitchen seeing a lot of cheese.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Cheese - Queso.
GUEST JUDGE - Irma Galvin.
- Create a Queso dip and a dipper in 30 minutes.
JUDGING:
BOTTOM 3 - Sam, Robert & Jackson.
TOP 3 - Evelyn, Nick & Damarr.
WINNER - Damarr - won Immunity.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE: Guest Judge - Chef Chris Shepperd.
- In Two Teams of 7 create 7 dishes going head-to-head against each other in a football-like game.
WILDCATS - Sam, Sarah, Robert, Damarr, Monique, Jo & Luke.
COUGARS - Evelyn, Nick, Buddha, Ashleigh, Stephanie, Joe & Jackson.
COACHES: Dawn Burrell & Sam Talbot.
PLACE - Tomball ISD Stadium School District.
JUDGES: Padma, Chris, Tom, Gail, and Brooke.
- MVP - Damarr.
- BOTTOM 3 - Sarah, Luke & Stephanie.
ELIMINATED - Stephanie.
EPISODE #3: Noodles and Rice and Everything.... 13 Left.
START OFF - In Sarah's talking to her boyfriend via chat. Then the chefs entered the kitchen to Padma & Hung Huynh, Winner of Miami.
NO QUICKFIRE FIRE CHALLENGE.
Asian Night Market is set up in the kitchen.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Take inspiration from what you sample and create a street food dish for your own Asian Night Market in 1 hour which will be served at Post, Houston to one hundred guests.
JUDGES TABLE:
TOP 3 - Evelyn, Jackson & Jae.
WINNER - Jae won $10,000
BOTTOM 3 - Buddha, Ashleigh & Sam.
ELIMINATED: Sam.
EPISODE #4: Doppelganger 12 Left.
START OFF - In the Chef's Place Living. Then off to the kitchen where Padma & Chris Williams, Chef & Owner of Lucille 1913. are waiting for them in front of the table of Biscuits.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Paying homage to Lucille B. Smith by Creating your own Biscuits from scratch and a complete dish in 45 minutes.
BOTTOM - Buddha, Jae & Ashleigh.
TOP - Damarr, Evelyn & Jackson.
WINNER - Jackson. has an advantage.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - GUEST JUDGE: Wylie Dufrene.
- Team Challenge. JACKSON'S ADVANTAGE - pick his partner, Buddha.
Jae & Nick, Jo & Evelyn, Robert & Sarah, Ashleigh & Luke, and Damarr & Monique.
- Working in pairs Create two different dishes that look alike but taste different.
DOUBLE ELIMINATION!
JUDGES TABLE:
TOP - Ashleigh & Luke and Jackson & Buddha.
WINNER - Jackson & Buddha.
BOTTOM - Sarah & Robert and Evelyn & Jo.
ELIMINATED - Robert & Sarah.
EPISODE #5: Don't Mess with BBQ. 10 Left.
START OFF - Back in the Stew Room right after the last elimination, then Padma came in, telling them about the next challenge. They will meet Brook at the next location.
NEXT DAY - Arrived At - J-Bar-M Barbeque - Brooke Williamson was there.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Texas Style Brisket.
- Create a unique dish that highlights the flavors of your smoked brisket.
GUEST JUDGE: Greg Gatlin, Pitmaster,
20 of Houston's Best Pitmasters.
Then they went shopping and came back to the restaurant and found Brooke & Tom C. was there. Told them they were going to have a quickfire challenge NOW!
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Texas Toast.
- a very thick slice of bread in 30 minutes.
PRIZE - Immunity & $10,000
BOTTOM - Luke & Monique
TOP - Nick, Jo & Jackson.
WINNER - Nick.
Back to Cooking the Briskets.
JUDGES' TABLE:
TOP 3 - Buddha, Evelyn & Jackson.
WINNER - Evelyn - Houston Home Girl.
BOTTOM 3- Monique, Ashleigh & Jo.
ELIMINATED - Ashleigh.
EPISODE #6: Texas Trailblazers. 9 Left.
START OFF - In the Chef's place of living. Getting ready, then they head to the kitchen where Padma, Nini Nguyen & Kelsey Clark of Top Chef Kentucky are there.
RETURN FROM LAST KITCHEN - is Ashleigh. 10 Left.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Chose either one jar from Sweet or Salty ingredients working in pairs and painting off with Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto. Double Immunity & $10,000.
- Buddha & Luke - Honeycomb & Miso,
- Ashleigh & Nick - Gingersnaps & Park Rinds,
- Jo & Evelyn - Marcona Almonds & Peaches
- Damarr & Monique - Sweet Corn & Pepitas,
- Jackson & Jae - Pistachios & Asian Pears.
GUEST JUDGES:
1. Nini Nguyen & Kelsey Clark.
JUDGING:
TOP 3 PAIRS: Nick & Ashleigh,
Damarr & Monique
Jo & Evelyn.
WINNING TEAM - Nick & Ashleigh - won $10,000 & Immunity.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE -
GUEST MENTOR - Tiffany Derry, Top Chef.
- Making a dish in honor of Five Trailblazing Texas women in 2 1/2 hours serving at Brennan's
- Nick & Jo - Ann Richard,
- Ashleigh & Jae - Babe Didrikson Zaharias,
- Monique & Jackson - Barbara Jordan,
- Buddha & Luke - Bessie Coleman,
- Evelyn & Damarr - Selena.
JUDGE'S TABLE:
TOP 3 - Evelyn, Jackson, Buddha.
WINNER - Evelyn.
BOTTOM 3 - Monique, Ashleigh, & Luke.
ELIMINATED - Monique - not taking chances.
EPISODE #7: Swallow the Competition. 9 Left.
START OFF - In the Stew room right after the last elimination.
NEXT DAY - Headed to the Kitchen.
Padma, Kwame Onwuachi, and Ope Amosu, Houston's Chef were there waiting for them.
- Houston is the home to the largest Nigerian population.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Create a dish to pair with a Nigerian Swallow in 30 minutes.
Iyan Swallow, Eba Swallow, and Amala Swallow.
PRIZE - Immunity.
BOTTOM - Nick & Evelyn.
TOP - Buddha, Damarr & Jackson.
WINNER - Buddha - has won Immunity.
Joe Flamm arrived for the Elimination Challenge.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Jurassic World Dominion.
- Each team must create a 3-Course progressive menu that represents a sea, air, and land dinosaur in 2 hours served at Houston's Museum of Natural Science.
RED TEAM - Nick, Damarr, & Buddha. Mosasaurus - Sea,
BROWN TEAM - Evelyn, Ashleigh, & Jo. Quetzalcoatlus, Air
GREEN TEAM - Jackson, Luke, & Jae. Velociraptor - Land.
PRIZE - VIP Trip to see the world premiere of the movie.
JUDGES' TABLE:
TOP - WINNING TEAM - Brown Team.
BOTTOM TEAMS - Red & Green Teams.
ELIMINATED: Jo.
I am happy that they are trying to add a new cruise & more Africa- American chefs and judges.
EPISODE #8: Restaurant Wars. 8 Left.
START OFF - 7amm the Chefs are heading to their new destination - Post Market 713 Music Hall. Padma & Tiffany Derry were there.
Welcome to Restaurant Wars.
- pick knives to see who the captain will be.
1 Choice - Nick. picks Damarr, Ashleigh, & Buddha.
2nd Choice - Jae picks Evelyn, Jackson & Luke.
- 36 hours to open their doors. Create a truly priceless experience. Next-Day 5 hours to set up, train before service begins PRIZE - $40,000.
NICK'S RESTAURANT - Matriarc,
JAE " - No N.E.M.
JUDGE'S TABLE:
WINNER - Matriac - won $40,000. Each won $10,000.
Buddha was praised for Front of House & Best Bread.
WINNER - Ashleigh.
LOSER - No Nem.
- Jackson admits to his group that before the taping he got COVID, and his taste is gone.
ELIMINATED - Jackson.
EPISODE #9: Freedmen's Town. 7 Left.
START OFF - Back in the Stew Room.
NEXT DAY: Arrive in the Kitchen where Padma & Nyesha were waiting for them.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Create a monochromatic vegetarian dish in 30 minutes.
GUEST JUDGE - Nyesha Arrington.
Evelyn- Black Ashleigh - Yellow Nick - orange Damarr - Green Buddha - White
Jae - Red Luke - Purple.
BOTTOM - Nick & Ashleigh.
TOP - Buddha, Damarr & Evely.
WINNER - Damarr won the Last Immunity.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE -
GUEST JUDGES: Dawn Burrell & Kwame Onwuachi.
- Explaining the new holiday Juneteenth.
- Create a dish that speaks to your soul for a 100-person block party in Freedmen's Town. Serve at Bethel Church.
JUDGE'S TABLE:
WINNER - Jae.
ELIMINATED: Luke.
EPISODE #10: Dinner in Zero Gravity. 6 Left.
ARRIVE AT: Houston's Farmer Market.
- Padma & Claudette Zepeda, Top Chef - Denver.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Create your own version of Fajitas using ingredients from the market in 45 minutes. PRIZE - $10,000.
BOTTOM 3 - Damarr, Ashleigh & Jae.
TOP 3 - Nick, Buddha & Evelyn.
WINNER - Nick - win another $10,000.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - GUEST JUDGE - Marcus Samuelsson.
- Create a dish for astronauts following NASA guidelines of limiting free-standing liquid and crumbs.
JUDGES' TABLE:
TOP 3 - Evelyn, Buddha & Nick.
WINNER - Buddha.
BOTTOM 3 - Ashleigh, Jae & Damarr.
ELIMINATED - Jae.
EPISODE #11: Family Vacation. 6 Left.
ARRIVED AT: Galveston Island.
- Padma & Shota Nakajima, Top Chef - Portland.
QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE - Seafood Tower.
- Create a Seafood Tower featuring 1 Hot and 1 Cold dish in 45 minutes. PRIZE: Advantage.
BOTTOM - Buddha & Sarah.
TOP - Ashleigh, Nick & Evelyn.
WINNER - Evelyn. won the Advantage.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE:
- Create a family-style dish catered to a different family member on vacation in Galveston for 20 people in 2 1/2 hours.
EVELYN'S ADVANTAGE - get an extra 30 minutes of cooking time.
GUEST JUDGE - Sheldon Simeon, Top Chef- Charleston & Seattle & Adrienne Chatham.
- They received a booklet on what they liked but no name or whom they cooked for, some of the chefs figured out it was their loved ones.
JUDGE'S TABLE: it started storming on them. The first time took place inside.
TOP 3: Evelyn, Buddha & Damarr.
WINNER - Buddha - Won a Vrbo vacation anywhere & $10,000.
BOTTOM 3: Nick, Ashleigh & Sarah.
ELIMINATED: Ashleigh - Sorry she was leaving.
EPISODE #12: We're On the Boat. 5 Left.
Still in Galveston, Texas in Judge's Table room getting a little hint on their next challenge - Going Fishing.
NEXT DAY: ARRIVED AT: Galveston Yard Basin.
Tom & Dawn Burrel was waiting for them.
No Quickfire.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Create two Gulf-Caught fish dishes highlighting two different preparations. Prep/Cook at Bludorn Restaurant.
Went fishing on the Island Girl.
JUDGES' TABLE:
GUEST JUDGES: Daniel Boulud and Dawn Burrel.
TOP 2 - Sarah & Buddha.
WINNER - Sarah.
SAFE - Evelyn.
BOTTOM 2 - Nick & Demarr.
ELIMINATED: Nick - again, getting rid of the Black players.
EPISODE #13: Cactus Makes Perfect. 4 Left.
FINAL FOUR: Damarr, Evelyn, Sarah, & Buddha.
ARRIVED IN: Tuscon, Arizonia. Headed to El Charro Restaurant.
where Padma & Guest Judge. Carlotta Flores was waiting for them.
LAST QUICKFIRE - Make a dish featuring Carne Seca in 30 minutes.
BOTTOM 2: Buddha & Damarr.
TOP 2: Sarah & Evelyn.
WINNER - Sarah - won an Advantage.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Chiltepin
- Make two dishes, one sweet and one savory using Cactus in one dish and Chitepin in the other.
SARAH'S ADVANTAGE - 30 extra minutes of cooking time.
JUDGES' TABLE
WINNER - Evelyn - going to the Finale.
ELIMINATED: Damarr - the last African American is gone. They need to have MORE Blacks judges and cuisines events.
ESIPODE #14: The Final Plate. 3 Left.
THE FINAL THREE: Evelyn, Sarah & Buddha.
- Will get the help of 1 Sous Chef from the past players. Sarah - Robert H., Evelyn - Jo and Buddha - Jackson.
NEXT DAY: Arrived at Pima County Courthouse.
ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - Cook a 4- Course progressive meal anything you like.
THE WINNER IS BUDDHA.
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