Top Chef Masters: Michael Chiarello Moves on to the Finale
This week’s “Top Chef Masters” featured Michael Chiarello, Rick Moonen, Nils Noren, and Lachlan M. Patterson. The quick fire was for the chefs to take junk food and turn it into fine dining cuisine. This one had to be tough. Of course, they shied away from the Twinkies and went for the more reasonable choices of hot dog, corn dog, fish sticks, and fried shrimp. Rick didn’t even get his dish plated, which I don’t remember seeing before. One judge wondered aloud if Lachlan’s dish was done (said it looked rare). Michael’s swordfish meatball went over well. They loved Nils presentation (it was pretty), but he forgot the fried part of fried shrimp. Then, the judges were told Rick didn’t get his dish plated. Needless to say, he got 0 stars and will have to make the most amazing comeback ever to win. Lachlan got 3 stars, Nils got 3 stars, and Michael got 4 ½ stars.
The elimination challenge was to cook a three course meal for 100 people all by themselves. They had to serve at a party for Top Chef fans. The chefs seemed freaked out, but then were told it was a hors d’oeuvsre, an entrée, and a desert, so they felt a little better. Well, all except Rick, for the obvious reasons. Michael’s gelato wasn’t freezing, so he was in trouble. He decided to ask Lachlan how to use the blast freezer. He then enlisted the waiter to help him plate. Nils was worried because he finished five minutes early. At least he helped the others.
The judges liked Michael’s salad, but just not to eat while standing up. They thought Lachlan’s fried pineapple appetizer was not a good idea (it was overtaken by grease). Gael argued about having a knife at a cocktail party with the other judges. Rick was putting food – good food – out quickly. They all loved Nils’ salmon main course and it was very pretty. Michael was able to pull his gelato off except Gael complained about having lawn cuttings in her dessert. I loved when Jay said that panna cotta was supposed to wobble like a woman’s breast – PG rated cooking! Nils dishes were great, except his smoky tea dessert, which may cost him points.
The final score for Rick was 17, which redeemed him a bit from the original zero. The final score was Lachlan was 15 ½ – the fried pineapple did him in. It must have sucked to be beaten by Rick since Lachlan had 3 extra stars going in. Nils got 17 stars – tying with Rick. Michael’s dessert and prawns saved him and he won with 19 ½ stars. His charity is The Clinic Ole Foundation.
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