Thoughts on Top Chef S06E12: The Culinary Olympics

If you have not seen Top Chef Season 6 Episode 12, read no further. This post contains spoilers! I realize I counted the Reunion Dinner as one Las Vegas episode, so… whoops. Anyway, this is technically Episode 12 of the Las Vegas run.

How’d you guys like the recent episode of Top Chef Las Vegas? Here are my random thoughts as I watched the show. Would love to hear yours!

• I’ve read that Eli was the best man at Richard Blais’ wedding but never figured out the connection. Eli clears it for us. (After watching this episode, check out Richard Blais’ blog on more stories behind their bromance too.)

• A protein within a protein within a protein… does a triple Cheeseburger count? Oh it’s called a ballotine. According to Wikipedia, “a ballotine is a piece of meat, fish or poultry that has been boned, stuffed and then rolled and tied into a bundle.”

• Apparently, Michael Volt doesn’t know what a ballotine is because he makes a terrine, which is layered meat but not rolled and tied. Chef Mike, you’re getting too cocky now. You’re not following directions!

• Eli’s Scotch Egg looked the most appealing to me. I’d love to pour melted butter over it. Delish. But Jen takes the win! The Iron Lady is back! Here’s Jen’s winning Quickfire dish:

• The Elimination Challenge is a simulation of the Chef Olympics or the Bocuse D’Or. The 12 judges are hardcore. What takes chefs months (or years) to train for, the cheftestants do in a couple of hours. I say this is the toughest elimination challenge yet. The calibre of this season’s contestants seem to surpass past seasons’ though, so they could definitely take the heat.

• So the chefs plan their menus and uh-oh, Kevin has never done it the Hung way, I mean, the sous-vide way? Was the spirit of Carla Hall beside Kevin when he made that decision? Kudos to Big Brother Bryan for helping him out though. He could’ve ignored Kevin’s plea for help but he went out on a limb to help an opponent.

• There’s a lot of laughing Bryan moments here. I’m starting to think he’s been laughing all this time, the past eps, it was just edited out! He laughs like Bert from Sesame Street.

• The Bocuse D’Or is all about fancy schmancy presentations, but Kevin decides he’ll stick to his gut and just do the opposite: “complex flavor wrapped up in a neat and simple bundle.” I love how he sticks to cooking from his heart and gut. This chef has got integrity.

• So the cheftestants are trembling as they come face-to-face with Thomas Keller, who is the biggest thing in the culinary world based on their reactions. It is obvious how much respect the chefs have for Chef Keller. (Read Tom Colicchio’s blog on Bravo to see why Chef Keller wasn’t part of Judges Table!)

• Serving time. One of the judges finds a bone in his salmon. And it’s from Michael. Tsk. Your cockiness is catching up with you. AND he makes couscous out of cauliflower. OH NO. Is he channeling Mike Isabella here? A leek is not a scallop is not a protein! A cauliflower is not a couscous is not Mediterranean! His culinary vision’s getting clouded by his arrogance more and more.

• All the mirrored presentations are making me nervous, what if the chef drops it? Nobody does that. When the chefs are called in, Thomas Keller announces that the night’s winner will have a chance to compete for a spot at the 2011 Bocuse D’Or American team.

• Judges table… I’ll just jump right in and say YEY! Kevin won for sticking to his instincts! Here’s Kevin’s winning dish:

• Kevin gets a bunch of reading material, a Bocuse D’Or jacket AND $30,000 from the M Resort, which he says is his favorite place on earth. I’m so happy for Kevin. Go go go!

• Who’s leaving Las Vegas? ELI.  Now I’m not a huge fan of the guy, but I did get teary-eyed when he got the chop.

My Top 4: Bryan. Mike V. Jen. Kevin. >>> WOOHOO! I got it right! Then again, there’s nothing surprising about this Fab Four!

The dish I would love to have tasted:

I enjoyed this episode! And I can’t wait for the next one. JEN HAS CURLY HAIR! PADMA HAS BANGS! BRYAN LOOKS EVEN CUTER! KEVIN’S HAIR GREW LONGER! I didn’t notice Brother Mike. AND THEY’RE IN NAPA!!!

Hi! I'm Toni Tiu, and I've been blogging at at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.