Thoughts on Top Chef Season 7 Episode 8: Foreign Affairs

If you have not seen this week’s episode of Top Chef, read no further. This post contains spoilers!

How’d you guys like this Top Chef episode? Here are my random thoughts. Would love to hear yours!

I was too busy to write my Top Chef thoughts last week, but here’s what I have to say: It’s really interesting how different guys are winning Elimination Challenges. Alex eh? So is Alex the pea-puree thief? I guess we’ll have to wait till the reunion show to really find out. And Andrea ends up going home. Kelly seasoned for others’ tastes, not being faithful to her own skills or whatever. I guess it’s a tough balance.

We start the next episode with the pea puree mystery. Tsk tsk. I wonder what the producers have to say. They must have tracked the pea puree somehow with all the cameras right?

Okay quickfire! Ooh it’s Top Chef Masters winner! Marcus Samuelsson. I haven’t watched this season’s Top Chef Masters by the way. So that’s a major spoiler for me, har har.

Okay, Ethiopian Quickfire Challenge! Tips about the food: Berbere spice, some kind of pancake bread which is also a utensil. This is really interesting for me since I’ve never had Ethiopian food!

Amanda goes for the goat, Alex is going for tongue. Kevin is thinking Alex is the weakest competitor.

What’s Angelo making? Ah, he’s had background cooking Ethiopian food. That gives him an edge I suppose.

Tiffany’s making a stew with the Ethiopian spices. I think that’s smart.

Okay judging time! Kevin makes braised chicken with chickpeas, cucumber-mint salad and yogurt. The heat is there, Marcus says.

Stephen makes stew with lamb meatballs and yogurt sauce. Why do Stephen’s dishes always look so messy?

Alex has a beef and lamb tongue stew with cabbage and potatoes. It’s not very spice at all, Padma says.

Kelly prepares a leg of lamb wat with cauliflower,yogurt and mint puree.

Amanda made stewed goat on grilled injera. Modern stew and it tastes wonderful, Marcus says.

Oh what a surprise, Kenny prepares a duo AGAIN. He has a duo of lamb, meat loaf and rib eye with curry and dukkah spice. Lots of deep flavors, Marcus says.

Angelo has a berbere-spiced doro wat with egg, mango yogurt and mint on steamed injera. You sure you’re not born in Ethiopia?, asks Marcus. Ooh what a compliment!

Ed has a stewed lamb & beef tripe with cauliflower, chickpeas and braised greens. Looks pretty. Well-balanced, judge says.

Tiffany has beef goulash with poached egg, currants, peppers and yogurt. This looks so hearty! Marcus seems to love it.

Least favorite: Kevin wasn’t bold enough. Stephen’s lamb meatballs weren’t juicy. Alex’s stew was dry.

Faves: Amanda’s combo of goat, spices and potatoes was fantastic. Angelo’s knowledge came through in cooking. Tiffany’s hearty flavors were similar to Ethiopian cooking. Winner is Tiffany? TIFFANY! GOOD GOING! Woohoo! I’m so happy for her! Immunity too! That dish made Marcus want to go back for more. For someone who’s never cooked Ethiopian food, that’s a feat for her! And as Ed said, she beat Angelo!

Elimination challenge time! There’s a map with nine countries. Create a dish inspired by a specific country is the challenge. 100 portions of each dish and serving at the Meridian International Center. They’ll be serving diplomats, ambassadors and world dignitaries who are looking for a taste of their homeland, says Padma.

Tiffany gets Mexico, Kelly gets Italy, Amanda gets France, Kenny gets Thailand, Alex gets Spain, Angelo gets Japan, Kevin gets India, Ed gets China and Stephen gets Brazil.

Kenny says he doesn’t know why he’s still in the middle. I have a theory. Maybe it’s the duos. Heehee, just kidding Chef.

Cooking time! The chefs have 2 hours. That’s not much time! They won’t be able to cook at the center, just serve the dishes in chafing dishes.

Ed has had Chinese girlfriends in the past he says. So yes, that could help him with his Chinese dish.

The chefs are done and they’re home. Kevin’s on speaker phone with his kid. Uh oh! Kelly gets a care package from her husband. How sweet! Uh oh! Are they the bottom two? Dun dun dun.

Okay back to work. Judges are Jose Andres, Marcus Samuelsson and the trio.

Ed’s up first: Tea-smoked duck breast with pot stickers in szechuan jus. (China)
Alex: Braised veal cheeks, jamon torta with olive and tomato salad. (Spain)
Stephen: Flank steak in chimichurri sauce with black beans and rice (Brazil)
Kelly: Beef Carpaccio, spring vegetable salad and parmigianno-reggiano (Italy)
Kevin: Stewed chicken with leek and parsnip puree, cucumber mango salad and lentils (India)

Good feedback so far, save for Stephen’s. Food stand for five bucks, says one guy. Baaad. Alex needs more focus and punch, everything felt muted, the judges say.

Amanda: Beef bourguignon with pommes fourchette and hroseradish mousse. (France)
Angelo: Sashimi of tuna ribbons with candied wasabi and soy infusion (Japan)
Tiffany: Chicken tamales with queso fresco and tomatillo sauce (Mexico)
Kenny: Tamarind braised pork with rice noodle salad and Thai green curry (Thailand)

Amanada’s beef was dry. Jose Andres loves the color of the tuna. The look of Tiffany’s dish says Mexico, and once you taste it it keeps saying Mexico. Fab compliment from the judges and the guests. Kenny’s got good feedback as well.

From this, it seems Amanda’s going home.

Then there’s some funny scene, was that a prank? Ah well. Let’s get on with the cooking.

They’d like to see Kelly, Kevin and Tiffany. Three have the most favorite dishes! Good for them! Lots of good words go around. The contestants are beaming. Jose Andres announces the winner — it’s Tiffany! I’m so happy for her!!!!! She had immunity and she wins!

Surprise! 10,000 dollars furnished by Dial Nutriskin. A 10,000 dollar tamale, Jose Andres says. This guy has a funny sense of humor! My wedding is paid for, Tiffany shares. That’s fabulous! The same amount will be donated to Chef Jose Andres’ charity.

Stephen, Alex and Ed are called in. Oh, I thought Amanda would be part of the bottom. Yikes.

Stephen was called for basic flaws — bad rice, bad steak.

Alex’s dish was a little nightmare, according to Jose Andres. Whether it was Spanish or inspired by Spain, just didn’t work. All the components didn’t work together. Techniques were bad.

Ed overpromised and underdelivered. Sweet and sour was nowhere to be found, the duck wasn’t cooked the best possible. This is a tough challenge. It doesn’t mean if you’re a chef it means you know the world, nice insight from Jose Andres.

Who’s going home? I think it’s Stephen, if they go by the “A Chef Should Know His Basics” talk.

Padma says, “Stephen please pack your knives and go.”

It was about time. I wish a wild card could be brought back. That would be Arnold for me.

Meanwhile, I want to learn how to make candied wasabi. Sounds really good.

Next on Top Chef: Restaurant Wars!!! It looks like they’re all upset. Is Kelly about to cry? Angelo too? Kevin’s all prepped up for a right? Restaurant Wars has always been interesting, with last season’s being the best by far. Can’t wait till this week’s episode!

The dish I would love to have tasted:

Tiffany’s Beef Goulash with Poached Egg, Currants, Red Peppers & Yogurt — looks like grrrrrrrreat comfort food!

In his blog entry, Tom Colicchio talks about how inspiration can lead to great execution, with Kevin as a prime example. Read more here. He also talks about the Pea Puree Thief incident. Ah well, I guess it remains a mystery forever.

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.