'Top Chef' recap, Season 22 Episode 5: Double elimination after 150 bites inspired by Toronto's culinary scene
Bailey was the chef who joined the rest of the competitors, with everyone noticing a change in her demeanour. She had a renewed focus and returned ready to take on the competition.
But the surprises didn't end there. Kristen and Gail revealed to the chefs that there wouldn't be a Quickfire Challenge this week. Instead, they were tasked with venturing out to Toronto's neighbourhoods to work in different restaurants.
The chefs had to draw knives to determine what cuisine they would be experiencing. Greek (Tristen and Bailey at Soulas), Indian (Vinny and Lana at Dil Se), Filipino (Henry and Shuai at BB's), Thai (Katianna and César and Kiin), Portuguese (Kat and Corwin at Mercado ) and Caribbean (Paula and Massimo at Miss Likklemore's).
Kristen stressed that cooking in these restaurants and learning from these local chefs was very important, because it was a double elimination episode, with both people in a team going home.
The Elimination Challenge required the chefs to make a dish inspired by what they learned on the line at their respective Toronto restaurant. The chef had to serve 150 guests at The Bentway, in addition to the judges. This week, Top Chef alum Sara Bradley joined the judges panel.
Due to Tristen's win last week, he had immunity, along with his partner Bailey.
Overall, things were pretty tame in each team. The biggest setback was really for Kat and Corwin, because the Whole Foods where the chefs do their shopping didn't have salted cod.
The dishes each team created, and judges feedback, were as follows:
Paula & Massimo — Braised short rib with grilled flatbread, escabeche with sweet plantain vinegar — Tom said it was a little dry and Gail said she was missing the acidity
Kat & Corwin — Cod and shrimp bomba with saffron aioli, smoked roe, piri piri and pickles — Sarah liked the big pickles, but all the judges were in agreement that the texture was too wet
Katianna & César — Pad Thai glazed tenderloin, pickled mushrooms and butterfly pea flower pickles — Sarah said it was a little sweet, but Tom added that there was still a nice heat, and Gail highlighted that there was a lot of "variation of flavour"
Lana & Vinny — Chicken Kamasutra with curry hollandaise, chicken skin and flatbread — Sarah said the curry hollandaise didn't pack as much of a punch as they wanted and Tom said the hollandaise just wasn't necessary
Henry & Shuai — Arroz caldo with roaster pork kare-kare, fermented pickles and bagoóng xo sauce — Gail and Tom said the meat was a little overcooked
Bailey & Tristen — Grilled octopus with kalamata caramel glaze and charred green olive honey relish — Sarah said the octopus was cooked well, Gail said there was a nice sweet and saltiness
Tristen and Bailey, and Katianna & César had the favourite dishes of the day. Tristen and Bailey were the winners, meaning they were awarded back-to-back immunity.
Kat and Corwin, and Lana and Vinny, were up for elimination, but ultimately Kat and Corwin were eliminated, having to move to Last Chance Kitchen.
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