I am totally obsessed with the latest episode of Top Chef!  I felt a personal connection because they were on board the Celebrity Cruise lines on a trip to Alaska – a cruise my mom and I did just last year!   From the scenery to the dishes at Qsine, everything was fantastically familiar!  If you are interested in reading about the experience, here are a few links to the blogs I wrote:  

http://www.betterrecipes.com/blogs/daily-dish/2012/07/13/cruise-for-food-and-wine-fanatics/ http://www.betterrecipes.com/blogs/daily-dish/2012/08/02/blue-moon-cocktail-copycat-recipe/http://www.betterrecipes.com/blogs/daily-dish/2012/08/01/how-to-make-sushi/

Now it’s time to hear about the show from our resident expert, Noelle Myers!  

Between the food and the scenery, I loved this episode of Top Chef.

As the episode started, the chefs were still in the waiting room after Josee’s elimination. Padma and Tom came in and told the contestants that they would be leaving Seattle and to pack there bags. They would be going on a Cruise to ALASKA! Lizzy was excited to go to Alaska. Brooke was not too thrilled about being on a boat. While all the contestants are packing and saying goodbye to Seattle, we find out that Brooke is terrified of boats, and so she is exceptionally nervous for this cruise.

The Cheftestants will be travelling on the Celebrity Infinity for the next part of the competition. They are given a bit of time to enjoy themselves and check out the ship before they are greeted by Padma and this week’s guest judge, Curtis Stone.

For their Quickfire Challenge this week, the Cheftestants will be cooking for Celebrity Cruises Welcome Party. They have 2 hours to make dishes for 200 people. In an ironic twist, not lost on most of the Cheftestants, they must make dishes that feature Iceberg lettuce. They must also be a “one bite” dish. This quickfire proves to be especially challenging as it is the first time many of the cheftestants have worked in a ship’s kitchen. On board a ship there are no open flames, so everything is electric, and all of the ovens and fridges have special locks on them. Having never been in this particular kitchen before, the cheftestants also had to search for all of their ingredients.

Some of the contestants struggled with the Iceberg lettuce. Stefan Loves Iceberg lettuce. Josh hates Iceberg lettuce. Stefan was the only one who cooked the lettuce. He braised it and served it with prosciutto and fingerling potatoes. Sheldon starts a small fire on top of the stove, but manages to salvage his sauce. Sheldon thinks outside of the box and pickles his lettuce cores to add some flavor and texture to his Vietnamese lettuce bites. One by one each of the cheftestants brings their dish up on deck to Padma And Curtis Stone. The scenery behind them is stunning as the boat travels through a narrow passage. When it comes time for judging, Curtis tell the five contestants he loved ALL of their dishes. They don’t really have a bottom clearly delineated this week, but Sheldon is the clear winner, Curtis Stone loved the pickled lettuce hearts. Padma tells Sheldon he will have an advantage in the elimination challenge.

(Iceberg…get it?!  Who can spy the iceberg in this shot?  Taken from my balcony on a Celebrity Cruise to Alaska this past year!)

After the Quickfire, the cheftestants are given more time to explore and relax. Lizzy and Sheldon go to the ship’s spa and get manicures, while Josh, Stephan and Brook relax and have a drink out on deck. Lizzy meets another woman from South Africa, and reminisces about her childhood, especially her father, who recently passed away. Her father was an avid fisherman, and Lizzy feels especially good about this challenge being on a boat. After some relaxation, the cheftestants are treated to a nice diner at Q-zine, on board the ship. Q-zine has some really fun and quirky dishes and platings. Sushi Lollipops, Goat Cheese Cigars, and little dishes served on a set of cube style shelves were really fun. Stefan has a little trouble with his OCD and the shelves making for a funny moment. Things get a little snippy as dinner goes on and the cheftestants start to needle each other a bit, but it is all in fun. After dessert, Padma and Tom join the cheftestants to let them know about their elimination challenge

For this week’s elimination challenge, the cheftestants will be running Diner service at Qzine. They are to take a Classic dish, Surf and Turf and turn it on it’s head. Tom wants them to think outside the box. As his advantage, Sheldon gets first pick of protein ingredients, and the other contestants cannot use those ingredients. The Cheftestants will only have 30 minutes to shop for their ingredients in the ships warehouse below decks. Then they will have 2 1/2 hours to prepare their dishes.

That night all the chefs are trying to brainstorm, but most are finding it impossible as they do not know what ingredients they will have access to or what protein they will be able to use.

The day of the challenge, Sheldon takes his time choosing his proteins, much to the chagrin of the other contestants. Nothing is speaking to him, but he finally settles on Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Tail. Stefan chooses Pork Belly and Eel, Josh also chooses Pork Belly, Scallops and Bacon. Lizzy Takes the whole Pig, Scallops, and Bacon. Brooke decides to take a risk and chooses Frog Legs and Mussels. The Cheftestants scramble to finish gathering their ingredients then head to the kitchen to cook.

The Cheftestants are a little more familiar with the kitchen for this challenge, but everyone still has their struggles. Josh has to completely change his plans last minute when his scallop mixture does not set enough to use as noodles. Lizzy can’t get the steamer working until the very last minute and her cabbage rolls end up being slightly underdone. Sheldon once again struggles with his tempura. Each Chef has some unique dishes to plate their meal on and it makes for a visually fun challenge to see all the dishes come together.

 (I was so excited to see Chef John Suley (far left) on the judging panel!  He is an outstanding chef and my vote to compete on the next Top Chef Masters.)

The Cheftestants serve their dishes one at a time to the judges. This week, Padma and Tom are joined by Curtis Stone, Hugh Acheson, and three Celebrity Cruise VIP’s. John Suley, Head Chef for Celebrity Cruises, Cassie Stafford, Cruise Director, and Sheldon Thompson, Hotel Director. The top and bottom dishes are pretty clear from the get go. Brooke’s Beet Glazed Frog Legs and mussels are a big hit with everyone. Despite having to completely redesign his concept, Josh’s Scrambled Scallops with pork Belly and Bacon are also firmly on the judges favorite list. Stefan’s Pork is hard and overdone to most of the judges, but it is a nostalgic reminder of home for Curtis. Stefan’s beer sauce is also far too greasy for everyone. Sheldon’s unimaginative Teriyaki Steak and Lobster Tempura is also clearly on the bottom. The plating was wonderful, but the tempura was soggy and the lobster was just bland. Lizzy’s cabbage rolls were delicious, but undercooked and they fell apart and were hard to eat.

At the Judges Table, Brooke is announced the winner. She receives a 7 night Caribbean Cruise for 2. She is so glad now that she faced her fear and is looking forward to her upcoming cruise. Josh and Lizzy are also safe. It comes down to Sheldon and Stefan, and in the end Sheldon’s past performances save him, and Stefan is eliminated. Stefan notes that he has cooked 65 dishes on his two seasons of Top Chef, and is ready for Last Chance Kitchen!

Next week the Cheftestants head to Juno, Alaska for a showdown between the Final Four!

Thanks so much for your recap, Noelle!  Your summaries are so thorough and impressive.  

If you happen to be in New York City right now, Celebrity Cruises and Chef John Suley are hosting a pop up restaurant.  Click here for tickets today and tomorrow only!  http://celebritycruisespopupnyc.eventbrite.com

Want to go on a Celebrity Cruise to Alaska just like the on Top Chef?  First take a “virtual” vacation through my mom’s blogs!

Celebrity Cruise on the Infinity from Seattle to Alaska:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7

Excite the Senses Cookbook review