But first, they must break up into pairs. Fun!
When time's up, Gail and Johnny taste what ends up being many variations on a banana split. Their favorite dessert belongs to pastrycheftestants Amanda and Nelson, who are awarded immunity in the next challenge.
Later, they meet up at the Top Chef Just Desserts kitchen for the Elimination Challenge. Each chef is encouraged to choose one of four books which tell a famous fairy tale: Hansel and Gretel; Goldilocks and the Three Bears; Jack and the Beanstalk; and Little Red Riding Hood. Thus divided into teams, the chefs are expected to create a showpiece and 150 portions of two desserts for a fairy tale-themed gala. With six hours of cooking that day, and 4 more the next, there's not a whole lot of time to do all that work.
Quickfire winners Amanda and Nelson are allowed to choose the teams they wish to be on, which gives them four members. Perhaps an unfair advantage?
After the struggles with pulled sugar and chocolate are over, the guests arrive, attired in "wacky outfits." The judges - Gail, Johnny, Hubert Keller, and Dannielle Kyrillos, are also dressed as fairy tale characters. They visit each team's table to taste their wares and inspect their showpiece.
Four-member Teams Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood do well on all fronts, with beautiful showpieces and delicious desserts that relate to the theme. On the other hand, Team Beanstalk and Team Hansel & Gretel miss the mark completely, so it's pretty easy to figure out who's on the top and who's on the bottom this week.
Overall, Team Red Riding Hood did the best job and were awarded the win. While Team Beanstalk was a mess, Team Hansel and Gretel was worse, complete with under-the-bus throwing. Pastry Chef Lina, who wanted to make the showpiece out of cake, rather than chocolate or sugar, and did not create the candy-covered-gingerbread house of the story, is out.
So did you watch? What did you think?
Posted on AllTopChef.com
