Another Lady Lucks Out on Top Chef Las Vegas

Top Chef sent home Eve last week, someone whose name I actually know. Following Eve's knife packing the house awoke to a new day, but still rehashing the last. The ladies weren't happy about losing the past elimination challenge while the guys were still relishing in their win. It seems one of the bedrooms has bad luck as both Jen and Eve were in the same room. Laurine, Preeti and Jesse all remain but if one of them leave this time around I smell conspiracy! Into the kitchen the chefs then go to meet Mark Peel, a famous chef from California along with a ton of potatoes. Their task was to create a dish that featured the potato and they had 45 minutes. Everyone was then off to cook their potatoes, some made the potato the main ingredient while others made it only a component. One interesting one was sweat potato icecream.... let's see if that works. Some drama went done between Ashley and Preeti used Ashley's water.

It was then time for Padma and Mark to taste the dishes. Nobody really got a bad rating while they tasted and it seemed even the ice cream was good! Surprising, but I guess anything can make an ice cream flavor lately. Most chefs seemed to judge themselves worst then Mark did, he's a nice judge for once! In the end he chose Eli, Ron and Jesse for the bottom while Jenn (again), Ash (the ice cream?) and Ashley were on the top. Guess Preeti stealing her water didn't hurt! Jen then took home the win again, after gaining immunity the first episode, meaning she's safe again from going home. She probably wouldn't have anyway but I guess it's nice.

For the elimination challenge the chefs had a special guest: Colonel Dave Belot who was the Commander of an Airbase Wing. Their "mission" was to create a meal for 300 airmen who recently returned and about to deploy. They all would be working as a team and wouldn't find out what they were using to cook until they got to the base. As they prepared the group got together and decided to create seven teams of two with American theme. After choosing teams Ron and Jesse were the odd ones out and Ron was nervous, being that Jesse has been in the bottom for awhile. The next day the chefs enter the kitchen to see their ingredients: canned food including spam. There weren't any stoves or pots, so not sure how they'll get things done but of course they have to!

While some complained others figured it would be a good experience. The teams then went to work trying to make something work with the limited resources. The brothers talked about having a sister in the armed forces while other also discussed their military background either through their own or through family. They all still felt connected to the dishes, considering they were cooking for military men but that didn't stop the drama from happening! Ron/Jesse had to take one for the team considering they couldn't get access to the skillet as everyone ran into issues with the cooking utensils. Jen took the leadership role considering she had immunity and many felt she did a great job. She made sure that everyone was doing their job and became the middleman between arguments. Everything seemed to get pulled together in the end though as they busted it in the last few minutes.

Everyone then jumped into a convey to head over to hanger where the military men were about to get fed. After setting up their dishing stations Preeti and Laurine were nervous that their dish seemed too simple. The judges and feasters then arrived and were ready to eat. Everyone was honored to be doing the challenge and when the judges arrived it was time to get their smiles on. It seemed to be more of a group effort as everyone was dishes out everyone's food so it was hard to distinguish who made what. The heat seemed to make or break the dishes. While Laurine and Preeti's dish didn't stand out, it made sense for the heat while the clam chowder made no sense at all. Although they did seem to like it at at least! Other dishes mostly had great reviews as did Jen who they felt did a good job as executive chef.

Before the task ended the Colonel gathered everyone around and thanked the chefs for the food they provided. Everyone then clapped and it was touching, something we rarely see on the Top Chef so it was nice. Into the judge's table the chefs then went. Even though they had a great day someone had to go home. Padma called Mike, Michael, Eli and Kevin to the table first. They were selected as the top four with Michael, half of the brothers, winning again. Even though the two Mike's shared the dish. They were then asked to send Preeti, Laurine and Mike stayed with them. Not sure why Mike stayed with him when he was half of the winning team. Seems the judges didn't feel that Mike was part of the team and he got placed in the bottom thanks to the second dish he made by himself. Preeti and Laurine were in the bottom because their dish was bland and not a winning dish. It was simply the worst of all the dishes served, being the main reason it was selected as the worst. Neither Preeti or Laurine made some comments about not thinking of it as a competition, which the judges didn't like. They threatened to send both home and they may actually do it.

In the end it seemed that either Preeti or Laurine would be sent home while Mike was simply there to prove a point. But the person going home was Preeti, with Laurine still staying even though they were both somewhat to blame for the dish. That's the third lady in a row going home so it seems the gals need to step up their game as everyone continues to blend together on this season.... I still don't know half their names.