"Top Chef All Stars" Episode 4 Recap

So last night we had a pretty fun episode of Top Chef All-Stars and well...some things happened.

Let's Recap.

The Quickfire

So we need to plug some product, mostly to pay for Padma's wardrobe. And this week we need to shill Swanson's broth and make stuffing out of it...without utensils. Awesome.

Everybody got creative, bottle caps for spoons, scary people hacking things to death with peppermills, it was good times. Lots of ugly messes were made, with Tré winning the challenge with 'spicy stuffing'. Whatever that means...

After all that it was time to head to the US Open for the elimination challenge and the chefs were divided into two teams and their dishes would go head to head. Sounds pretty interesting. I'm in.

Carla tries to tell her team that she makes a great African Nut Soup and everyone slams that idea, especially weasel Dale, "This is the US Open, we're not cooking for PEASANTS!" But Carla just hootied to herself and decided to make the dish anyway. Screw Dale.

So the cooking happened, boring stuff until HOLY HELL CARLA CUTS OFF HER HAND! Well not really, but it was a lot worse than the paper cut Jaime got that required her to miss the whole challenge for one stinkin' stitch. But Carla is a warrior and taped that mess up and on with the show!

Then it was time to face off, and Spike had the stoopid brilliant plan to put the weakest dish out first as to lower expectations and therefore win by virtue of what...oh I have no idea...stupid plan. Just cook.

Oh hey, guess what Fabio made! Gnocchi! How original! Fabio has never made gnocchi before! Especially not in the last four episodes! What's he gonna make next, a scallop?

Angelo do what he do and sabotaged everyone by 'helping' them, including Spike. Who eventually got sent home for not what Angelo did, but for bland shrimp. Which had me asking myself, "Self isn't shrimp just bland by nature? Even with all the seasonings and whatnots? It's still just shrimp."

But what do I know, apparently bland shrimp is a crime against humanity therefore Spike was eliminated. (Spoiler Alert) Which I still am trying to wrap my head around. Jaime made barf and broth in the Quickfire, then made NOTHING servable in the Elimination Challenge.Yet she's safe? How is this possible?

Then it came time to crown the champion and guess who just happen to win? HOOOOTIE HOOO Carla! That's who. Especially awesome since Dale lost his head to head and he got a nice big serving of crow to go with his Nut Soup. Yay, Carla...good for you girl.

So that's it for this week, next week something's going down in China Town!

Read more: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/reality-zen-with-jenn/2010/12/top-chef-all-stars-episode-4-recap-game-set-matchhootie.html#ixzz18yEef6nv