We see a few shots of the male chefs waking up in their Camp Chef bunks and getting ready for a new dawn.
We learn that Dale is shocked to be on the bottom even though he is in a top bunk.
Derek is caught on film filling out what appears to be a job application, though he says he’s now got the “fighting spirit” (it’s under his cap.)
We’re back in the GE Kitchen but Mark McEwan is missing in action.
From behind a rack of cookware emerges none-other-than Susur Lee. The chefs look shocked, except for Dustin who is smiling extra-wide. We learn that he trained under Susur. Susur and Dustin flirt a little with their eyes. Dustin more. Susur less.
The Quickfire Challenge
Inspired by Chef Lee’s 19-ingredient Singaporian Style Slaw, each Chef must create their own signature salad.
Dustin understandably feels the need to prove himself but also to “be his own chef”. Darryl decides to base his salad on a roast corn salad his girlfriend makes. “Simple and good” is still his mantra. Actually, Darryl seems to break out his shell and radiate some warmth when he talks about his girlfriend. It’s nice. (awwwww….)
Francois is STILL HERE! How is it possible? Does he eventually rip off the Francois mask and underneath is Joel Robuchon who wins all of Top Chef? Today he decides to make a french-style coleslaw as his tribute to the Singapore style salad.
Rob is afraid is salad has no focal point. Radish rosette, maybe?
Chris is ever modest, “Susur is an Asian Guru but I am an Asian master” is the gist of his story. Also, adding to his credentials, he mentions the job he didn’t get at Lee because he was “too experienced in Asian Food.” I guess Susur shouldn’t have all those Asian restaurants then. He’s just too damn experienced.
Ultimately Dustin proves himself as a good apprentice. He wins the Quickfire with a dish that Susur deems “perfectly balanced” A beet carpaccio with wasabi mustard, pickled onions and shaved apples .
The Elimination Challenge
Chef McEwan is back with a new do! (He was just out getting a haircut earlier.)
The chefs each pull a knife from a block upon whose blade is engraved a country. Guess what! It’s the mosaic of ethnic food that makes up Canada. They are teamed up in pairs. One prepares a cold dish, one hot. They have 2 hrs to prep and 15 minutes to shop. One chef at Loblaws and one in an “ethnic” food store.
Andrea and Rob pull Japan and look super confident.
Francois and Patrick pull Jamaica I imagine Francois wondering if Jamaicans would like a Pommes Dauphine roti.
Dustin and Derek pull Mexico (Luckily for them Derek has worked at a Mexican restaurant in Dublin. Phew!).
Jamie and Dale pull Portugal and Jamie admits he’s hoping to ride on Dale’s coat tails. Chris (asian master) and Darryl are on Korea.
Todd and Connie pull Ethiopia and everyone including Chef McEwan and the camera crew feel sorry for them.
Teams to worry about: Chris and Darryl when the “asian master” can’t find chili paste at a Korean store. Guess Darryl will have to pick that up at Loblaws.
Teams to admire: Connie and Todd. But really, Connie. She’s awesome as usual. She admits she’s freaked out about the Ethiopian cooking but in her 15 minutes of shopping she is calmly asking the Ethiopian store owner what would work best to soothe the heat of a spicy curry–yogurt or ricotta?
Chef to worry about: Derek, who explains he is self-taught (from reading cook books) and tries to compress time and braise 4-hr short ribs in 2 hrs. (Maybe those were sci-fi books?)
Final Judgement
The good: Chris makes a Bibimbap with Daikon, Shitake, Marinated King Crab & Kimchi Marinated Pork that Susur really likes. Maybe now Chris can get a job at Lee!
The bad: Rob and Andrea stumble big time. Rob presents warm hamachi sashimi that still has the blood line in it (maybe he’s a True Blood fan?) and Andrea brings overcooked Soba Noodles, Daikon, Turnip & Carrots in a Light Miso Broth with seared Kobe.
The Ugly: Derek’s Mexican (Irish?) dish of undercooked braised ribs.
The verdict:
Top 2 teams:
Dale wins kudos for what McEwan calls an “extremely complicated and perfectly executed” dish of Hake with Salt Cod Mousse & Smoked Paprika Portuguese Sausage & Potato Confit. Jamie is told his dish was a pale copy of Dales and “too timid”. Sometimes imitation is a form of lameness.
It’s Connie and Todd who win the day. Connie serves traditional Ethiopian ground beef with curry spices and traditional lamb katwa (stew) and Todd brings red and green lentil salad, tomato salad with onion & cucumber and Injera. Susur says, ‘I can tell you wanted to understand the culture.” And everyone is impressed at Todd’s homemade Ethiopian bread. Todd looks modestly shocked at his achievement.
Let’s just cut to the chase:
Even though Rob’s sashimi is called “Richness on top of blandness on top of the wrong temperature–a sashimi train wreck” Derek gets sent home for his dry and goopy ribs. He is told he fails to understand basic procedures. Message from the judges, “Go to cooking school”.
Later Derek, I’ll miss that cap. You were kind of sweet. Otherwise, see you for Episode 5: Butchering.
(Is this when Connie breaks down a pig’s head in 4 min? oh please!)
cheese and toast 