Can You Count To Five? Sure, Sure You Can

Top Chef 4, Episode 2 Quickfire

Last week on TOP CHEF:Chicago, Stephanie won with her duck l’orange, and Nimma went home after oversalting the shrimp. No one seemed to miss her, so let’s just move along….

We open to find Stephanie and Valerie working out together. Steph is feeling confident – “a force to be reckoned with” – while Val shares the twosome has worked together in the past. She hopes they get to team up for a challenge, while the winds of foreshadowing blow hard across the screen. Be careful what you wish for, eh?

The chefs are taken to Green City Market, a Chicago farmers market (is that an oxymoron or what?) and are set up for this week’s Quickfire. They have to make an entrée with only five ingredients (not counting salt, pepper, sugar and oil). Anything they buy at the market or take from the pantry counts. The winner will have immunity for the elimination challenge,

The chefs run through the market (Richard almost takes down a little kid) and pick their ingredients. Mark buys some greenery but, in his haste, leaves the bag behind (after rushing the clerk – I hear the chimes of karma a-ringing in Chicago).

Molecular gastronomist Wiley Dufresne is this week’s guest judge, which thrills Richard, who fancies himself of the same ilk. Unfortunately, Wiley is none too impressed with Richard’s “chicken soup” – a chicken and apples concoction with wisps of eucalyptus. Ryan (sirloin, lettuce, radishes and potatoes), Valerie (ribeye with peaches and sweet potatoes) and Dale (eggs, shallots and mushrooms) seem to get better responses.

Spike acknowledges that his sirloin tips looked like dog food, and Wiley wonders why he didn’t go the sandwich route when he saw he didn’t get what he expected. Why, indeed. Erik presents lamb chops with baby carrots and potatoes, while Mark makes up for the lost greenery with his sirloin with turnips, mushrooms, peaches and butter.

Andrew is eliminated for using six ingredients instead of five, proving that cooking is indeed art, not science (and surely not mathematics).

Bottom three are Spike’s dog food, Erik’s simplistic presentation, and Richard’s attempt at koala food (hint hint). Honorable mentions go to Ryan’s sirloin and Valerie’s flavorful ribeye with peaches, but the immunity goes to Mark, who made the best of a bad situation (the lost bag) and still impressed with his sirloin.

NEXT UP: Elimination Challenge…..Stay Tuned!

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