23×2: Puckerbutt
For this week’s Quickfire Challenge, the chefs are tasked with creating a savory dish inspired by a sweet treat. Then the chefs head to PuckerButt Farms for a pepper tasting with Ed Currie, the inventor of the world’s hottest pepper. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are split into two teams and must create a progressively hotter menu. Top Chef season 12 winner Mei Lin joins Kristen, Tom, and Gail at the judges’ table.
quickfire challenge: make a savory dish inspired by Talenti gelato and sorbetto in head to head servings
guest judge: S12 winner Mei Lin
caramel cookie crunch (Argentina): Oscar vs Sherry
mint (Mediterranean): Jennifer vs Justin
pistachio (California): Anthony vs Laurence
coffee chocolate chip (Colombia): Brittany vs Rhoda
mango (India): Jassi vs Nana
vanilla (Madagascar): Jonathan vs Sieger
butter pecan (southern U.S.): Brandon vs Duyen
top: [Spoiler (click to open)] Laurence, Nana, Oscar
bottom: [Spoiler (click to open)] Brittany, Duyen, Sieger
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Laurence
prize: $10k
elimination challenge: use peppers to create a seven course meal that gets progressively hotter ($700 budget per team)
guest judges: Ed Currie (Puckerbutt Farms), Noah Chaimberg (Heatonist), Mei Lin
green team: Anthony, Brittany, Jennifer, Jonathan, Oscar, Rhoda, Sieger
red team: Brandon, Duyen, Jassi, Justin, Laurence, Nana, Sherry
top team: [Spoiler (click to open)] green team
top dishes: [Spoiler (click to open)] Sieger, Jennifer, Rhoda[Spoiler (click to open)]
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Rhoda
bottom team: [Spoiler (click to open)] red team
bottom dishes: [Spoiler (click to open)] Justin, Nana, Jassi
eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Jassi
note: no Last Chance Kitchen for the first two eliminated chefs
