Top Chef NOLA Episode 11: Giving it the College Try
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In last week’s post, I was noodling about what to cook based on the show. It was then that I uttered the following words –
Although it was the losing dish, I could really murder a giant plate of biscuits & gravy right now.
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That biscuits & gravy jones lasted until the weekend. And since a day trip to south of the Mason-Dixon was out of the question, I decided to make it myself.
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I was really happy with the way they turned out and it was an opportunity to bust out that fat rant I’ve been meaning to have. Check it out here.
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Quickfire
Padma introduces this week’s guest, the legendary drummer of The Roots, Questlove. They had 30 minutes to make a dish using one of many types of drumsticks. Winner gets immunity.
Carrie – squab legs marinated in thyme, jumiper & cocoa powder with fig mostarda
Brian – Chicken soup, chicken skin crackling with parsley & Thai basil
Shirley – crispy duck leg with Szechuan chili salt & mint
Nina – Jerked guinea hen charred with juniper berries & scotch bonnet peppers
Stephanie – Fried & grilled turkey leg with sriracha & sour cream buttermilk dressing
Nicholas – twice fried quail drums with sesame sauce rolled in gomaiso
Justin – chicken drummettes with smoked aioli, herb salad & sorghum vinaigrette
Carlos – Fried goose leg with cranberries & apple salad
Least Favorites – Nicholas, Justin, Carlos
Most Favorites – Carrie, Nina, Brian
Winner – Carrie
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Elimination Challenge
It was freshman orientation at LSU, so the chefs had to serve lunch for 500 kids, cafeteria style. The winner gets a Toyota RAV4.
Shirley – roast beef with potato puree & fire roasted tomato relish
Nina – fried chicken with sweet corn puree & pickled onions
Brian – shrimp cake & spinach with chipotle aioli
Nicholas – roasted pork, parmesan grits & bacon brown sugar gravy
Carrie – broccoli salad with herbed yogurt sauce & pita bread
Justin – marinated gulf shrimp, cauliflower, asparagus & garlic puree
Stephanie – spicy tomato soup with pimento cheese sandwich
Carlos – seared tilapia with chile ancho & Mexican coleslaw
Top 3 – Shirley, Brian, Carlos
Winner – Shirley
Bottom 3 – Justin, Nina, Stephanie
Gone – Justin
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Randoms Thoughts
– I’m happy with the finish. Justin’s food for the past weeks has been subpar and he was starting to get really douchey. Although that could’ve been the edit.
– After seeing her wolf down so much food week after week, it’s easy to forget how hot Padma is –
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– This episode started with so much potential. The simplicity in the Quickfire allowed for a wide array of different interpretations. It’s challenges like these where the chefs are making smaller quantities that really bring out their creativity and technique.
– Then they had them catering a damn cafeteria in the Elimination. That’s even worse than catering-type challenges. Oy. So then what happens is you get Shirley winning for a stupid roast beef
– That was a sweet looking cafeteria. My dorm at University of Illinois was shit and the food was even worse. Yet I still gained 30 pounds. But that could’ve been due to the $4 cases of Rhinelander beer.
– Nicholas confounds me. Every once in a while he’ll make a really special dish. But then at other times he looks like he’s about to lose his shit at any moment. I realize his cooking ability has nothing to do with his composure so they really shouldn’t be at odds with each other. See what I mean about Nicholas?
– Why do I feel that this isn’t the last time this guy is going to be uttering these words –
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7 comments on “Top Chef NOLA Episode 11: Giving it the College Try”
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wine century
Doppel Member, Baby!
Olympia beer did it for me in the nineties. We used to say it was the beer for athletes. I am so glad I am at a place in my life that does not allow for really cheap beer. 🙂
Oh yeah, I remember Oly… I’m also in the same boat in regards to not having to drink cheap beer. But there’s still the old Schaeffer tagline that passes through my mind – “Schaeffer, the beer to drink when you’re having more than two.”
hahaha-I remember that one. These days, I would much rather drink one really yummy beer. Sometimes….four or five. 🙂
Now wine is my biggest weakness. It always seems to be a bottle. 🙂
are we really not going to mention the giant dick that Carlos is turning out to be?? Do not be blinded by your man crush on the accent and the hair — that dude is trouble. And not in the good way.
Hey stranger!! Yeah, u may be right. Then oven thing wasn’t a big deal, but the knife thing was understandable. Don’t know if he’s being a dick or is just oblivious. But Nick seems a little tightly wound. It’s like the Odd Couple.
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