- Operating on an extremely tight budget, the chefs must create the perfect amuse bouche using only what they can find in a vending machine.
- "Top Chef Masters" - "The Lost Supper" - June 17, 2009
Chef-Contestants:
Wylie Dufresne Chef-owner of WD 50 in New York. He's known for "molecular gastronomy" aka the science of cookery. He's on the cutting edge. He's playing for Autism Speaks. He was a guest judge on regular "Top Chef."
Suzanne Tracht Chef-owner of Jar in L.A. Her style is "simple and elegant." She's playing for SOWA, a food pantry.
Graham Elliott Bowles Chef-owner of Graham Elliott in Chicago, his style is "punk-rock." He's an award winner. He's playing for the American Heart Association.
Elizabeth Falkner Chef-owner of Citizen Cake in San Francisco. She's an award winning pastry chef but also does "savory." She's playing for Edible Schoolyard. She was a guest judge on regular "Top Chef."
Kelly welcomes them to the kitchen and tells them about the Quickfire and Elimination challenges.
Quickfire Challenge: Create an amuse bouche using ingredients from a vending machine. (From "Season 2") Elizabeth explains an amuse bouche is a little, two bite gift from the chef.
Judges: Previous winner Ilan Hall, and contestants Betty Fraser and Michael Midgely all from the season that performed this challenge. Wylie is nervous since he criticized them.
The chefs go shopping.
Wylie picks chips, peanuts, and ham and cheese sandwiches. He's making grilled cheese sandwiches with crispy ham and a Dr. Pepper reduction and beer nuts.
Suzanne picks fritos. She's making fried shallot rings dusted in Frito flour with reduced Dr. Pepper aioli.
Elizabeth picks beef jerky and Dr. Pepper for braising. She's making braised beef jerky with orange-lemon-horseradish ice cream She's using liquid nitrogen to make the ice cream.
Graham picks two candy bars, a ham and cheese, and orange soda. He's making tuna salad with lime juice pickled shallots and orange soda frothed up with lemongrass and ginger.
They have 30 minutes. They scurry to work. Wylie is freaking out a little as the time winds down.
The food is brought to the season 2 folks for judging.
Wylie: They think it's lovely and delicious except for the solidified sauce. But a little too big. 3 stars.
Suzanne: They think it's fun, well-done, and yummy. 5 stars.
Elizabeth: Michael thinks it's wonderful, Betty doesn't like the flavors, Ilan liked it alot. 3 1/2 stars.
Graham: Betty thinks it's brilliant, Michael thinks it tastes like mom's, a high compliment, Ilan digs it also. 4 1/2 stars.
Elimination Challenge:To cook dinner for the creators and writers of "Lost" who are big fans of "Top Chef." They are presented with island ingredients-fish, shellfish, fruits etc.- but the twist is there's no pantry to shop from only a list of approved stuff held in a Dharma Initiative confidential file, all canned and preserved ingredients.
They go shopping at Whole Foods with the list. They have 45 minutes to shop and $200. Wylie and Graham congenially play off each other in the store.
They have 2 1/2 hours to cook.
Menus:
Wylie: Roasted Chicken With Poached Egg, Beets with Dried Corn, Plantain Puree
Graham: Maki Roll with Tuna & Dehydrated Pineapple, Tuna Nicoise, Tuma a la Plancha
Elizabeth: Ancho-Beer Braised Boar Loin, Coffee Scented Poached Boar Loin, Yam Papaya Pudding
Suzanne: Risotto with Uni, Clams, & Prawns, Wild Boar Strip with Oyster Beer Sauce, Mango Corn Salad
Judges:
In addition to writers and producers from "Lost," including Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse...
Jay Rayner Restaurant Critic London's The Observer
James Oseland Editor-in-Chief of Saveur Magazine
Gael Greene NY restaurant critic
Judging:
Elizabeth: Carlton likes the boar. Others are split. Some were confused by the pudding. James thought it was baby-food-esque.
Graham: They think it's all really tasty. James loves the tuna.
Wylie: Gael loves the slow-poached egg. Damon isn't as big a fan. Jay is impressed he stayed with his own cooking style.
Suzanne: The guy who didn't like the boar before likes it now. Damon thinks it's magnificent. Carlton thinks it's hearty. They all love it even though it was kind of busy.
The chefs face the judges, who rehash their criticisms and ask them about how they conceived and cooked their dishes. They drink wine and wait and make cookies.
Ratings & Winner:
Suzanne 22 1/2 stars
Elizabeth 16 1/2 stars
Wylie 20 stars
Graham 20 1/2 stars
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