Top Chef "Campfires, Cream Cheese, and Countryside" Recap (11/6/13)

On this episode of Top Chef, the chefs face a Quickfire and Elimination Challenge that requires them to cook for Chef John Besh. For the Quickfire Challenge the chefs are taken to Covey Rise Farms, where they must make a dish that showcases the Louisiana Creole Tomato. They are given 20 minutes to complete this challenge and are told that the winner will receive immunity from Elimination.

Chef Bene prepares: Chilled Tomato and Watermelon Soup

Chef Carlos prepares: Olive Oil Poached Tomato with Red Onions, Cilantro and Basil

Chef Stephanie prepares: Creole Tomato Steaks with Vinaigrette & Olive Oil

Chef Nina prepares: Chilled Watermelon Tomato Soup

Chef Nicholas prepares: Caramelized Melon, Tomatoes with Watermelon Cucumber

Chef Justin prepares: Tomato Skin Tartare with Squash Blossoms

Chef Travis prepares: Seared Creole Tomato with Steak

Chef Louis prepares: Tomato Seed Bouillon, marinated tomato

Chef Brian prepares: Toad in the Hole Creole Tomato and Sausage

Chef Patty prepares: Roasted Tomatoes marinated in Olive Oil & Cherry Vinegar

Chef Besh's favorite dishes are by Chef Nina, Chef Louis, and Chef Carlos

The Winner: Chef Nina

Elimination Challenge: Create a family style dish featuring Philadelphia Cream Cheese and serve it to John Besh and all his Executive Chefs at his restaurant, La Provence. 

The chefs draw knives to determine which dish they will cook. Since Chef Nina won, she gets to choose which dish she will make.

Appetizer: 

Chef Patty: Snapper Crudo with Cream Cheese Vinaigrette

Chef Brian: Summer Squash & Zucchini tagliatelle & emulsified Cream cheese

Chef Carlos: Poached beets & Pickled carrots with Cream cheese sauce

Chef Nina: Crispy zucchini blossoms with Eggplant & Cream cheese puree

Chef Sara: Island spiced Lamb chop stuffed with Cream cheese 

  

Entree: 

Chef Bene: Roasted Chicken breast filled with onions and Cream cheese

Chef Carrie: Vinegar Braised Chicken in Cream cheese sauce

Chef Justin: Roasted Duck Breast with Eggplant vinaigrette & Corn puree

Chef Travis: Seared Lamb chops & Cream cheese aioli

Dessert:

Chef Louis: Graham cracker with Blackberries & Cream cheese mousse

Chef Nicholas: Funnel cake & Carrot cake with Peach flavored Cream cheese

Chef Shirley: Philadelphia steamed Egg custard

Chef Stephanie: Cream cheese & Cherry mousse with Cream cheese shortbread

The judges favorite dishes are made by Chef Nina, Chef Nicholas, and Chef Justin

The Winner: Chef Nina. She wins $10,000 furnished by Philadelphia Cream Cheese 

The judges least favorite dishes are by: Chef Bene, Chef Sara, and  Chef Travis

Eliminated: Chef Bene. The judges thought his chicken was dried out and that his vegetables were over cooked. 

Next week the chefs cook for Jazz musician Kermit Ruffin.