By Sarah
Hello, Canada! The four remaining chefs -- Lindsay, Sarah, Paul, and Beverly -- arrive in Vancouver, B.C. with new 'dos and new attitudes. Seriously, how much of a lag is it between the first episodes and the final episodes? Enough to make the chefs see how they looked on TV and change their hair styles accordingly, that's how long.
The chefs, atop a very cold, very windy apex, learn that in order to make it to the final three, they must compete in three different challenges. The first? Cooking on a gondola. That's right. Cooking. On a moving gondola. The gondolas are actually outfitted with quite the little kitchens and a lot of ingredients. Adding a little twist to the mix is that when the gondola stops, the chefs must get out, pick a new ingredient, and then get back in the gondola and continue cooking.
At judges' table, the judges seem to especially like Lindsay's salmon and Beverly's tartare. Luckily, Lindsay wins the challenge, which, we find out, guarantees her a spot in the final three. No more competitions for her until the final! Unfortunately, the others chefs must still compete. Whomp whomp whomp.
For challenge number two, the chefs have to use ingredients that have been frozen in blocks of ice. They only have one hour in which to chip away at the food and cook. I sincerely hope someone was an ice sculptor in a past life. Spoiler alert: No one was.
In a gentlemanly move, Paul helps both Sarah and Bev break ice blocks and even gives some of his king crab to Sarah and red wine to Beverly. Will this come back to bite him in the ass? No! It does not. Paul wins the challenge and, like Lindsay, earns an automatic spot in the finals.
And now! It's Sarah v. Bev in The Battle Of Bullies! The chefs learn they must compete in a biathlon-style course, where they have to ski, then shoot for their ingredients. No, Beverly, you will not be shooting your own game (who are you, Katniss?)
The chefs are given ten shots to shoot their "ingredients" (read: a bulls eye next to the ingredient they want.) I'm sad to say Bev totally kicks ass in this challenge and gets a bunch of ingredients, whereas Sarah comes away with rabbit, cabbage, hazelnuts, and ... cherries. Yum!
In a complete shock to me, Beverly gets sent home. I was really beginning to believe this show was rigged (I mean it is, but you know) with the intention to just get Beverly to the finals. But no! She's gone! Ding dong!
Next week, rather than just being the finale, as in years past (right?) the chefs will be whittled down to two and then we'll get to the finale. They're really dragging this season out, am I right?
Anyway, who's your pick? I'm Team Lindsay all the way.
Austin chef Paul is my pick! Going for the "native son" of my adopted hometown.
Posted by: J | February 17, 2012 at 05:06 PM