Top Chef
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Welcoming Chef Hung Huynh as a guest judge, tonights episode ofTop Cheffocused on various Asian cuisines.
When the chefs arrive in thekitchen expecting to compete, theyre met with an unusual sight.
Rather than serving as the location for tonights Quickfire, the kitchen has transformed into an Asian night market.
For this Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to serve 100 guests at their own night market.
For the first time, each contestant will be judged individually on the quality of their dishes.
About a fifth of the population of Houston consists of several large and vibrant Asian communities, Padma explains.
The chefs draw knives to determine which cuisine theyll be exploring.
For Jo, this challenge is especially inspiring and nerve-racking.
By chance, she pulls a knife that reads Filipino.
But with adulthood comes perspective, and Jos pride in her culture is evident.
This challenge is a chance for her to continue this journey of finding love in Filipino food.
In addition to Jo, Robert will also be cooking a Filipino dish.
That leaves Buddha, Luke, and Sam to cook Indian for Padma Lakshmi.
This is a running challenge inTop Chefhistory, and its a difficult one.
Luke is very wary of the challenge, and his lack of experience cooking any Asian food is worrisome.
Naturally, Luke is not the only chef anxious about tonight.
Once again, Jacksons lack of a sense of smell becomes problematic.
Both Demarr and Nick are nervous about cooking Japanese cuisine too.
Everyone reacts with joy when Padma tells the chefs they wont be shopping at Whole Foods for this challenge.
Instead, the chefs head off to specialty Asian markets.
There, they can find produce and spices not typically available at American supermarkets.
At the market, Evelyn continues to have one of the best personalities of the season.
Jo also guides Robert in the right direction, pointing him toward Filipino products to use in his dish.
With just an hour to cook at the venue, the prep time in theTop Chefkitchen will be invaluable.
Its during this prep that Sam makes a tragic mistake.
Tasked with creating an Indian dish, Sam chooses, unsurprisingly, vindaloo.
Its quite literally in the name.
Sam tries not to panic, but this is a massive problem.
At the event, the judges and guests are blown away with almost every chefs dish.
Joining the judges and Hung tonight is Kiran Verma, executive chef at Kirans in Houston.
Evelyns Vietnamese chicken salad is a hit, as is Nicks Japanese-inspired fried chicken.
Robert makes a tasty-looking chicken-and-rice dish with a funky shrimp paste and peanut sauce.
Lukes samosas come out delicious despite his nerves, earning high praise from Padma and the other judges.
But especially by comparison with Lukes, Buddhas samosas fall short.
Sams dish also suffered without his potatoes.
Rather than being the star of the dish, the undercooked potatoes seem extraneous.
After an exciting night of Asian dishes, the chefs arrive at the Judges Table.
Unfortunately, two of the three chefs who made Indian end up at the bottom tonight.
Buddhas gummy samosas are heavily criticized, as is Sams severely lacking vindaloo.
Ashleigh rounds out the bottom three for her tough meat and ill-conceived Chinese dish.
This is a huge loss for Sam, who has been such a fun character to watch.
Hopefully, this experience doesnt turn him away from potatoes for good.
A huge relief to her, Im sure, but a win for landlords nonetheless.
as he leaves the kitchen without his potatoes is brutal.
You got it in you, Sarah, I know it.
