New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Previously on Top Chef, Nathan Myhrvold made a special appearance to hock his mega-expensive book collection, Modernist Cuisine. At a hefty $450 on Amazon, these tomes seem wildly overpriced to most of us, but since Myhrvold is worth several hundred million dollars, he probably doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Somewhere along the way, Malibu Chris was eliminated while Sarah was almost out of the competition for a different reason, heat exhaustion. Also, Sarah developed a feud with Edward. A word to the wise to Ed, our fellow southerner: the last southern gentlemen Sarah went after was Keith, who is no longer in the competition. Watch your back, dude.

We waste no time in getting to the fireworks factory in tonight’s episode. The chefs arrive at a building entitled The Palm Door and there is no furniture in the building. This can only mean one thing. Restaurant Wars, the most engaging episode each season, has arrived. And there will be no further surprises. Skipping the Quickfire Challenge entirely, the chefs are divided up in a battle of the sexes sans debate or drafting, the norm for this event.

With predetermined teams, we know that the women are Beverly, Sarah, Lindsay and Grayson. The men are Ty, Ed, Paul and Moto Chris. On paper, this is an epic mismatch. Paul is the best chef in the competition by quite a bit, at least based on performance thus far. Ed and Ty have worked together twice already in the competition with one meal a sensational triumph and the other undone by elements beyond their control involving Sarah. Frankly, as long as Moto Chris is not allowed to talk the others into crazy chef stunts, they should win in a walk. Meanwhile, Sarah’s behavior with Beverly has already shown shades of Heather and this issue could become magnified in tight quarters and extreme circumstances.

“I think the girls are a strong group but I definitely think the male chefs have more talent. Sarah knows flavor. There’s no doubt about it, but we all know her weakness is barbecuing out in the sun. “ – Edward, having the last laugh

Right on cue, Sarah starts complaining about Beverly’s performance in the steak challenge several episodes ago. Beverly incites so much vitriol in large women that we strongly suggest she live a crime-free life. We’ve seen enough caged heat movies to know that Beverly would not enjoy life on the inside. Sometimes when Sarah looks at Beverly during this episode, she seems to be calculating the steps required to brand a human being. This is like Oz with chicks.

Continued:       1       2       3       4       5       6