Top Chef (Season 6, Episode 6) – “Penn & Teller”

This episode of Top Chef starts off with everyone upset that Robin did go home at the end of the last episode. They all feel Mattin should still be around instead. So as a tribute to Mattin, most of the chefs wrap a red scarf around their necks. And as you can guess, they all have an attitude towards Robin. She tries to join in and asks for a scarf too… with a few frowns from the other chefs.

Onto the quickfire and it’s Padma and guest judge Michelle Bernstein, chef and owner of Michy’s restaurant in Miami. Padma explains this challenge is about “Angel vs Devil”… or what the chefs feel are opposing type things in their lives. The win goes to Robins dish, but not without some more frowning and complaining from the other chefs. In particular Eli, who says Robins win was due to her playing the cancer card and getting some sympathy from it. Eli, in my view you looked like a little whinny man with your comments. Eli explains his comments here. Either way, Robin won… deal with it and move on.

After that little scene, Penn and Teller enter the room. They do a cup and ball magic trick and then show the same trick using clear cups… which leads to the elimination challenge – Deconstruction.

The chefs must draw knives and then take the classic dish they drew and deconstruct in. I love these kind of challenges. They show how creative a chef can truly be. All of the chefs had a fairly clear understanding of what it meant to deconstruct, with the exception of Ron. He was having trouble from the beginning. He knew his dish, but wasn’t very clear on how to break it down and be creative.

On the opposite end, were the brothers. I could tell these two guys knew exactly what they were doing and going to do.

The top four end up being Jen, Kevin, Ashley and Bryan, with the win going to Kevin. Kevin not only gets the win, he gets a new set of Calphalon Unison cookware from Michelle Berstein.

The bottom three are Ash, Ron and Laurine.  And to no surprise, Ron’s sent packing.