The first ten minutes of the episode consists of seeing what Sheldon and Brooke have been up to since the last competition. Let me sum it up for you: cooking and hanging with family. Then there's an extended recap of Last Chance Kitchen, which I will sum it up as CJ won a lot, and then Kristen beat him and she won a lot -- including beating fan favorite Lizzie last week -- so she joins Sheldon and Brooke in the finale.
The challenge is to make a three-course meal to be served to judges and diners at Craft, Tom Colicchio's restaurant. Here's what they made:
First course: Sheldon made sashimi spot prawns, court bouillon, radish and Asian herbs. Kristen made chestnut velouté, duck rillette and Brussels sprouts. Brooke made crispy veal sweetbread salad with kumquat, beets and mustard. The judges have nothing but compliments for Sheldon, but think Kristen's dish needed acid and Brooke's needed some different prep.
Second course: Brooke has a hard time in the kitchen getting her food out on time. Kristen made seared ahi tuna with veal mustard jus and Meyer lemon puree. Brooke made braised short ribs, Parmesan sauce, nettle puree and squash dumplings. Sheldon made roasted quail, pine nut purée, garam masala and tangerine. The judges loved Brooke's dish the most, thought Kristen's was unevenly flavored and didn't think Sheldon's dish reflected his cooking style.
Third course: Brooke made brown butter cake, whipped goat cheese and blackberry sauce. Kristen made curry chocolate with cashews. Sheldon made white chocolate mousse with apple and fennel. Everyone loves Brooke's, but some think Kristen's dessert is too basic and think the fennel is overpowering in Sheldon's dessert.
At Judges' Table, it's interesting that Tom seems to disagree with the groupthink of the other judges since he ate separately from them. I would love to see a challenge where all the judges ate separately and then had to cast ballots or something to see if that actually made a difference.
In the end, Sheldon gets sent home, because he committed the cardinal sin (see also: Carla Hall) of trying to cook different food than what got him to the finale. That means it's Brooke and Kristen in the finale, so we will finally have another female winner!
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We open just as Brooke is learning that Sheldon is her competition in the final two. They're so happy and relieved! It's cute to see them dancing around and throwing pillows at one another with big grins on their faces. They joke that they're the top two but really the top three (since the Last Chance Kitchen winner will be joining them) and even sing a song about it. It's charming.
Fast forward to Sheldon in Hawaii, two weeks before the finale. He explains that he's been cooking at a high end restaurant during his time off to get his technique down, since Brooke has a history of working at high end restaurants, and he wants to compete. He hopes to win so that he can open his own restaurant.
So now that we've seen Sheldon working, let's see Sheldon relaxing! He's having a barbecue on the beach with his family, his wife and three young girls. His kids are adorable, and Sheldon acknowledges that he needs to thank his wife for holding down the fort so that he could go compete. Other family members show up and hope that Sheldon will win so that he can put Hawaii on the culinary map. Man, it must be rough living in Hawaii, where it's beautiful every single day.
And what's Brooke been up to while she's been home? She's been hanging out with her son, who is adorable. She explains that she hates to leave her son, and her husband, and her businesses for so long. She and her husband run two restaurants, so after getting her kid to school, she has to go look at things like labor reports. Finally, she gets to cook, which is why she got into the business, and she loved that during the competition, she got to just cook.
Brooke and her husband have a date night as she interviews that she met her husband when she hired him to be a sous chef. It sounds like a rom com - she was the bossy chef and he was the surly sous chef. And then they fell in love! Her husband asks who she thinks she'll be facing in the finals, and Brooke says it will be Kristen. Her husband thinks that will be a battle for the ages, and Brooke says that she wants to go up against the best and win. Roy Choi stops to say hi and wish her luck; they're eating in one of his restaurants.
So Brooke and Sheldon are finally reunited and headed to the semi-finals. Brooke interviews that her goal is to think clearly and don't let her anxiety take over. They discuss who it would be most surprising to see: Josh, Carla, or Josie. They both think it's going to be Kristen. It probably is, but I wish it was CJ if only because they would be so shocked.
Padma, who is wearing a gold necklace that may have been crafted from the chandelier in someone's dining room in the '80s, welcomes them along with Tom, Hugh, and Emeril. Is Gail just done with this show now? I need more Gail! Padma reminds them about Last Chance Kitchen, like we don't already know. If you didn't watch (or read my mini-recap at the end of each full recap), here's all you need to know: CJ won a bunch of challenges in a row, until Kristen came in and beat him. Then Kristen beat everyone else by quite a bit, until Lizzie came along in the finale, and now we are waiting to find out if Kristen or Lizzie will be returning. Padma introduces the winner of Last Chance Kitchen, and of course, it's Kristen. I don't really get how she was just crowned the winner when the others have been back in Alaska for at least two weeks, but I'm not going to untie those knots.
Tom explains that the season started at his restaurant, Craft, so for one of them it will also end here. The challenge is to create a three-course meal at Craft to serve to actual diners, and Tom will be in the kitchen, expediting. Sheldon interviews that it's a lot of pressure and a big honor. Tom begs them not to screw it up, since his name is on the line.
The three cheftestants head into the kitchen and choose their proteins first. Sheldon goes for spot prawns, which he claims are talking to him. Kristen chooses tuna and Brooke goes for short ribs, but then changes her mind. There's so much good product that she can't choose. The three of them quickly confer about their courses to make sure they aren't overlapping, which is smart. Kristen knows exactly what she's making. Brooke is just like, "Something with beets and then something else." Sheldon is making quail, and Brooke interviews that it doesn't sound like his food. Sheldon interviews that it's not his usual fare, but he wants to show his versatility. That's not a terrible idea, but first of all, you need to be sure that you can execute it perfectly, and second of all, it should be maybe based on your usual culinary technique, but with a twist. Brooke changes her mind AGAIN about what she's going to make; I'm starting to worry about her.
Hugh comes into the kitchen first to talk to Brooke. She explains that she's making sweetbreads for her first course, and Hugh talks about how creative she's been in the past and she need to bring that today. She doesn't talk about her other courses; I'm not sure if she knows what she's making yet. Hugh wishes her luck.
Tom comes back to talk to Kristen, who explains that she's making a chestnut veloute, and she interviews that she's going for simple, but not boring or safe. She lists off her courses, and her final course is going to be a "chocolate thing." I will never understand why these cheftestants to not take the time to perfect one or two simple desserts; it's always the downfall. Tom asks if she's learned anything in her time off, and Kristen says she's trying to simplify because she often overthinks things and it screws her up. Tom points out, wisely, that it might be why she did better in Last Chance Kitchen; they were largely thirty-minute challenges so she didn't have too much time to think. Kristen agrees.
Emeril visits Sheldon, although he sneaks up on him and scares him a bit. Emeril asks if he's cooking Filipino food, and Sheldon says that he's done a lot of growing since they saw him in Alaska, and they'll be amazed by his growth. He says he's making quail and Emeril looks dubious but reminds Sheldon to taste his food, since that's what almost got Sheldon sent home last time. Emeril wishes Sheldon luck. I feel like Emeril did the least advising of any of the chefs, although I guess it could have been edited.
Sheldon and Kristen joke about how they are scared to cook in Tom's restaurant, and they are constantly getting lost in his blue eyes. Brooke is freaking out because she keeps burning her pistachios. Kristen tries to help her, but Brooke interviews that she's behind in her prep and the panic is snowballing. Sheldon asks if she's okay but Brooke is too busy to even answer him. She looks sweaty. Sheldon asks Brooke to make his dessert, and he says that he's never made one. Kristen also admits that her dessert is a complete afterthought. See what I mean? Why not learn one? One dish? Brooke interviews that she's spinning out of control, but she thinks the flavors will hold up. Kristen interviews that she's sweating in places she didn't know could sweat. Been there.
Tom comes into the kitchen and gives them some final instructions about service, including asking them to clean up. The first seating arrives, including Padma, Emeril, and Hugh, who are joined by Martin Yan and John Besh. Emeril talks about how much pressure the cheftestants must be facing tonight, cooking with Tom in his restaurant.
Service starts and Tom calls back the first order. He keeps pestering the cheftestants to get their food out. I don't know how they don't tell him to shut it. He also takes time to sample each dish so that he can judge.
The judges are served the three first courses. They start with Sheldon's sashimi spot prawns, court bouillon, radish, and Asian herbs. Hugh thinks it's pretty, and Emeril says that his prawn was perfectly cooked. They are impressed with how delicate it is, and says that it's difficult to pull off. , they try Kristen's chestnut veloute, duck rillette, and Brussels sprouts. They think the sprouts give it a kick, but Hugh doesn't think she should have served the rillette by itself. Brooke's first course was crispy veal sweetbread salad with kumquat, beets, and mustard. Padma loves the intense flavor but Martin says that despite the surprising flavors, the stem on the greens is not good. Hugh wanted the sweetbreads to be cleaned even more. Seems like Sheldon takes the first round.
Tom continues to yell at everyone for their delays. Brooke interviews that she's "a total shitshow" and she's not going to make it through this round. She laughs to Tom, "Bad day to have a bad day." But she's not really laughing.
Second course comes out! Kristen serves seared Ahi tuna with veal mustard and Meyer lemon puree. Martin thinks the tuna is cooked perfectly, but Padma found the lemon a bit too strong. Brooke serves braised short ribs, Parmesan sauce, nettle puree, and squash dumplings. Martin thinks it's perfectly cooked, and Hugh loves the Parmesan sauce. Emeril loves the puree. If everyone loves each component of your dish, it's a winner. Sheldon serves roasted quail, pine nut puree, garam marsala, and tangerine. Martin thinks it's brave to make quail; I don't know if you want the judges calling your dish "brave". Hugh thinks the puree is just okay, but the dish isn't Sheldon, and Emeril agrees. I don't think they're saying that the dish is good but it's not Sheldon; I think they're saying that it's not good and when Sheldon cooks his food, it's great.
And finally, it's time for the desserts. Tom is still harassing them to get him the dishes quickly and Brooke gives him the biggest fuck you look. It's amazing. Anyway, these desserts are bullshit. Brooke's is probably the most successful; she serves brown butter cake, whipped goat cheese, and blackberry sauce. John thinks it's "really, really good" and Hugh agrees. Martin likes the balance of the flavors the most. Kristen made curry chocolate with cashews. Martin is surprised by the combination, and Padma likes it. Hugh thinks it's not a good idea and it's a basic dessert. Agreed. If someone just plopped some chocolate with crushed nuts on a plate and called it dessert? Bullshit. Sheldon's dessert is equally bullshit: white chocolate mousse with apple and fennel. He basically smeared some white chocolate on a plate and then dumped apple slices and fennel on top. Padma likes the flavor combinations but John thinks the fennel was overpowering. Martin agrees.
Weird interstitial. Tom is a real pain in the ass as an expediter.
Tom comes out and joins the judges at their table. Padma asks for his take. Tom says that Brooke was a little behind, but she managed to get through it. He adds that they were all in the weeds at times. John Besh thought the meal was great, but Hugh thinks it was easy and a little safe. Martin Yan wanted more attention to individual elements. Padma thanks John and Martin, who aren't judging, I guess.
Back in the kitchen, the cheftestants talk about how tough that was for all of them. Kristen isn't happy with her dessert, especially the plating. Brooke says she really doesn't want that to be the note on which she goes out.
Judges' Table. The final three face Emeril, Hugh, Tom, and Padma, who explains that two of them will move on to the finale. Emeril and Hugh loved Sheldon's appetizer, and thought it was perfectly cooked. Tom thought Sheldon's quail was cooked perfectly, but he didn't like the pine nuts. Emeril wonders why Sheldon thought he needed to change his cooking style, when the elevated Filipino style served him so well throughout. Sheldon wanted to show another side, but Hugh isn't sure they needed to see another side. They liked the side they saw enough to put him in the finals. And it's not like, when Sheldon cooked Filipino food, he ever got negative feedback that it wasn't refined enough. They always loved his authentic dishes, and they loved the flavors. The judges thought the concept for Sheldon's dessert was interesting, but putting raw fennel was a mistake. Padma asks if he came prepared with a dessert, and Sheldon says he has one for the round. Ouch.
Moving on to Kristen, they liked the texture of her soup, but Hugh thought it was a little safe. Kristen wanted to simplify things with her second course, and they loved the tuna, but thought the lemon was a little too bitter. Padma asks if she was happy with her dessert, and Kristen starts laughing and says that she wasn't happy with it. Emeril says that he liked the flavors, and it could be something with more development, but the other judges are like, "Cajun, please."
And finally, Brooke. Everyone liked her first dish, but Hugh thought she should have cleaned the sweetbreads more. Brooke says she was cleaning them to order, and Tom says that she wasn't prepared enough when service started. Everyone loved Brooke's second course; they have no complaints. They also all liked Brooke's dessert, except for Tom. He thought it wasn't up-to-par for a restaurant dessert. Brooke says that tonight was not her best effort. And yet, two of her three courses were clear winners.
The cheftestants exit and the judges deliberate. Tom says that all three had some high and low points. They talk about how Sheldon has evolved over the course of the season, and how impressive it is. Tom thinks it's impressive that Sheldon tried to push it, but Hugh thinks his dishes fell flat tonight. Tom didn't think Kristen's dish tonight was as good as she can do, especially based on her Last Chance Kitchen performance. Hugh is impressed by Kristen's skillset. The judges were all impressed by all three of Brooke's dishes, although Tom thinks she had a lack of focus tonight. But can you really judge her based on what goes on in the kitchen, if the dishes were good? I think not. Brooke's in no danger here. Suddenly, the judges just know who's going home. I guess there was no real argument.
The three cheftestants return to find out which two are going to the finale, and which one is going home. Tom says that they did a nice job for the most part. Tom tells Brooke that her food is complex without seeming showy, but she had trouble with prep. He tells Sheldon that he was reaching for something he didn't need with his dishes, and something was lost along the way. Tom is impressed that Kristen fought her way back into the competition, but he thought she played it a little safe tonight. So who's going home? Padma tells Sheldon to pack his knives and go. Aw. Poor Sheldon. I wish they had talked more about how (as revealed in Tom's blog post) Sheldon's dishes were really bland. The way it was edited, it seemed like they were just mad that Sheldon didn't cook Filipino food.
Here's the good news - there will definitely be another female winner, the first one in a long time! I'm happy about that.