Top Chef

Seven

Season 2, Episode 9, Aired 1/3/07

Episode Summary

Tonight's theme focuses on the chefs' creativity in using food as an expression of art. They first must create a dish using one color randomly drawn - a hard task for one color-blind chef - and then the contestants are "given" their inspiration for the theme to a star-studded dinner.
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''Guest Judge: Ted Allen - QuickFire & Elimination
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''Guest Judge: Roberto Ivan - Elimination Challenge
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''QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using One Color.
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''Elimination Challenge: Create a Seven Course Dinner Inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins.
''
''Round Nine.moreless

9.1

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Cast & Crew

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Padma Lakshmi

Host/Judge
Tom Colicchio

Head Chef/Judge
Elia L. Aboumrad

Season 2 Contestant

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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Seven deadky sins

8.0

"Great"

By lsburton, Mar 29, 2008 Report Abuse

This weeks quick fire challange is to prepare a dish based on a color. Michael had the color orange and he won. Unfortunitly there are no more imunities. I think this weeks elimination challnge was a little difficult. They had to prepare a seven course dish based on the seven deadly sins. Michael won the the elimination challange and i was happy. He had not won a challange until this point and we can actually see him getting better. I was proud. After deliberation they decided to sent Betty home. I do think that Marcel was one of the better cooks compared to the other two in the bottom three.moreless

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Cute, telling episode! Shows a lot about each of the chefs.

9.7

"Superb"

By ravenslight, Jan 08, 2007 Report Abuse

This was cute and fun and showed a lot about each of the chefs. I was thrilled with the winner, it showed his true colors and ability. I think the challenges are about thinking on your feet and dealing with problems which all top chefs have to do all the time. This episode makes the chefs use their creativity and allowed them to really shine if they had it in them. This showed a lot about the strengths and the weaknesses in each chef. I think that TOP CHEF is not about 4 star cooking as much as it is about seeing how the chefs can think and work under pressure, if they have solid basics, have the willingness to learn, try and step out on a limb. I think that show pushes each chef to work under extreme pressure, when everything goes wrong or they do not have everything etc yet still have to turn out a product. Anyone that has been in a working kitchen whether it be the corner restaurant, the family diner, the middle of the road place or the high end 3-4 star place, you occassionally have delivery problems, where items dont show up, employees do not show up or quit half way through a shift, ovens do not work right, etc etc.. I honestly believe that this show is really about seeing what the chefs are made of.. the stock of the soup so to speak, so see if they can be fleshed out and developed into something rich and full. I think that the people that do not like the show are looking for an educational cooking show. This is about interaction and drama,..and fun and interesting cooking thrown in.. I really loved this episode.. it was fun and playfulmoreless

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Not my favorite! Doing the Quickfire based on color and the Elimination based on the 7 sins was cute but silly.

8.5

"Great"

By tiredoldguy, Jan 04, 2007 Report Abuse

I think its great that Mike finally won and won both ends. I thought Tom's comment that he should use vicoden when he cooks more often, while it was funny at the time wa skind of a put down. I really liked seeing Marcel get slapped down for his invitable foam. I am sorry to see betty leave, but her soups were awful and again she was also a repeater!

As we get closer to the end, I hope we really see some challanges that let the chefs explore their creativity. We already know that the next challange is a resturant challange similar to the one in season 1. I am wondering who will step up and do as great a front of the house job as Dave did!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Cliff has a handicap during the QuickFire Challenge since he is color blind. Purple looks like black to him, but someone once told him that eggplant is purple, so he matched his colors to it. Marcel did offer to check his colors for him, but Cliff declined. Edit
- When Cliff lists the Seven Deadly Sins, he does not mention Gluttony, instead mentioning both Envy and Jealousy, which are the same thing. Edit
- Elimination Challenge Dishes: First Course Wrath Sam - Spicy Shrimp Ceviche with Chili Pepper Popcorn. Second Course Sloth Betty - Trio of Vegetable Soups: Carrot Fennel, Sweet White Onion, Beet & Red Pepper. Third Course Envy Michael - Trout & Salmon with Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc, Asparagus & Mushrooms. Fourth Course Greed Cliff - Bouillabaisse with a Green Thai Curry Broth. Fifth Course Pride Elia - Roasted Chicken with Vegetables. Sixth Course Lust Marcel - Cherry Tart with Cherry Gelee & Chocolate Sauce. Seventh Course Gluttony Ilan - Rich Chocolate Cake with Funnel Cake, Macadamia Nut Brittle & Creme Anglaise. Edit
Notes
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- In the third season reunion show "Watch What Happens" each of the Judges was asked which was their favorite dish throughout the entire run of the show. Ted had two, one of which being Sam's ceviche from this episode. Edit
- In his blog, Harold pointed out that he did ceviche with popcorn in the first season, just as Sam did in this episode. Edit
- Initial press releases had this episode titled "The Magnificent Seven". Edit
Quotes
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- Marcel: (In response to Ilan's attack on his "flavorless" gelee) And have you ever tried, like, that brand of juice, R.W. Knudsen's? It's 100% fruit juice, which is what I made my gelee from, which has, like, so much flavor! I mean, check your palettes, get 'em tested. Edit
- Ilan: You know what's really funny Marcel, the first day I got here I've been wanting to smack you across the face. Why don't you !#$&ing go to a new school, learn some sh!%, go to France, go to Spain, go travel, go relax, go learn how to use some !#$&ing salt, paprika, come back to me, you know, come to New York, maybe I'll show you how to cook a little bit. I'll show you how to grill something. But until then shut the !#$& up, keep making your foams and go cry in a corner! Edit
- Betty: (referring to Marcel's QuickFire dish) Why does he have a foam on every !#@&ing thing he makes?! Edit
Allusions
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- Ceviche Ceviche is a type of marinated seafood salad that originated in Peru. It is a fusion of Native, spicy cuisine and the aromatic and acidic technique used by a wave of Moorish immigrants. Classically, the marinade uses citrus juice (usually lemon or lime) mixed with chili, onion, and garlic. Edit