Top Chef Season 4 Episode 5

Elimination Challenge Dishes

Team Water - Richard, Mark, and Andrew
Poached Salmon with Faux Caviar, Parsnip Puree & Watercress Salad

Team Fire - Stephanie, Dale, and Lisa
Grilled Shrimp with Pickled Chili Salad, Deviled Aïoli & Miso Smoked Bacon

Team Air - Nikki, Ryan, and Jen
Duck Breast with Citrus Salad and Pomegranate Prosecco Apéritif

Team Earth - Antonia, Spike, and Zoi
Beef Carpaccio with Mushroom Salad and Sunchoke Aioli

Team Air were criticized for not rendering the fat of their duck properly. Duck fat is heavy and dense, like that of pork. To render it properly, one should score the skin of the duck while cooking, since that helps the fat to run off through the cuts in the skin.

In the heated argument between Antonia and Spike, Spike says Antonia said that she would not do a soup, no matter what the others thought, and Antonia denied it vehemently. For the record, Antonia told the others that if they insisted on making the squash soup, she would do her best to make it work, but Zoi sided with her on the carpaccio. But in a private interview for the camera, Antonia said she'd never do it, since a soup would not get them the win, in her opinion.

Taste Test Ingredients
Imitation Breakfast Syrup vs. Real Maple Syrup
Generic Sliced Bacon vs. Double Applewood Smoked Berkshire Slab Bacon
Farmed Salmon vs. Wild Atlantic Salmon
Imitation Crab Pieces vs. Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
Hershey Bar vs. Valrhona Chocolate
Generic Supermarket Unsalted Butter vs. Plugra
Deli Cheddar vs. English Cheddar
Generic Soy Sauce vs. Small Batch Artisan Soy Sauce
Boxed Sake vs. Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Lumpfish Roe vs. American Sturgeon Caviar
Generic Commercial Pork Chop vs. Organic Kurobuta Pork Chop
Generic Commercial Chicken Breast vs. Organic, Free Range Chicken Breast
Cheap Parmesan Cheese vs. Parmigiano Reggiano
Supermarket Pate vs. Country Pate with Black Truffles
Generic Olive Oil vs. Small Batch Artisan Olive Oil

Antonia won the QuickFire Challenge and safety from elimination.