Top Chef:All Stars 4/16/20--"Bring Your Loved One to Work" summary

Previously on “Top Chef”: there was a bunch of product placement for a Quickfire. Colors. Whatever. Gregory won, which was nice mostly because Karen lost again. The Elimination challenge involved two teams, and shopping at the farmer's market. Everyone had to make vegetarian tasting menus. There was some minor drama with Lee Anne and Malarkey, because Lee Anne once again did poorly. Melissa won, with another soup. She's doing very well. Lisa was sent home for a weird lukewarm undercooked Brussels sprouts dish. (click for more)

On Last Chance Kitchen, Hipster Joe and Lisa had to fry things. Lisa immediately became very cocky and obnoxious, but sadly she won so we have to deal with her again.

Bryan tells everyone they should have communicated more. Lee Anne and Malarkey make up, I guess. In the morning, she and Jen talk about it, and Lee Anne says she takes responsibility for her dish. I mean, Malarkey was a jerk about it, but he did have a point. If the hummus is unseasoned, then you can't blame all of the seasoning on the person finishing the dish. Also, why did Malarkey get a bunch of shit for making something boring that everyone has seen before, and Lee Anne made hummus and veggies and they didn't show one single comment about that? Jen tells her she's in her head. Then Jen gets an interview talking about all the balls she's juggling and how she's here to try to make her life better.

When everyone walks in for the Quickfire, there is nothing. Everything is cleared away, except for labeled workstations and a phone at each station. Padma isn't even here. People eventually decide to check the phones, putting in earbuds and hitting “call” because that's what's on the phone. Eric gets connected first, and when someone answers and says how are you, he says “I'm fine, this sounds like my wife, how are you?” It's really his wife. So then everyone figures it out, because they were all standing around to see what would happen with Eric. Nini's mom calls, but she doesn't recognize her voice. Hee. Eventually everyone answers their phones, and Bryan jokes that no one loves him because no one is calling him. Everyone wanders aimlessly around the kitchen for a second, on the phone, until Padma finally appears and says they'll have to call back.

The Quickfire involves the loved ones. They're all here in LA at a restaurant. They'll be served one of three dishes from the restaurant, and then the chefs will have to recreate it. Interesting. It must taste and look the same, and they cannot get a photo. Winner gets immunity and $10,000.

30 minutes to cook. It's loud, and some people have a distinct advantage. For example, Kevin's wife can immediately tell her pork chop is a ribeye and not a T-bone, and she knows it's pork without eating it. Malarkey's wife is not a chef, but she seems to be doing OK. They have the same dish, which is pork chop with prosciutto braised beans, charred radicchio and fennel fronds. Bryan's sister has called, and while she is a pastry chef, she doesn't eat fish, which is what she has. Yellowtail collar with fingerling potatoes, calabrian chilies, and cilantro salsa verde. She gets the wrong fish, although I don't know I could tell different species of fish apart. Jen eventually gets it because there are fins, and it's the collar. Lee Anne's mom is a good home cook, so she's got some knowledge. She's able to tell Lee Anne that the steak doesn't have a lot of marbling, which is actually helpful. Hangar steak marinated in balsamic vinegar with arugula salad, parmigiano reggiano. Nini is cheating off Geoffrey, because her mom is telling her the arugula salad isn't peppery. Melissa's friend thinks she is being helpful but they just decided on chimichurri which is wrong. Kevin's wife is very specific about everything. Karen's sister is actually describing the leaf structure of the cilantro, which is hilarious, but she's wrong about it. I think Lee Anne grabbed soy sauce, and she doesn't think it's right because everything else is Italian, but she gets it anyway. When she tries to plate, her mom is too busy eating and just ignores her. This is the sound clip where they tried to make it look like her mom passed out and she was trying to get her attention. Low, putting that here. Bryan is noticing he is not making the same fish as anyone else.

Once Padma calls time, they all get a picture of their dish. Everyone laughs or celebrates as appropriate. Padma brings in Nancy Silverton and confirms they were at her Italian restaurant. Bryan has the wrong fish entirely. So everyone is still getting a chyron for what they made, but they're all going to be the same. Or at least very similar. So I'm going to skip them for this in the interest of time. At least Bryan's dish tastes good. Melissa I think has the wrong chilies but it's very close. Karen doesn't have salsa verde, or at least she didn't use much. Jen's loved one told her she had chicken. Jen didn't listen, thankfully. Geoffrey's dish looks very close, but there is no balsamic vinegar. Nini is also missing balsamic, as is Lee Anne. Malarkey's dish looks pretty close. I think there is a problem with his beans? Nancy tells Stephanie the radicchio is marinated in balsamic vinegar and rosemary. Eric's looks good. Kevin's wife actually tasted the rosemary, and the prosciutto in the beans.

Bottom: Bryan's dish was at least tasty? Melissa had the closest fish, somehow Lee Anne got close even though she had soy sauce (they said she got the umami flavor correct). Kevin's wife picked up a lot of flavors. See, but if you don't eat fish, then you're at a disadvantage. Plus I think that was the hardest dish. Anyway Kevin wins, and he gets to call his wife back and tell her that he won.

Time for the Elimination Challenge. Padma says something about how most chefs are entrepreneurs. Are they? Sure. Nancy started La Brea Bread, and she has now started a gelato company. So now everyone has to make their own signature product. Tomorrow they'll be at the mall, where they'll be serving a dish showcasing their product. Each diner gets one ticket, which they will use to select one product to take home. Whoever sells the most product will be safe from elimination. $600 to shop. And their loved ones will join them to help! That could be good or bad.

Shopping time. Jen has done this before, but not in 24 hours. She's thinking lemon ginger sauce, in some kind of pho. Kevin is making hot salt, to make Nashville hot chicken and waffles. Delicious. Nini wants to make nuoc mam, which is a Vietnamese dipping sauce. It's kind of like curry, or chili, where everyone has their own recipe. Put on ribs, which I think is a good idea. She and Kevin commiserate that they're going to make their loved ones pack the product in jars. Someone drops a bottle in the checkout line.

I'm not sure how much cooking is supposed to happen today. First off is everyone greeting their loved ones. Eric gives his wife flowers that he bought at Whole Foods. Damn. He's going to make calypso sauce, which is a Caribbean hot sauce, put on fried dough. Lots of sauces happening, and so far no one's loved one is completely useless at chopping or peeling things or whatever. Bryan I think is making marinara sauce, and I think it's his mom's recipe which should be a help to his sister. She gives him shit for shaking the table and says she's being exact since she's a baker. That's why she's making the pasta. Geoffrey is making pickles to go on chicken in creole sauce. Lee Anne wants to make mapo sauce. Like mapo tofu. And dumplings. I think Malarkey bought his wife flowers too. He is making some kind of relish. He also has too many puns. Melissa is making kimchi peach vinaigrette. Lee Anne's mom is cleaning shrimp, I think, and then she just stops. She says she needs to sit down, and almost collapses.

After commercials, she's sitting down, and everyone is around her, like all contestants stopped to help out which is nice. Medical has to take her off set so she can lie down. Just as Lee Anne is saying she'll have to do this work herself, Stephanie tells her husband she's got this and he should go help Lee Anne roll out dumpling wrappers. Aww. I think everyone is coming by to offer to help. But you know, I don't think there are really any jerks here. This is very much a group that wants to “beat the best” so they want everyone to do their best. You know? Jen is having too much fun. Malarkey is freaking out about filling his jars. Near the end of the day Nini is pouring people wine. Stephanie is anxious about doing well, as she usually is. Lee Anne's mom is better, and she just tells her to get some rest.

In the morning, Malarkey is ranking all of his competitors in his notebook. Why. What does this have to do with anything, in a competition where you don't have any control over anyone else? Also he's put himself at the top, so that's how that marking is. I mean, yeah, Kevin and Bryan and Melissa are strong competitors. But how does ranking them help you cook better?

Lee Anne's mom is back, which is great. Lots of putting stickers on things. This segment doesn't have a lot happening.

Melissa: Mel's kimchi-peach vinaigrette, on Korean fried chicken wings. Could be a little spicier. Lee Anne: Mama Wong's mapo sauce, on shrimp tofu shiitake dumplings. I think they like the idea that you would save time by not making sauce from scratch. Kevin: “Hotlanta” hot salt, on chicken and waffles with peanuts fried in butter. So Kevin says it's great for making something hot if you don't want to make it soggy. But then the chicken and waffles is covered in syrup and butter. I mean that's the way to eat it but...it's soggy. It's a great dish. Eric: Mighty Calypso pepper sauce, on “doubles” topped with fried chickpeas and pancetta. A double is a flatbread sandwich filled with chickpeas, a pretty common street food. Delicious.

Geoffrey: GG's Party Pikliz, the spicy Haitian pickle, served with Haitian Creole chicken, marinated in black pepper, thyme, and clove. The judges love it, it was homey and showcased the pickles well. Nini: Nini's Roasted Nuoc Mam Glaze, on braised pork ribs. It's very pungent but the judges seem to really like it. Karen: E & O Romesco, on pork belly, almonds, cinnamon romesco and crispy potatoes. Nancy likes her romesco to be chunkier, and Gail says it's not as bold as she would like. Malarkey: “S'MILES” citrus fennel chili tomato relish, on Pacific swordfish with charred lemon and radicchio slaw. The fish is kind of oily, and he said he wanted it to be fresh. It's not fresh.

Stephanie: S & D's vegetarian chili base, in a two bean chili with homemade cracker, beet and lime pickled onion, cilantro, and scallion. So it seems like it's not fancy enough? It's basically tomato sauce, no beans, no meat, so you could use anything, says Tom. Bryan: Voltaggio's Own Calamari Bolognese, on kale and nori spaghetti. It's good, but a hard sell. Most people don't buy sauce with the fish already in it. Jen: Sunny Lemon-Ginger Love, on “Sunny Style” skirt steak, yogurt, and grilled kale. The texture is terrible, because ginger doesn't puree smoothly. Tom thinks overall this challenge is really great. There's a montage of people getting tickets, and people like Stephanie and Kevin being sad they're not selling. Everyone says goodbye (aww).

Judges' Table. Melissa sold the most, and everyone already knows because they could see people coming to her booth. The top is Gregory, Nini, and Eric. But Melissa is safe. Padma for some reason tells her they loved her sauce, but Kevin had better fried chicken. Ouch. Geoffrey has worked with his mom before. The pickles were delicious, and it paired really well with the chicken to cut the chicken's richness. Nini's ribs were cooked really well. She jokes that her mom taught her how to cook,but now calls her to ask for things. Eric made a new food that probably no one here has ever had, but it's cravable and delicious. The winner is Gregory. He's very excited to tell his mom.

Stephanie, Jen, and Malarkey are the bottom. Malarkey is immediately shocked because his product sold so well and it tasted better than everyone else. Stephanie had a decent product, but it wasn't convenient. If you have to cook the beans, or brown meat, then that's most of the work of chili. Gail says there was nothing to distinguish it from any other tomato sauce. Malarkey of course thinks he did great and made something healthy. Padma thought it was oily. Actually she says “it ate oily” and I hate that phrasing so I'm not using it. Nancy thought it was muddled and didn't taste bright and fresh. It's sort of fresh but there were cooked components in the sauce. Jen loves ginger and lemon, but you can't puree ginger well and it was a bad texture. Mixing it with yogurt diluted the flavor.

Tom is impressed because he's made steak sauce and it took a dozen tries to get it right, and mostly everyone nailed it today. Stephanie's tomato sauce was tasteless and watery, but the chili was a nice chili. But it's not memorable. Tom says that Jen's sauce was bitter, and her biggest mistake was mixing it with the yogurt. Malarkey cooked his fish well, but a salsa or relish like that is supposed to “enlighten” the protein, and this brought it down.

Tom talks about standing out and “the complete package” and then Jen is sent home. She says Top Chef has done a lot of good for her. Sure, she's been on a million times. Plus she got to cook with her sister.

Next time: the LA Philharmonic, pairs, double elimination, Malarkey is Malarkey.

Last Chance Kitchen: Jen says she's tough and she's like Rocky. She also is familiar with the peanut gallery, I think. She did not agree with the judges, I think because she likes ginger chunks. Also now suddenly her steak was overcooked. Tom says they can both make sauces, so now they will see who is better. And so they can focus on sauces, Tom will cook the proteins. Heh. There is no time on the clock, because the sauce will need to be ready when Tom is done cooking the protein. Jen clarifies that he's not making tartare, and he says he's not that mean. But he WILL go through the fridge and give them shit about thin cuts. In the end he is nice and picks out a huge tomahawk steak.

Jen thinks they will have about 20 minutes. Tom is being pretty leisurely. Lisa wants to be done in half of that time. Some kind of chimichurri with umami. Jen has a bunch of meat and ginger and a gang of stuff. She also gets the peanut gallery to find dates for her in the pantry, and then jokes that she should have turned the stove off when Tom left the steak unattended. Lisa keeps spying on Tom and loudly asking him what he's doing. She is claiming she is just tasting her sauce and putting random things in it. Tom heads for the wood oven, and Jen freaks out because it's gonna be fast. Lisa almost has too much time, because she keeps fucking around with her sauce. The steak is out of the oven and resting, which means not much time left. Jen's trying to reduce something but it's not doing much. Tom gives them one minute. I think they both get something done.

Lisa: maggi chimichurri sauce. Maggi is a brand of sauce that's like soy sauce. Jen: beef sauce with harissa, lemon, ginger, garlic, and date au jus. Lisa had a good idea, because maggi is umami. Jen's sauce had good flavor too, and the dates were good. But Jen's sauce was maybe too thin, and Lisa's too thick. The winner is Lisa. Boo. Jen knows her sauce wasn't thick enough. Next week, Lisa will battle someone and the winner will reenter the competition. So that's how the double elimination is going to go down.

On What Would Tom Do? they made him do the telephone Quickfire game with the host. She is actually very helpful, with the sizes of lentils and that there are carrots in there so maybe a mirepoux. And she can tell the difference between salmon skin and sea trout skin. I mean, to me it looks like salmon, but it's not maybe? I don't know if I could tell the difference. Tom is adding a bunch of stuff, like bay leaf and thyme and butter, that I don't know is in the dish. When she sends the photo Tom says his looks better. I thought this was going to be annoying and she would be useless but this was actually competent.