Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen 12

The rules are the same. If you get booted from Top Chef Texas, you have one last chance to redeem yourself. Pee Wee’s big adventure is over and one chef was laughed out of the kitchen. The only thing left is the food and Tom Colicchio to judge if you really have what it takes to be Top Chef.

Beware, there are spoilers below!

The episode begins with both chefs journey throughout the show. There’s a lot of emphasis on Grayson’s good and even more on everyone’s bullying of Beverly. I could have done without that since such foul behavior always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Grayson goes back to the house where she finds a note from Tom telling her to “meet me in the kitchen”.

Tom stands with Bev and there is admiration between her and Grayson. There is, however, a challenge at hand and they get right to it.

The challenge is to create a dish worthy of the finals within 30 minutes. There are no twists, just great cooking.

As the cheftestants run around, the viewer gets yet another reminder how the chefs got to this point. Heather and Ty-Lor demean Bev, while touting Grayson while Moto Chris and Chuy softly praise both women and their better qualities. And Whitney mocks Bev for making Asian food once again. I agree with Bev, no one mocks Sarah for always making Italian or Ty for always making Thai food. I don’t get it.

As the booted chefs ask their questions, Bev asks Grayson why she got booted. It’s a crappy question at a crappy time and in a talking head, Grayson mentions this, but that she still really likes Bev. At the time, however, Heather and Ty-Lor feel the need to voice their opinion with Ty getting especially nasty. I disliked him, then liked him, then remembered why I disked him, then changed to like him, only to remember why I can’t stand the guy. I shouldn’t have to go through all this with a guy who was booted long ago.

Bev made a red snapper in coconut broth infused with lemongrass, ginger, Thai Basil and cilantro with fennel mango salad. Tom thought it was a little on the sweet side, but the broth had a lot of flavor and it was all in all a nice dish. He also mentions that she stayed in her wheelhouse.

Grayson made a bacon seared scallop with gastrique of cherry and champagne grapes with pistachio and tarragon. Tom thought the scallops were cooked perfectly. There were a lot of crazy ingredients and unexpected flavors, but the butter was burnt.

Tom tells the two cheftestants that though both dishes were good, there was one that had a little more heart and soul. The dish with that little extra something will get the chef back on the show for another chance at becoming Top Chef and that winner will be on the next episode of Top Chef Texas. Yeah, I thought that sucked too. Tom…what a tease.