Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen 8

The rules are the same. If you get booted from Top Chef Texas, you have one last chance to redeem yourself. The BBQ is over and there is no one left to blame. 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!

We start watched Malibu Chris’ exit and him saying that he’s, “heading back to Cali”. He’s numb and sad, but after a beer sees the note left by Tom. It says that he’s, “not heading back to Cali just yet.”

When Malibu Chris enters, he’s a bit stunned. Tom mentions that he’s been a real positive influence in the house and that he has one more shot to get back in the game.

The cheftestants must cook items bought at a gas station. Ah, memories of Season One. They have $20 to shop and 30 minutes to cook.

When the cheftestants return from the Gas Station, Malibu Chris is shocked to see the other booted chefs there, who ask questions and try to figure out what the competitors are doing.

Nyesha makes a beer-glazed smoked sausage with a pork rind twil and chili cheese sauce. Tom thinks the dish looks right out of a restaurant.

Malibu Chris makes his All-American Togarashi spiced tomato soup with spicy pork rinds and a grilled cheese sandwich with fried man and pickle. Tom thinks it’s a perfect grilled cheese, but the dish is Cuban, not American.

The Booted Chefs get to eat, and then Tom asks what they think. Heather favors a good Cuban. Color me surprised. Whitney likes Nyesha’s for…just about every part of it. Tom wishes she would have been able to narrow it down, but maybe there’s a reason she had difficulty trying to.

Tom preferred Nyesha’s dish and she gets her third win. She stays the Reigning Last Chance Kitchen Champion. She’ll have to battle the next cheftestant from Top Chef Episode 10.