Top Chef- Family Favorites

What did Tom think? I'll just repeat that.

I know Padma is probably cute, but come on. Is she really a food critic? How many times in this episode could they show her repeating Tom Colicchio's thoughts, only more emphatically?

QUICK FIRE CHALLENGE: Today's quick fire involves scooping shellfish out of a giant tank and cooking up a delicious seafood dish for Padma and guest judge, Chef Alfred Portale. Hung disappoints everyone by scooping an excessive amount of shellfish out. I wish someone would yell "the ocean called, they're running out of shrimp." Even worse, evil Hung drops a crawfish on the floor and leaves it behind. This disgusts Lia, who thinks there's a way things happen in the kitchen, and it doesn't including the meaningless death of crustaceans.

A half an hour later, the chefs have their quick fired plates ready for the judging. Brian and Howie are in Portale's top two, but Brian ends up winning his second challenge in a row, along with immunity. This is a good thing for Brian and his employers, as he works in a seafood restaurant.

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE: The contestants are tasked with re-imagining American classics like tuna casserole, meatloaf, fried chicken and franks and beans in a new, low cholesterol way. They'll be judged by members at a local Elks club, which is kinda awesome. I want to be an Elk. Or a Shriner. Whoever has the coolest hats.

The foreign chefs are really not into these "comfort foods" and while yes, they look super gross laid out like this, I don't like the haughtiness. You're on notice, foreign chefs.

After an hour of prep, the chefs go home and get in their bikinis (where appropriate...there were no men in bikinis, if that's what I led you to believe...) for a little hot tub time. Howie sits apart from the group and reflects on how the challenge is more important to him than camraderie. Your mouth says one thing Howie, but that far-off look in your eyes says something different.

The next day in the Elks' kitchen (B.P.O.E.! What does that mean?) the heat is on. Ha! Bet you never saw that one coming. Actually, in Sara M's oven, it's off, thanks to fish-killer Hung.

Out in the dining room, Miami's Elks and their families are gathering so they can...make their way through one disappointing dish after another. Very few folks are winning over the judges right now. The interpretations are too literal, the chance-takers failed, the lentils are undercooked (Tom: "They're undercoo..." Padma: "ked! They're undercooked!!").

It's disastrous for everyone but the resurgent but friendless Howie, and Dale. While the grilled pork put him in the bottom last week, the pork and appleslaw wins the challenge for Howie this week. Hooray, he can smile.

Not smiling are the five (FIVE!) people in the bottom, including immune Brian, who the judges chastise for cooking a high cholesterol meal and sticking with seafood. After they send him back to the kitchen, they're left with Lia, Sara M., CJ and Micah. In the end, Micah's inconsistent performances and her disdain for ketchup are her undoing. She is sent home, but happily, because she wants to be with her daughter more than this shit anyways, so there.

Next week: A team challenge means drama!