Top Chef: Film Food (Episode #404)

Last week, Spike stood out as this season's troublemaker, while Richard quietly led his team to victory. Are we spotting a trend, or will someone new make their mark?

Quick Fire Challenge: Chef Daniel Boulud (who incidentally, both Ryan and Richard have worked for) is the guest for this week and as a highly trained French chef, he wants to test the contestants on their culinary skills. He asks them to make a vegetable plate employing at least three techniques and instantly, a number of the chefs are bummed. They just aren't into this kind of precision. Daniel puts Nikki, Lisa and Manuel in the bottom three, and Zoi, Dale and Richard in the top. Though Richard is a former employee, Daniel gives Dale the edge. He's got immunity.

Elimination Challenge: The contestants are paired into groups of two (except for Dale, who gets to be the third wheel with whoever he wants) to cook a movie-inspired six course meal for a party with Richard Roeper and Aisha Tyler.

The groups and courses break down as follows:

First Course: Richard, Andrew and Dale do Willy Wonka
Second Course: Spike and Manuel pick Good Morning Vietnam

Third Course: Jen and Nikki pay homage to Il Postino
Fourth Course: Ryan and Mark go with A Christmas Story

Fifth Course: Zoi and Antonia choose Talk to Her
Sixth Course: Lisa and Stephanie go with a bizarre tribute to Top Secret

Andrew wants to pretend to be an oompa loompa at the serving, but his team is not into it.

In the kitchen, things seems pretty calm. Richard is doing his saran wrap/puff of smoke trick, but the tool craps out. The team decides to hold a burning block of wood under the salmon instead. Is that's what happening in the kitchen when I go out to dinner?

1: Weird combo, but it's the thumbs up.

2: People aren't into it, and the movie connection is weak.
3: Judges say it's good, not great, but Richard Roeper likes it.
4: Everyone loves the quail and the story.

5: It tastes ok, but the story doesn't fit.
6: Aisha thinks it goes above and beyond.

Padma calls in courses 1 and 6, Wonka and Top Secret. Though the Top Secret dish was great, the Wonka plate was so well-executed and such a risk, the win goes to them -- specifically Richard.

Back in the waiting area, the other chefs are livid. If white chocolate and wasabi is what the judges are looking for, they're at a loss.

The winners send in courses 2 and 5, putting unapologetic Spike back on the chopping block. It comes down to the troublemaker and his partner, Manuel. Because Manuel was missing his family earlier in the episode, he's clearly the one who's on the way out. He gives a sweet speech, packs his knives, and goes.