Top Chef: Trimming the fat

Spoiler alert!

On last night's episode, we finally learned which four contestants will attend the show's finale in Puerto Rico. As a result, the episode really focused not on whose dishes were great or the best, but rather which contestant was not as good as the others. It was a bit like a game of musical chairs, where it didn't matter where you sat, as long as you weren't the last one standing.
For the Quickfire Challenge, chefs had to butcher their own tomahawk steaks (from, as Antonia put it, what looked like an enormous frozen side of a cow), and cook them to perfection. Each contestant had a different cooking method, and when guest judge and Chicago chef Rick Tramonto examined the steaks, he didn't even taste the meat. He judged simply by cutting into it to check out the color and texture. Spike, who predicted that he would win the challenge since his father and grandfather were both butchers, fulfilled his own prophecy and won the Quickfire, securing him an advantage in the Elimination Challenge.

Just as he did with the Police Officer challenge, Spike once again butchered his own advantage in the Elimination Challenge, in which chefs were charged with creating an appetizer and a main dish for dinner service at Tramonto's own steak house in Chicago. Spike was given the opportunity to pick his proteins first, and ended up choosing frozen scallops and tomahawk steaks. The scallops were the only frozen ingredient offered, and the other chefs actually seemed glad that he had taken them.

The other contestants then proceeded to choose their proteins and began preparing for service. Head judge Tom Colicchio arrived to announce that he would be expediting the dishes for the service that night, so he that he could watch the chefs' every move. Antonia, who I think may have a bit of a crush on the chef, was elated.

The judges arrived for dinner, along with three special guests -- the winner's from the past seasons of Top Chef. They departed some quasi-meaningless advice to the remaining contestants, then headed to their table to taste the dishes. Appetizers came first, and the chefs loved Richard's hamachi with crispy sweetbreads. As was inevitable, Spike's scallops fell flat.

For entrees, the judges enjoyed Lisa's New York strip steak with caramel apples and peanut butter mashed potatoes more than they expected -- it was the dish that was built up the whole night, and the judges said that despite their desire to dislike it, they simply couldn't. They also loved Antonia's rib-eye with fennel, and Stephanie's tenderloin with wild mushrooms and apple sauce.

On the chopping block, the judges asked to see all of the contestants, and questioned them without really letting on whose dishes they liked. They then announced Stephanie as the winner, and dismissed her along with Antonia and Richard, who also made it through to the final round. It came down to Spike and Lisa, as we all knew it would, and though I expected to see Lisa go since she has done so poorly in recent episodes as well, Spike was sent home. I think a lot of you were right when you commented that the producers would try to stack three girls up against Richard in the final round.

Next week should prove interesting, and I think that if Antonia or Stephanie perform well, they could win it all. If Richard remains on his game, however, I think it will be difficult for the judges to pass him over.

I want to hear all of your predictions though, so bring them on! Who will be the winner of this season's Top Chef?