This week the competition on Top Chef got even more intense as the contestants faced one of their
most difficult challenges yet. Not only did the chefs have to cook, but they had to come up with a concept and start a
restaurant from scratch. The needed a name, decor, tableware and, most importantly, time, which they didn't have. As an
unusual twist in this episode, the incentive of immunity was eliminated from the quickfire challenge and instead, a
prize was offered to the winner. There was no guest judge, either. Chef Tom Colicchio stepped up to offer the challenge
and the prize.
Tom is opening a branch of his restaurant, 'wichcraft, the fast food variation of his craft restaurant, in San Francisco and asked the chefs to prepare the perfect sandwich, a food that 'wichcraft specializes in. The winner would get his or her sandwich on the menu when the West Coast 'wichcraft opened. Fast, portable and delicious would win in the sandwich competition. All the chefs did well, but Miguel's Falafel sandwich was the flavor winner. Unfortunately, Miguel made his a "deconstructed" sandwich, which meant that it had to be eaten with a knife and fork. A sandwich without bread is not a sandwich, and instead of Miguel, Tom gave top billing to Harold's sandwich of mortadella with grapes, roasted peppers and sunchoke mayonnaise on sourdough. The recipes for Stephen and Dave's sandwiches, both of which looked delicious, are on the Bravo site.
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
