TOP CHEF-JACKSONVILLE
Episode Title “The other other meat”
Date: 12/20/09
The Challenge:
Following the given guidelines, prepare a delicious meal! The chef’s 4 Guidelines are: 1. Use Pork Loin for your main protein. 2. Prepare a side-dish of your choice. 3. Use the mystery ingredient in your dish. 4. Serve a dessert. |
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PREPARATION:
The chefs spent an afternoon patrolling the grocery store while thinking through their menu. Andrew reveals to our camera that he was clueless about what he should purchase. He stated, “I have no idea, to be honest.”
Nikki seems much more confident, “My only struggle right now is making sure I get it all on paper when we get back. I have a lot to piece together.”
Following the third guideline, each contestant was given some time alone in the produce section to choose the mystery ingredient their opponent will have to use. Once inside the kitchen, Contestant #1, Andrew, and Contestant #2, Nikki, simultaneously revealed their mystery ingredients.
The chefs spent an afternoon patrolling the grocery store while thinking through their menu. Andrew reveals to our camera that he was clueless about what he should purchase. He stated, “I have no idea, to be honest.”
Nikki seems much more confident, “My only struggle right now is making sure I get it all on paper when we get back. I have a lot to piece together.”
Following the third guideline, each contestant was given some time alone in the produce section to choose the mystery ingredient their opponent will have to use. Once inside the kitchen, Contestant #1, Andrew, and Contestant #2, Nikki, simultaneously revealed their mystery ingredients.
Andrew’s ingredient, eggplant. Nikki’s, ginger root.
When speaking with the contestants about their mystery ingredients Andrew mentioned how, “it was just professional courtesy. I knew ginger would work well with pork. I wasn’t going to choose something that would sink her.”
The contestants have 2 hours to prepare and present their dishes!
When speaking with the contestants about their mystery ingredients Andrew mentioned how, “it was just professional courtesy. I knew ginger would work well with pork. I wasn’t going to choose something that would sink her.”
The contestants have 2 hours to prepare and present their dishes!
THE BEGINNING:
Our Top Chef team stayed close to the contestants making sure to record every juicy detail. Contestant #1, Andrew, is quick to get his station ready. He starts with his eggplant, peeling and chopping it. Nikki looks over to Andrews station, “I chose eggplant for him because of its versatility and color…So much for that beautiful, deep purple color!” Contestant #2 seems to have a lot going on. She’s peeled and chopped potatoes, started to fry her pork and…is she starting on dessert already? What's on the stove…Pork loin, potatoes, and eggplant. |
GETTING DOWN TO IT:
Nikki’s confidence seems to be diminishing, “Why is it that I always decide to pull together, well, what seems like billions of elements?” She admits to feeling worried about her timing, “I hope against hope that my pork isn’t overcooked!” Contestant #1 has put his glazed pork into the oven and brought out the food processor. Will he have enough time to make his dessert? |
Menu:
Judge's Table:
Quotes from the Judges on Contestant #1’s dish:
“I really like Andrew’s story behind this. It definitely speaks of Christmas time tradition and how this was a Mexican inspired margarita flavored dish.”
“This pork is TOUGH!”
“The glaze is so good…It’s striking!”
“The salsa is fresh. Great use of his mystery ingredient.“
“I like that you can taste the individual flavors in the salsa. It’s simple and tasty.”
“It’s too bad part of the tortilla chip became soggy in the salsa…Which, I guess wasn’t so bad, because I ate it all!”
“Overall, I LOVE everything! Even the dessert was good…It was rich, and maybe he played it safe, but good.”
Quotes from the Judges on Contestant #2’s dish:
“This pork is cooked better than the other. Less tough.”
“Has good flavor, but it’s too subtle for pork…Needs more apple.”
“We’ve got to give it to Nikki, her dishes have originality.”
“Good use of ginger.”
“The soup is great, but the potatoes are kind of mushy.”
“The ginger sugar is almost impossible to eat and the ginger froth isn’t froth, it’s melted.”
“Altogether, it’s nicely put together. Everything is good, but is it great??”
THE DECISION:
It’s seems the judges are more impressed with Contestant #1…
BUT WHAT WILL YOU DECIDE???
“I really like Andrew’s story behind this. It definitely speaks of Christmas time tradition and how this was a Mexican inspired margarita flavored dish.”
“This pork is TOUGH!”
“The glaze is so good…It’s striking!”
“The salsa is fresh. Great use of his mystery ingredient.“
“I like that you can taste the individual flavors in the salsa. It’s simple and tasty.”
“It’s too bad part of the tortilla chip became soggy in the salsa…Which, I guess wasn’t so bad, because I ate it all!”
“Overall, I LOVE everything! Even the dessert was good…It was rich, and maybe he played it safe, but good.”
Quotes from the Judges on Contestant #2’s dish:
“This pork is cooked better than the other. Less tough.”
“Has good flavor, but it’s too subtle for pork…Needs more apple.”
“We’ve got to give it to Nikki, her dishes have originality.”
“Good use of ginger.”
“The soup is great, but the potatoes are kind of mushy.”
“The ginger sugar is almost impossible to eat and the ginger froth isn’t froth, it’s melted.”
“Altogether, it’s nicely put together. Everything is good, but is it great??”
THE DECISION:
It’s seems the judges are more impressed with Contestant #1…
BUT WHAT WILL YOU DECIDE???
Comments:
Nickey M:
"What a wonderful Christmas tradition. However, cooking pork is a bit trickier to cook than beef or chicken. the flavor combinations sound wonderful. I probally would enjoy the 1st cook, only because I havent made the jump to "sweet & savory" like cook 2 with the apples, but everything sounded wonderful. I'll have to try the eggplant salsa & the ginger froth. Where can I get those recipes?"
"What a wonderful Christmas tradition. However, cooking pork is a bit trickier to cook than beef or chicken. the flavor combinations sound wonderful. I probally would enjoy the 1st cook, only because I havent made the jump to "sweet & savory" like cook 2 with the apples, but everything sounded wonderful. I'll have to try the eggplant salsa & the ginger froth. Where can I get those recipes?"
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