The chefs are welcomed to the kitchen with their first Sudden Death Quickfire challenge. Nothing like getting split into teams where your fate hangs in the balance of strangers right out of the gate right?
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For the first part of the challenge, the chefs have to work in teams to complete four to complete mise en place tasks with using fresh local seafood. The slowest chef on the losing team will be up for elimination.
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The yellow team is nothing but smiles despite the intense challenge ahead.
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Katsuji has a confident finger-point going on...unfortunately the clams he needs to open won't be intimidated by his digits.
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The red team loses, and George is deemed to have been the slowest. He chooses Gregory as his opponent, as payback for not letting him butcher the mackerel -- thereby getting him into this mess. But it's a choice he ultimately regrets as Gregory's dish bests him, and he loses the challenge and is forced to pack his knives and go.
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Richard Blais, former cheftestant and Top Chef winner, is here to help Padma judge the first challenge.
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Time for a fun (and hurried) trip to the supermarket!
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For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to create a version of the very first dish they ever cooked. Adam lends Aaron a helping hand with his pork belly.
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Tom has to lean in to hear the laundry list of ingredients in Katsuji's dish.
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Joy tells the chefs about the first dish she ever cooked with her mom, fried chicken.
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Fellow Boston-dwellers (and former cheftastants) Kristen Kish and Tiffani Faison stop by Stacy's stand to psyche her into winning this one for their beloved hometown.
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Adam has a starstruck moment and introduces himself to Todd English.
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The finest panel of judges prepare to dine at the Top Chef Food Festival -- it's a hard job.
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The judges choose Gregory, Doug, and Mei as their favorites of the night. Katsuji, Michael, and Katie land in the bottom three.
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The judges weren't fans his salmon roe/corn combination, so tonight Michael is eliminated. He and Gregory share a warm embrace before he packs up his knives.
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Jasper White and Todd English have a chat...do chefs gossip? Maybe they are just sizing up the latest cheftestants?
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Tiffani stops by Keriann's stand to check out her sweet corn soup.
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Ken Oringer greets Michael.
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Katsuji dons a cowboy hat to plate dishes for his anxiously awaiting customers. Will they be dazzled by his flair? Or his "petroleum shrimp?"
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What a beautiful moment! Do we see a mentor/mentee relationship in their future?
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Gail and Tom have their game faces on, ready to critique the contestants' dishes with no mercy.
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To add a bit more pressure, the Mayor of Boston is also here! Thanks for stopping by Marty.
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The judges take a moment to mull over the best and worst dishes of the day before heading to Judges Table. Will Padma's spit take send Aaron home? Or will another chef's mistake be more egregious?
