D.C.'s Dearly Departed | Top Chef Photos

Episode 3: Capitol Grill

Final dish: Maple Mousse Napoleon with Crisp Macadamia Nut and Vanilla Sauce

The verdict: “John admitted to us that he does not excel at pastry, that he does not have the confidence to make his own dough, so what was he doing making that dish in the first place? It doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t reflect who he is.” – Gail Simmons

Final dish: Maple Mousse Napoleon with Crisp Macadamia Nut and Vanilla Sauce

The verdict: “John admitted to us that he does not excel at pastry, that he does not have the confidence to make his own dough, so what was he doing making that dish in the first place? It doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t reflect who he is.” – Gail Simmons

Famous last words: “I’d like to get back on the show again, because I didn’t even really have a chance to pull a knife out of my bag.”

Final dish: Pineapple Red Curry Mussels with Squid Ink Pasta & Focaccia

The verdict: “Squid ink scares a lot of people. And the pasta was not cooked. It’s too bad because that pasta could have absorbed a lot of the sauce and connected the dots between the beautiful sauce and the mussels and the pasta.” – Eric Ripert

Final dish: Pineapple Red Curry Mussels with Squid Ink Pasta & Focaccia

The verdict: “Squid ink scares a lot of people. And the pasta was not cooked. It’s too bad because that pasta could have absorbed a lot of the sauce and connected the dots between the beautiful sauce and the mussels and the pasta.” – Eric Ripert

Famous last words: “Considering that I haven’t been actively cooking in six years, I think I did pretty well. I knew I wasn’t going to make it to the end.”

Final dish: Pineapple Red Curry Mussels with Squid Ink Pasta & Focaccia

The verdict: “Mussels and squid ink pasta is a hard sell on a hotel menu.” – Padma Lakshmi

Famous last words: “The only thing I regret is not being able to wear my suit for Restaurant Wars.”

Final dish: Pineapple Red Curry Mussels with Squid Ink Pasta & Focaccia

The verdict: “Mussels and squid ink pasta is a hard sell on a hotel menu.” – Padma Lakshmi

Famous last words: “The only thing I regret is not being able to wear my suit for Restaurant Wars.”

Final dish: Italian Sausage Slider, Tomato, Cucumber & Red Onion Salad

The verdict: “That’s something that you got 30 years ago in the backwoods somewhere when they were trying to do I-talian food. It’s like, what the hell?” – Tom Colicchio

Final dish: Italian Sausage Slider, Tomato, Cucumber & Red Onion Salad

The verdict: “That’s something that you got 30 years ago in the backwoods somewhere when they were trying to do I-talian food. It’s like, what the hell?” – Tom Colicchio

Famous last words: “Fair is fair. I made a s****y dish. I knew before I even made the dish. I knew in prep I’m screwed. I got hot dog rolls and hamburgers. What the hell are you going to do with that?”

Final dish: Banana Pudding with Skim Milk; Strawberries & Strawberry Sauce

The verdict: “That banana pudding was just unpalatable, it had so much sugar. I felt like I was eating pure sugar.” – guest judge Sam Kass

Famous last words: “It got petty really fast, and I was surprised. I did not expect people to do that.”

Final dish: Banana Pudding with Skim Milk; Strawberries & Strawberry Sauce

The verdict: “That banana pudding was just unpalatable, it had so much sugar. I felt like I was eating pure sugar.” – guest judge Sam Kass

Famous last words: “It got petty really fast, and I was surprised. I did not expect people to do that.”

Final dish: Roasted Turnips & Asparagus with Honey

The verdict: “At the end, I think what we have to look at is that it didn’t taste like anything.” – Eric Ripert

Final dish: Roasted Turnips & Asparagus with Honey

The verdict: “At the end, I think what we have to look at is that it didn’t taste like anything.” – Eric Ripert

Famous last words: “I think out of the three that were there – myself, Amanda and Stephen – I think both their dishes got criticized worse, but her dish was the worst. She just knows how to act. She’s Hollywood. She got the Oscar that night, and I got sent the hell home.”

Final dish: Scallops with Pickled Rhubarb, Cilantro, Basil and Long Pepper in Rhubarb Jus

The verdict: “I thought it was shockingly bad.” – Tom Colicchio

Famous last words: “There are a couple things I would change, but I do stand behind my dish.”

Final dish: Scallops with Pickled Rhubarb, Cilantro, Basil and Long Pepper in Rhubarb Jus

The verdict: “I thought it was shockingly bad.” – Tom Colicchio

Famous last words: “There are a couple things I would change, but I do stand behind my dish.”

Final dish: Swordfish with “Risotto-Style” Cous-Cous, Asparagus and Beurre Blanc

The verdict: “Just because you as a chef do not eat these foods, that doesn’t give you the excuse to do them poorly.” – guest judge Art Smith

Famous last words: “The mustard and the vanilla bean is something that I’ve done before and has been successful, not that that’s an excuse.”

Final dish: Swordfish with “Risotto-Style” Cous-Cous, Asparagus and Beurre Blanc

The verdict: “Just because you as a chef do not eat these foods, that doesn’t give you the excuse to do them poorly.” – guest judge Art Smith

Famous last words: “The mustard and the vanilla bean is something that I’ve done before and has been successful, not that that’s an excuse.”

Final dish: Flank Steak in Chimichurri Sauce with Black Beans and Rice

The verdict: “That garlic was so pungent, and that rice was mushy, it was mealy. It was not done well.” – Gail Simmons

Famous last words: “I’m disappointed with my fatal errors. To go home on cooking techniques is probably the hardest thing.”

Final dish: Flank Steak in Chimichurri Sauce with Black Beans and Rice

The verdict: “That garlic was so pungent, and that rice was mushy, it was mealy. It was not done well.” – Gail Simmons

Famous last words: “I’m disappointed with my fatal errors. To go home on cooking techniques is probably the hardest thing.”

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