Top Chef Gets Sporty and Bookish

New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski is a hungry man. Muscles like that require serious grub.

Watch out when this NFL beast shakes your hand Mei! He's got a tough grip.

But this episode wasn't just about sports, the chefs also had to brush up on their classic literature.

Boston chef Tony Maws wants the chefs to tackle creating a dish that is inspired by a work of a famous New England author.

Mei surveys the kitchen for vegetables worthy of her inspiration, Henry David Thoreau.

Katsuji starts prepping his sausage for Gronk -- once he stops talking about how huge Gronk's muscles are.

Making sausage isn't easy, but Mei's got some determination in those eyes.

Melissa worries her sausages are too wee for such a large appetite.

Would you call this a "sausage party"? Or just a lot of chefs working the grill?

Melissa finishes her plating just time for the buzzer (but an NFLer should be used to the time crunch).

Katsuji makes this look easy. He's practically got a hand tied behind his back.

Hands up, sausages down!

Rob tastes Melissa's sausage. Will it be enough to help him get ready for a big day of play?

George's sausage isn't technically sausage-shaped (he made patties), but it's breakfast-inspired style does have Rob pretty pleased.

Padma goes long. . .ish.

When the biggest NFL player you can imagine has a craving, you simply must satisfy. Luckily, Padma and Rob Gronkowski wanted the same thing: big sausage

VIDEO: Watch Rob issue his hungry man challenge again!

The chefs line up at the Top Chef library.

This is the most adorable study group we've ever seen. Katsuji and Gregory dive deep for inspiration.

The chefs compare Cliffs Notes on their authors, and try to sort out how best to bring the page to the plate.

Melissa's Nathaniel Hawthorne-based dish needs to feel both vegetable-focused and hearty.

Doug doesn't have a wide breadth of knowledge about Emily Dickinson, but he thinks his carrot soup will bring her idea of "sunset in a cup" to life.

Padma strikes a pose with the big guy. She looks so small!

Changed from her football ready threads, Padma is prepared to dine on works of great scholarly significance.

Tom visits the chefs in the kitchen to see if they are doing their "homework."

Tom and Tony question Gregory about how he's going to bring The Raven into his dish.

George needed a lot of fish to get across the idea of Dr. Seuss' One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

The judges are ready to dine -- and to learn!

But will Tom be pleased with these tome-inspired meals?

Gregory's interpretation is surprisingly missing much bird, but the judges still find it respectable.

Francis Lam discusses the finer points of fine literature and fine food.

If this book club is accepting new (hungry) members, we are ready to apply.

George discusses his Seussian dish -- but the chefs aren't feeling that it's whimsical enough. Thankfully his immunity keeps him safe.

Padma looks pensive. Perhaps she's reflecting on these weighty works?

We don't know Tom's favorite book, but we do know that he'd throw the book at any of the chefs who don't come up to the task.

The chefs await their fate. Who will be eliminated?

That's a good looking group of judges!

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The Dishes: Literature and Sausages