After last week’s emotional conclusion, when Maria Mazon was told to pack her knives and go and Jamie Tran offered to leave so Maria could stay, “Top Chef” Portland returned Thursday night with an episode that revolved around the ultimate comfort food, cheese.
Vitaly adds that actual travelers on the historic Oregon Trail had to prepare food with no access to refrigeration or other modern comforts.
Vitaly, Gregory and Padma sample the dishes, and declare that Dawn’s porridge tastes too fishy, Shota’s salmon is too dry, but they love Gabe and Jamie’s dishes.
Elimination Challenge: Guest judges Dale Talde and Edward Lee come out to join Padma in describing the elimination challenge.
The creamery makes 160,000 pounds of cheese per day, she adds, informing the chefs that they’ll be getting a tour of the creamery.
Since Jamie won the Quickfire, she gets an extra 30 minutes to cook.
The chefs are greeted by Liam Wustenberg, technical cheese manager, and, after suiting up in masks, plastic bonnets and other protective gear, they get a tour, and see how the cheese is made.
In an interview segment, Dawn says she feels her skills haven’t always been appreciated, because not only is she a woman in the kitchen, she’s also a Black woman.
When it’s time to prepare their dishes, Jamie opts for sea bass, which sounds iffy, since fish and cheese don’t usually work well together.
Head judge Tom Colicchio walks through the kitchen, and asks the chefs about what they’re making.
First to serve is Shota, who says he employed traditional Japanese techniques, but was able to use cheddar in five ways.
Gabe presents cheddar oil-roasted apples, white cheddar foam, cheese curds, apple bacon cheddar sauce and cheese and apple crisp.
The “Top Chef” Portland judges and guest diners at Tillamook Creamery, sample food prepared by Dawn Burrell.
Dawn, who asks Jamie for help — Jamie has also already helped Shota — says in an interview segment, “I am tired of racing the clock, and I still have not done my gougeres.
Serving her dish, Dawn tells the judges she was inspired by cheesesteaks, a signature item in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, one of the plates — for guest diner Brooke Williamson — is missing a gougere.
Jamie, in the kitchen, says, “Now I’ve got to focus on myself, I was helping other people,” and time got away from her.
Judges’ Table: Tom, Gail, Padma, Dale and Edward deliver the news.
The judges discuss whether Dawn leaving a gougere off one plate means she should be sent home., especially since these kinds of mistakes keep happening.
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