Top Chef - On a budget

Oprah's personal chef is the guest judge for this episode. The quickfire challenge - create a fabulous entree' in 15 minutes using Uncle Ben's microwaveable rice. Some of the dishes were simple yet elegant like Spike's stuffed tomatoes and some were down right different like Antonia's rice salad with skirt steak. Lisa grilled shrimp and sauteed some veggies in tequila. Where was that idea in the last challenge? Antonia wins immunity with her rice salad, the judges were crazy for it. The elimination challenge - make a nutritious, kid friendly meal for 4 with a budget of $10. Now, the chefs are shopping at Whole Foods. Anyone that has set foot in a Whole Foods will tell you $10 will not get you down one of the aisles! All of the chefs go over their $10 budget and have to scale back. Antonia was peeling leaves from her bok choy to make the $10. Andrew actually comes in .28 short and runs off to buy something else. Back at the Top Chef kitchen, the chefs find out they will be getting some help. They get paired up with a child from the Common Thread program, part of the program is to teach children to cook with emphasis on families having dinner together. Spike's kid cuts himself while peeling a carrot so Spike tells him it's good luck. If that's true than I'm leading a charmed life! The chefs really get the kids involved in the cooking with one kid pounding chicken with a skillet making Chef Tom wince & look away unless the kid starts pounding his hand. The kids have to serve other kids, as well as the judges, their dishes and explain what they cooked. When Spike brought out his pasta dish, the kids went crazy. Nikki's one pot chicken and veggies was a hit with kids and judges alike. Stephanie's dish fell short with the judges saying that she was typical restaurant chef who doesn't cook much at home. That and the combination of peanut butter and tomato didn't fly. I love peanut butter but please hold the tomato! Who ever heard of a PB&T? Antonia wins elimination with her whole wheat noodle and vegetable stir fry. She's two for two in this episode. For once, Dale nor Richard ended up in the top three. They're slipping. Mark ends up in the bottom three, again and thinks it's because Chef Tom doesn't like him. Chef Tom was very surprised to hear this. Lisa also can't figure out why she is in the bottom three. The judges tell her it's because her dish is bland which she totally disagrees. The judges couldn't get past Stephanie's peanut butter and tomato and put her in the bottom three. Mark's sloppy vegetable curry earns him a pack your knives and go with Chef Tom reassuring him that he does like him. Sorry Mark, it's back to New Zealand and more cooking lessons! Double D