Photo from Top Chef Canada's Facebook Page

And here we are at the penultimate episode my friends! I’m the first to admit, I have a little bit of Top Chef Canada fatigue. I think it was pretty obvious who the final 5 were going to be (see my early prediction from Episode 4; I had them all right except for Andrea), and at this point I’m just ready for the finals.

Let’s talk conspiracy theories first though. Remember a few recaps ago when I wondered if the opening of Dale’s new restaurant was the ultimate *spoiler alert*? Well, at the end of last week, Rob announced on Twitter that he’s leaving Mercatto after two years. So what do we make of this? Connie already has her own joint, so unless she’s sitting on a pile of cash we don’t know about, I think one of the guys is the winner.

Moving on to this week’s episode, it starts with the cheftestants having breakfast with Mark at his restaurant, One. Dustin is super cute talking about how he used to stay home to watch cooking shows! The chefs are paying close attention to Mark, who is talking about the kind of food he cooks at One, and how it’s served family style. Connie loves this, it’s the way she cooks, and of course, Dale’s not having any of it.

Back at the TCC kitchen, and finally, finally, Gail Simmons is in the house. My obsession with Gail is still in its infancy, having only discovered her earlier this year when I was sporadically watching Season 9 of Top Chef.  Love her clothes, love her attitude, love that she’s Canadian, just love. Can’t wait to watch Top Chef: Just Desserts!

The Quickfire this week is super lame, IMHO. The chefs draw knives to select a “well-known” Canadian movie, and I mean honestly, besides My Big Fat Greek Wedding, who has seen, let alone heard of Gingersnaps, Bon Cop Bad Cop or Naked Lunch. Not me, friends! Chefs have to create a dish inspired by these box-office smashes.

Evidently Gingersnaps is a horror movie, and Dale creates a murder scene on a plate: slashed salmon with black squid ink risotto. Gail thought it was seasoned beautifully and loved the violence on the plate. For Naked Lunch, Connie presented a trio of addictive foods: chocolate, peanut brittle and potato chips with truffle oil and parmesan. Gail liked it and said everything was indeed addictive. For Bon Cop Bad Cop, Rob did a duo of shrimp: tempura style for the Bon Cop (everyone likes it), and a spicy spot prawn for the Bad Cop. Gail said he showed great technique. Finally Dusty did some Greek food with a secret love for My Big Fat Greek Wedding: grilled calamari with a hidden lobster salad under a tomato. Gail loved the concept.

The winner is Dale! He gets a 5 minute head start to choose his ingredients for the elimination challenge, which is to cook a 3 course family style meal for a dinner party with Chef McEwan and his friends. Each chef is responsible for a dish at each course.

Judges this week are Mark, Gail, Chef David Lee from Nota Bene, Jacob Richler and Amy Verner. Let’s get it:
 
Course 1:
Dusty – two pasta dishes, one with clams and berkshire bacon, the other angel hair with cherry tomatoes. Judges say: intensity of clams is lacking, the noodles are stuck together, dishes are not constructed well.
Dale – DIY oysters. Judges say: clumsy from the plating to the final ingredients. Gail hated the sauces.
Rob – seared foie gras with french lentils. Judges say: very rich, huge portion, David Lee says the acidity is lacking
Connie – heirloom beet salad with fresh cheese. Judges say: very fresh, classic pairing, Gail loves the cheese.
 
Course 2:
Rob – seared lake perch and gnocchi. Judges say: coordinated well.
Dustin – whole grilled trout. Judges say: technique is not great, fennel is too soft. Rob’s was more professional.
Dale – roasted scallops. David Lee likes the combination. Gail feels like she’s fighting with it.
Connie – lemon roasted chicken. Judges say: chicken is overcooked (it was actually finished in the deep fryer).
 
Course 3:
Dale – rib eye. Judges say: didn’t showcase the qualities of a great steak.
Rob – braised lamb neck. Judges say: well composed, Gail says he took this risk like a chef.
Dustin – roasted fruit salad. Judges say: big mistake. Gail says this was absurd; he used this last chance to wow the judges on a fruit plate.
Connie – chocolate ganache tart with grand marnier blueberry sauce. Judges say: they love it. Mark had two slices.
 
Everyone is called in front of the judges. The winner is the person who delivered the most cohesive, balanced meal.
 
The winner: Rob. Gail thought his lamb dish elevated this family-style meal. He’s in the finals!
 
Then they announce the second chef going to the finals and it is: Connie! She took the challenge head on, her beet salad was dynamite and her menu was beautifully composed.
 
Dale and Dusty get a lecture on how family style doesn’t mean home cooking. Gail wanted Dale to show her how to eat his food; he shouldn’t have done the season-yourself oysters. Dusty’s pasta was sticking together, his trout was hard to serve, and Mark gives him the business that his third course was not a dessert, it was a fruit plate. Gail says he needs to show more skill – there was nothing in these dishes to show who he is. With a chance to state why they want to be in the finals, Dusty says he wants to take the constructive criticism and show improvement in the next effort. Dale wants to showcase what the last 12 years of his life is all about. Food is his life. Ultimately the judges say Dusty had adventurous choices, but failed on execution. Dale chose his ingredients well, but they were served in the wrong format.
 
Going home: Dustin 🙁 In the best parting line of the season, he tells Mark: “Chef, you’re like the father I never had” Too cute.
 
Next time: Finals! Looks like the chefs are headed to a vineyard somewhere in the Niagara region (this is Anna Olson’s ‘hood, will she be there?)
 
So, place your bets below! I would LOVE if Connie was the winner, but I think it’ll be one of the guys, I’m going to say Dale. Are you as obsessed with Gail as I am? I feel like her articulate, intelligent critiques just highlight how much of a doof Shereen is. And what was the last Canadian movie you watched?!