COMPETING WITH KNIVES

Say 'Adieu' To The French Chef: A Top Chef Recap

IT'S MIKE V.'S TURN TO REFLECT ON THE CHEFS REMAINING. HE FEELS LIKE A LOT OF TALENTED CHEFS HAVE BEEN SENT PACKING WHILE MEDIOCRE ONES LIKE ROBIN HAVE SURVIVED. And he's ever confident that he's one of the contest's best cooks.

Mattin is still fuming about being at the bottom of the French challenge last week. I'd be upset too if I were a French yet couldn't do well at French cooking. For shame!

For the Quickfire Challenge, guest judge Tim Love will decide who has the best dish using the ingredient cactus. Mike I. wins with his cactus and tuna ceviche with pipian dish. His reward is 15 grand but he gets no immunity. Tough luck, fella.

For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to make a high-end meal for two dozen cowboys. Their cooking stations will be at the ranch so they don't know what equipment will be available. The challenge is intended to show who can cook with the most creativity.

The chefs soon find out that the "ranch" is a campground, and the "kitchen" adds up to four 4 fire pits and a grill, some cast iron pans, and for their bathroom needs -- an outhouse. Hope somebody remembered the hand sanitizer!

And the winner is… third time winner Bryan for his roasted pork loin, corn polenta, dandelion greens and glazed rutabaga dish. Yum. I can taste it through the telly. Bryan gloats about winning more than his brother Mike V.

And for his raw ceviche, Mattin's gets told to pack his knives. Note to chefs: if Tom Colicchio spits out your food, you're probably going home.

Nicki R. is a Southern girl living in the big city of Chicago. She loves quiet evenings a home watching horror films with her dogs Jezebelle and Zombie. Check out her blog, Hey, Look Behind You!