'Top Chef' Recap: 'Fit for a King'

[Top Chef - Season 8 Episode 14]

The contestants arrived at the Bahamas and Antonia, who was emotionally up and down during the season, really wanted to win the title over the money. A less spiky-haired Richard wanted to win as well. Carla arrived and appreciated the scruff that Richard tried to grow. Carla was talked out of cooking her food her last season, but she wanted redemption. Cousin Mikey trained in Washington, D.C. during break and felt stronger and looked fatter in his interview. Tiffany felt like the underdog but she's ready to compete for the title.

The contestants walked into Fort Charlotte where they saw previous winners Stephanie, Kevin, Hosea, and Michael V standing by tables with kitchenware and a mystery box. The quickfire was that the winners from each contestant's season would go head to head. If they beat their season's winner, they would win $10,000, but if the winner won, they would get the money instead. Tom picked the "mystery ingredient" for each of the contestants in a very Iron Chef or Chopped fashion as each station revealed their mystery foods.

Season 4 - Veal
Season 5 - Lamb
Season 6 - Duck
Season 7 - Pork

Carla wanted to do a stew/soup. Tiffany went for flavors. Stephanie had an opportunity to win $20,000 since she had to compete against both Antonia and Richard. Michael V. attempted to use every tool possible to prove he was the best. With 18 minutes left, Richard was afraid that his food was too flavored. Antonia and Carla's burners kept turning off. Carla proceeded to shoot herself in the foot by putting her rice in one pot with her food in hopes that it would cook.

Kevin versus Tiffany: Kevin created a barbecue pork and salad. Tiffany did a pork stew. The vote was unanimous. Winner: Tiffany (3-0)
Hosea versus Carla: Hosea created a braised lamb and polenta. Carla's jolloff raw rice and lamb failed her. Carla may have done better without rice at all. Winner: Hosea (3-0)

Stephanie versus Antonia. Neither Stephanie’s scaloppini nor Antonia's roasted veal were liked by the contestants but Tom and Padma voted for Stephanie to win. Winner: Stephanie (2-1)

Stephanie versus Richard. With all the complaints about Stephanie's dish when it was against Antonia, Richard's dish of seared and veal loins easily took the win. Winner: Richard (3-0)

Michael V. versus Mike I. Michael V. made a duck breast with several elements, but Mike created cashew dusted duck breast. Although the vote seemed close, Padma was the deciding factor. Winner: Mike (2-1)

For the elimination challenge, the contestants had to create a dish for Bahamian Royalty. The contestants headed to the Cove in Atlantis which was their home for the rest of the season. The contestants ran around excited. Carla and Tiffany decided to be roommates again and were discussing eliminations and their food. Richard and Mike roomed together and Richard was confident about wining as he always is. The contestants all toast to their successes, with Carla being the only one with orange juice.

The next day, the contestants had two and a half hours of prep time. There was a lot of stress in the kitchen. Richard wanted to work with a spiny lobster. Antonia wanted to work with an upscale lamb. Carla wanted to use Bahamian influence with Pork Medallions and apple chips; she was filled with self-doubt. Antonia and Carla discussed how anyone could have a bad day, but Carla continued to work hard as possible to prove herself. With eleven minutes left, Mike was upset how the girls played it safe.

As night fell, the contestants got a police escort to a mystery location. The groups drove past a festival of celebrants until the car stopped and the contestants had to walk outside. Mike and the other cheftestants danced around but all sobered up as they saw Tom. He explained that the King of Junkanoo, a man who was celebrating life with a Carnivale/Mardi Gras spirit, was the "royalty" they had to cook for. Ironically, the King of Junkanoo was not an actual panel judge for the episode.

There was a limited kitchen but only one hour to cook. There were fryers, microwaves and a flat top. Antonia tried to cook her plantains and as she was trying to cook, the deep fryer next to her caught on fire.

After the commercial, Richard placed a pan on top of the burners in hopes that it would cover the fire. Everyone didn't know if they should leave, so they tried to cover their food in the kitchen. A fire truck arrived and the contestants were evacuated to the dining area. Antonia was stressed and Richard wanted to mentally play with her as the contestants all waited. Tom took a look at the mess and realized all the food was contaminated.

Tom talked to the contestants and explained that they had to start over at the prep kitchen. Tom pointed out that the contestants could change their dishes if they wished, which upset Tiffany because she had an advantage with something more Caribbean inspired.

The contestants had to re-prep their food. Richard decided to do a different dish: braised lamb and turnip. Antonia decided to change her's as well and do a shrimp and grit. Back at Twin Brothers, the contestants had one hour to cook. The contestants had countertop deep fryers. Carla decided to deep fry her pork. Mike thought it was easier the second time around. Carla checked her pork and realized that the center was raw. She decided to put it on the flattop to cook it well enough.

Padma, Gail, Eric, and Tom arrived along with the King of Junkanoo. With one minute left, Antonia didn't feel right about her dish. Carla thought her dish was as good as it could get. Carla's dish was first; Eric thought the apple was too sweet. Gail's pork was underdone. Antonia's dish got comments about how the shrimp was overcooked. Tom hated the shredded carrots. Mike's sous vide chicken and lobster hash got positive notes about the sauce and the hash. Richard's lamb loin was delicate and though Tom and Eric disagreed, Tom liked the food. Tiffany's pork tenderloin had a good spice and flavor, but Gail thought it was too simplistic. The judges thought that the challenge threw them off, but the fire also spooked the contestants.

The contestants sat and waited in a better stewing area in the Atlantis. The contestants discussed how they didn't feel good about their food. Antonia felt sick to her stomach that she didn't trust her gut. Padma arrived and called all five of the contestants to the judging table.

Padma pointed out that on the whole, several people missed the mark. Tom reminded the chefs how tough the competition would be as they progressed. Carla's game plan was changed minorly because of the fire. Carla's chip had nice texture, but was too sweet. Gail's pork was raw, but Eric had perfectly cooked pork. Antonia thought she could be less stuffy about her dish, but wasn't proud of it. The shrimp was overcooked and dry. Gail thought the meat was a mystery and the grits turned out off because of it. Tiffany's dish wasn't complex enough; Eric thought a sauce would have helped. Mike's flavors were nice and the sauce was good. Gail thought the breast meat was too dry. As for Richard, his pork was cooked correctly, but he was missing an element for Tom. Eric announced that Mike was the winner. He thought that by winning he could mess with Richard's head. Richard was also announced as safe.

During their discussion, the judges pointed out technical problems with each. Gail's pork was bad, the apple was too sweet. Antonia's two elements both had problems. Tiffany's dish wasn't exciting and very middle of the road. After the commercial, the three women stood in front of the judges. Tom pointed out that the chefs needed more spirit and life. Padma announced that Carla was eliminated. Carla wanted to make a dish she was proud of and she left disappointed. She hugged all the contestants and left. Carla learned to accept herself and that was a personal victory.

Next Week: Padma in a bikini, bad swimming, overcooked food.