'Top Chef' Recap: 'Give Me Your Huddled Masses'

[Top Chef – Season 8 Episode 12]

Richard wanted to go to the end with Dale so he was disappointed that he was eliminated. Tiffany was eliminated at this point last season, so she's happy that she received a second chance. At the bar, Mike couldn't even think. Antonia called her daughter and made sure that she's doing well. No one wanted to celebrate yet because they were still a step away from the final eliminations.

The contestants worried about the next challenge. Antonia thought Padma would show up and out of nowhere Padma showed up in the house. She brought the contestants up to the roof. For the quickfire challenge, the contestants headed to Ellis Island. On the boat there the contestants had to assemble a dish from the fast food concession stand and to time them they had only the boat's traveling distance. The challenge was started by the boat's horn and after tensely waiting, the horn finally blew and the contestants ran for whatever food they could grab. There was no real equipment, so everyone was worried. Tiffany decided to make nachos; Antonia decided to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Richard pulled out an MRE bag that's normally used for army troops. Carla decided to make an orange salad in hopes she could differentiate herself from everyone else. Mike decided to make a bread soup. Carla was convinced that Richard just made a glorified hot dog. The boat finally showed up at the dock while Tiffany decided to make popcorn with dried fruit to add to her nachos.

Padma arrived with Dan Barber. He's a fan of local/sustainable food, so Dan judging processed bagged chips seemed an odd choice. Richard worked with Dan during his season, but that didn't change Dan's judging. Tiffany's nachos and popcorn didn't impress Mike. Mike's peasant soup sounded odd, Antonia pointed out that the contestants were trying to pimp their foods to sound better. Richard felt confident, since his food was so different from the rest of the contestants.

Tiffany's dish was a throwaway, Richard was creative, Mike's soup was bad, Antonia got compliments for grilling, and Carla got compliments about how refreshing her salad was. Dan announced that the winner was Carla. Richard was bitter about the competition; but it seemed like he's always been a bit sour when he never won.

Padma pointed out that this episode was the last elimination challenge in New York. Padma explained the elimination challenge: cook food with roots from their ancestry. Carla knew that her heritage had some African slaves, but she still was proud of her heritage. A genealogist researched their family heritage and someone would come to help them do research. Suddenly, the contestants' family members showed up and instantly the contestants were brought to tears. Richard and Carla had their significant others arrive. Mike, Tiffany, and Antonia had their mothers join them. Richard found out that he's mostly English and Irish and several of his ancestors had parallels to his life (like chemist). Tiffany got a Texas/Louisiana family so she considered okra, even though Tom hated okra. Carla had a great-great grandfather in the Civil War who ran his own business; she decided to do a real southern dish. Mike had an Italian family, though his mother thought he looked a bit Irish. Antonia found a revelation that Mike was distantly related and she realized why they had such a weird connection to each other. Antonia saw her great grandfather and realized how hard working he was and it paralleled her own work ethic.

The contestants had a 30 minute time limit to shop at Whole Foods. While Richard was worried about not having Italian heritage, Carla wanted to make sure that her heritage was proud. Back at Brooklyn One, Antonia and Mike hugged thinking about being cousins the whole time; Antonia and Mike joked about how they bickered like relatives. Mike was in dance school in the '70s, which the girls giggled about.

In the morning, Carla and Tiffany wanted to make sure the women stood strong. The contestants found a DVD and keys to a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. In the video Padma pointed out that the winner in this challenge would win a Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The contestants started to cook their food and interestingly everyone thought of braising their food. Carla decided to make braised pork shoulder with baked grits. Carla even used liquid nitrogen which made Richard smile because she was pushing her boundaries. Tiffany wanted to make braised short ribs, with several sides including an okra/rice combo. Antonia wanted to do a braised veal with risotto. Richard wanted to do a braised short rib. Mike decided to do an Italian family recipe that also involved a braised meat.

There were 30 minutes left and Carla's biscuits didn't look right. Antonia's risotto needed to be the right consistency. In the last few minutes, Antonia was super focused on getting everything done. The judges and the cheftestants' family members sat down and discussed their meeting between the family and contestants. Time finished and Mike was first to present, he explained potato gnocchi with his braised pork. Tom liked the gnocchi and Dan appreciated it. Antonia's risotto and braised veal was inspired by a '60s wife cooking for a husband. There was a levity and nice zest in the food; Tom loved the flavor. Tiffany was having moments of deja vu with the okra. After she left the table, Tiffany's mom loved the dish. Padma loved the pig's feet; Tom pointed out that he loved the non-slimy okra. Richard's dish followed, with a steak and potatoes. Tom thought the food was "all right." Carla's husband came from match.com, but behind the scenes Carla worried that her dish didn't look as beautiful as she'd like it to be.

Carla was last to present and got compliments for the grits. Dan loved the shoulder because of its moisture. The judges were quite worried about elimination. The chefs went out and the judges thanked them for the meal. The loved ones made their final words with their loved ones and Richard's wife tried her best to calm him down. They hugged and kissed and headed to the stew room.

The final five shared a drink and the contestants discussed that the final five were all good. Padma called all five contestants to judges' table. The judges talked about how proud they were of all of them. Carla got compliments with the broth and the passing of (and eating) cheddar biscuits were great. Tom thought the corn was a bit tough, but everything worked well together. Richard didn't want to be what he called Epcot Center with his food; Dan saw the thoughtfulness, Tom thought the flavors made sense. Antonia's risotto had a great texture and the veal was tender. Tiffany's okra was successful for Tom. Dan felt the love. Mike's gnocchi got compliments and the food was rich but not too heavy. Mike was in tears because he didn't want to be reminded of his grandmother.

The contestants complimented Mike about connecting food. Carla knows when people put emotion in their food. At the judges table, Tom loved Antonia's dish; Gail thought the veal was a tad bit too salty. Mike's dish was great, but it may have been a bit meat heavy. Richard's execution was perfect to Dan, but Padma wanted a bit more greens on the plate. Carla's broth was great and got compliments for the grit-cake; she got compliments for using liquid nitrogen. Tiffany's dish had her home moment, but she had a bit too many "accessories" according to Tom.

The chefs stood in front of the judges and Dan announced that the winner of the challenge was Antonia. Padma announced that the finale would take place in the Bahamas. Antonia was followed by Mike and both left for the stew room. The two cousins celebrated in the background. Tiffany's dish was good, but may have had too much. Richard's story was great. Carla had great sauce, but a small issue with the vegetables. Padma faked out Richard and he was safe.

Carla and Tiffany were the two left and after the commercial break Padma announced that both were going to the Bahamas. Yep, the whole episode was moot.