Claudette was in the bottom half of the rankings, so her elimination isn’t totally out of the blue. Let’s rank the remaining 13 chefs and see where they land this week.
13. Rogelio Garcia- Rogelio had a bad dish in the quick fire, and then tanked again in the elimination challenge. I predicted this guy to go home first, and he didn’t. But now, I think an early elimination is still due, and if anyone is going to go home in a double elimination episode, he’s bound to be one of them.
12. Adrienne Cheatham- Adrienne was a tour de force on the mise en place quick fire challenge. Unfortunately, she tanked again in the elimination challenge. If this keeps up, she’s eventually going to be the weakest one in the elimination challenge, so I definitely worry for her chances in the game. But knowing there is a sudden death quick fire elimination this week, she has been consistent in the quick fires, thus taking the penultimate spot this week.
11. Tu David Phu- Tu started this game off strong, but has since then put up some bad food. He and Joe’s dish was the worst of the night, and had they not been on the winning team, they’d be going home. I think Tu’s days are numbered unless he can really bring it this week and secure himself to be the contender we thought he could be.
10. Tyler Anderson- Tyler did exactly what I thought he would do this week, and lost the momentum that he had at the beginning of the season. Like Tu, he had a great first showing then started to deteriorate as the second episode went on. I think he came off very strong and confident, but this week took a big blunder to Tyler’s game. Tyler will need to ground himself and get himself back on his feet before he can win any more challenges.
9. Joe Sasto- Joe is proven to be a leader, and wants to lead. But with leadership comes the biggest weight on the shoulders. Joe and Tu’s dish was God-awful and if Joe hadn’t had such a successful team showing, Joe could have very well gone home.
8. Carrie Baird- Carrie won the challenge this week, thanks to some killer dumplings. Carrie is so likable, so I was so happy to see her succeed. I still don’t know if she could keep it up, as this dumpling seemed like it was in her comfort zone, but I do think she has the potential to be something great.
7. Bruce Kalman- Bruce was consistent in both the challenges this week, and I think people are intimidated by him, which always means you’re the real deal. While I’m still not 100% sold on Bruce, I can definitely respect what he’s done this far.
6. Brother Luck- Brother was on top for the quick fire, and was one of the favorites on the losing team for the elimination challenge. I had my doubts, but I think my faith is restored, and I think Brother can still be a contender in this competition.
5. Fatima Ali- Fatima keeps getting high praise for her dishes, so I have no doubts she’s in it to win it, and could be here till the end.
4. Laura Cole- Laura was one of my favorite people to watch this week. Her team shot almost every idea of her’s down, and weren’t including her on any of the decision making, but she turned around and delivered a knockout dish, with Fatima’s help. She made the best out of a crappy situation, and it only made Joe look worse when Joe’s dish with Tu was one of the worst on the team, and Laura’s was one of the best. Good for Laura. I think she’ll be someone we root for this season.
3. Joseph Flamm- Joseph won the quick fire, and his agnolotti with Bruce was one of the judge’s favorites dishes of the night, despite being on the losing team. I think he had one of the best nights out of anyone there.
2. Tanya Holland- Tanya and Christopher made Padma’s favorite dessert in Top Chef history, so I think that earns her a spot pretty high on the leaderboard.
1. Christopher Scott- Similarly to Tanya, he was part of making the best dessert in the show’s history (supposedly). I think Christopher, however, has a better chance than Tanya does because of how much screen time he’s getting comparatively. Chris is one of my favorites, and has a humbleness but a confidence that I like. For that, he gets the top spot of the day.
There are lots of great chefs on this season, but based on what we’ve seen, the bottom seems to be Adrienne, Rogelio, Tu, Tyler, and Joe are the ones in the most danger.
Claudette was in the bottom half of the rankings, so her elimination isn’t totally out of the blue. Let’s rank the remaining 13 chefs and see where they land this week.