I have to give it to Top Chef: D.C. this week for having some normal-looking challenges — and it's already episode 5, so it's about time.
For their Quickfire Challenge, the chefs have thirty minutes to butcher and cook some live blue crabs for guest chef Patrick O'Connell (who reminds me of Dick Van Dyke). In the preview video below, the chefs are scrambling to grab their crustaceans; some using tongs, other being stupid ballsy and using their hands. If you're a member of PETA or just queasy about watching your food get slaughtered, I'd suggest that you don't watch the preview video, unless you want to see some live crab executions that don't involve boiling water.
Angelo also reveals that he once had crabs. I'm just going to assume he meant the bad kind, you know, the kind you shouldn't even be admitting to anyone (especially on national television) that you even had.
The Elimination Challenge looks like it's going to turn out to be a drama fest (hooray!). The chef'testants have to work together on one team to cook a meal for 40 local chefs and farmers on an organic farm in Virginia. The catch? They don't get to see their ingredients or equipment until the day of the challenge, thus forcing them to attempt to plan their dishes ahead of time.
Of course, being on one team means that someone is going to feel the need to step it up and take charge. Apparently, Angelo and Shaft (Kenny) both feel the need to be in charge and a power battle ensues. With a heated passion in his eyes, Shaft proclaims that he is the Alpha Male (in the video below) of the pack. If I were Angelo, I'd watch my prissy Latin butt because nobody messes with Shaft.
Check out the preview videos below.
Tune in to Bravo tonight at 9 pm EST/8 pm C, join our Twitter party during the show (Jeff: @JeffHouck, Katie: @culinarypirate), and listen to our podcast here tomorrow! (You can even download us on iTunes!) Check out our fellow Top Chef fanatics, Please Pack Your Knives And Go and All Top Chef, for the latest news (and some laughs).
Videos after the break:
This article appears in Jul 15-21, 2010.