23×6: Going Whole Hog
There’s no Quickfire Challenge this week as the chefs take on a Carolina classic: whole-hog barbecue. Splitting into teams of two, they gear up for a head-to-head battle showcasing five key cuts of the hog. Before their Elimination Challenge begins, they venture to Charlotte and Lexington to experience Carolina BBQ at its source. Then it’s an all-night cook where the heat is on as they’ll not only need to impress the judges, but also “Top Chef” alum and Pitmaster Michelle Wallace and a group of local pitmasters from across the state.
(non) quickfire challange: make s’mores for Tom
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Oscar
prize: $500
elimination challenge: In two teams of five, smoke a whole hog and then go head to head. The winner of each head to head wins $5000. The team that wins the most rounds is safe from elimination and will each take home an additional $500.
guest judges: Michelle Wallace (Top Chef S21) and 15 pitmasters including Matthew Barry (Midwood Smokehouse), Bryan Furman (Bryan Furman BBQ), Keith “Uncle Bub” Wright (Lexington Barbecue), Erica Roby (Blue Smoke Blaire’s), Sam Jones (Sam Jones BBQ & Skylight Inn BBQ), and Lewis Donald (Sweet Lew’s)
team Anthony: Laurence, Brandon, Sherry, Duyen
team Justin: Jen, Sieger, Jonathan, Oscar
shoulder: Sherry vs Justin
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Sherry
loin: Laurence vs Sieger
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Laurence
belly: Brandon vs Jonathan
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Brandon
ham: Anthony vs Jen
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Jen
chopped: Duyen vs Oscar
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Oscar
top team: [Spoiler (click to open)] team Anthony
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Laurence
bottom team: [Spoiler (click to open)] team Justin
bottom chefs: [Spoiler (click to open)] Justin, Jonathan, Sieger
eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Sieger
After shopping for the elimination challenge, both teams were given an additional money to buy more ingredients but they weren’t told what they were for. Both teams assumed they would have to trade with the other team and chose “adventurous” ingredients. Rhoda, Brittany, and Nana were given these ingredients for Last Chance Kitchen. For unexplained reasons, Sieger did not participate in LCK so the other three eliminated chefs cooked for a $5000 prize.
ingredients: duck heads, coriander, bitter melon, shrimp & crab boil, strawberry jellies, fish sauce, fried fish with peanuts, liver spread, Korean melon, pickled Vietnamese eggplant, li hing mui, durian, banana flowers
Rhoda: li hing mui and fish sauce
Nana: fried fish with with peanuts and coriander
Brittany: Korean melon and shrimp & crab boil
In addition, all three chefs must use duck heads and pickled Vietnamese eggplant (chosen by Tom)
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)] Nana
prize: $5000
Kristen Kish interview
