Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner: Inspired, fantastic feast

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner showed that a traditional Thanksgiving feast borrows inspiration from all types of culinary experiences.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner may not have been the chef that viewers would have picked on episode one. Still, the chefs who made it to the Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge finale showed that cooking from the heart always makes for an inspired, fantastic feast.

The first challenge on Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge finale showcased a kitchen problem that many home cooks face on the holiday, lack of cooking space. How many times have you had all the burners filled and the oven at capacity? The key is to think about other kitchen essentials to find a way to cook all that food.

While the home cook might not immediately think about a panni press as a way to cook a Thanksgiving dish, it is a great option. In this pre-heat challenge, two chefs used the panni press in smart ways. Many people have a panni press (or countertop grill). Why not have this kitchen essential on hand to cook a few items for Thanksgiving.

The three chefs in the preheat took classic Thanksgiving flavors and re-invented them with some new cooking techniques. These dishes were inspired yet quite approachable. More importantly, these dishes made the judges hungry for more Thanksgiving food. Isn’t that the goal of a Thanksgiving appetizer?

Looking at the pre-heat, Deborah shined. As a catered, she understands how to cook efficiently with a variety of kitchen essentials as well as present an appetizer that is the perfect bite. Both her savory and her sweet bites were amazing.

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While many people might not think about a bacon wrapped quail on a panni press, this idea can be modified for the home cook. Why not cook a bacon wrapped dish on the panni for Thanksgiving? There are many options for this style dish.

Although many people might not have a fryer at home, the idea of an apple pie in a wonton wrapper was smart. The home cook could create this dessert in a dutch oven. Who wouldn’t want their own individual little apply pie?

Also, her trick of using the microwave to cook the apple pie filling is smart. Even if the home cook used the microwave to cook down apples for another dessert or a dessert topping, this idea saves a lot of time. Try putting some of that apple pie filling on top of vanilla ice cream for an easy, quick holiday dessert.

For all her efforts, Deborah won the pre-heat and the advantage. She got to choose her ingredient, an ingredient served at the first Thanksgiving, in the finale challenge. Could she be named Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner?

Unfortunately, either Darnell or Josh was going to go home after this pre-heat. Looking at both chefs’ plates, the difference between the two plates was clean flavors. Darnell opted for two different, yet straight forward dishes, a Mexican street corn fritter and a pumpkin waffle doughnut. While the dishes weren’t perfection, they were good.

Josh opted to make a savory and a sweet bruschetta. The idea of serving a similar dish could have been his downfall. Sometimes the judges like to see a chef be more creative.

While these dishes used the panni press well, the dishes suffered from a lack of editing. The savory dish had a lot of flavors. Additionally, the sweet bruschetta needed texture. Josh was sent home and did not get to cook in the final challenge.

Either Darnell or Deborah would be crowned Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner. For their final challenge, the chefs had three hours to create the ultimate thanksgiving feast. They had to cook a turkey, a starch side, a vegetable and a dish featuring a protein from the first Thanksgiving. Both chefs took inspiration from their roots and really cooked with heart.

Additionally, a twist was thrown at the chef mid-challenge. Each chef had to create a dessert. While this twist wasn’t announced in the beginning of the three hour challenge, the chefs should have guessed that it was coming. No Thanksgiving meal is complete without dessert.

Deborah created a Thanksgiving dinner inspired by her family holiday feast. A touch of Cajun throughout her meal. From the seasonings on the turkey to her sides, Deborah tied the whole meal together with her theme.

Overall, her approach to the Thanksgiving dinner was more traditional. All the dishes flowed together. While there were a few flaws, her Thanksgiving meal was something that a family would greatly appreciate on the holiday.

Darnell took a more creative approach. Serving Nashville hot turkey legs, he went for bold, brave combinations. Pairing that turkey with an old school potato dish that people haven’t seen since culinary school was quite unusual. Still, his creativity in the kitchen should inspire the home cook to think outside of the box. Why not blend old and new for the holiday.

In the challenge, it was quite interesting that both chef chose to serve greens as their vegetable. Greens aren’t often talked about as a Thanksgiving side dish. Still, when cooked well, greens are a delicious, flavorful dish. Maybe greens could replace green bean casserole on your Thanksgiving table?

Looking at both of the desserts, that twist seemed to be a throw away part of the challenge. While Darnell redeemed himself on his ice cream, neither dish was a huge wow factor.

Actually, Deborah raised a great point. Many people who host Thanksgiving dinner rely on the guests (or the store) to supply dessert. Maybe this challenge should have added another side dish, like stuffing, instead of the dessert component.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner was Darnell. Overall, his meal had a little more creativity than Deborah’s. That innovation seemed to propel him to the win.

Truthfully, I would have been thrilled to eat either one of these dinners. The biggest takeaway from this finale was that the chefs cooked from their heart. It was clear that they were grateful for the opportunity and wanted to share dishes that were meaningful.

While this Food Network show as a fun culinary competition, it showcased an important lesson for any home cook. When you cook from your heart, that meal will always be special. The turkey might not be restaurant quality or the potatoes might have lumps. Still, the love that any cook puts into the food is the best secret ingredient and everyone will taste it.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and congratulations to the Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge winner.