As the chefs hit the 10-hour mark, the tiredness has started to impact their focus. With artistry being the first theme of the challenge, the visual is just as important as the taste. In this challenge. Some chefs had a vision, and others lost sight of the task at hand.
While there are many more challenges to complete in order to win the 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing title, the artistry component might be the most difficult for the chefs to master. Although no one plates a brown schmear or grey stuff, chefs focus on flavor. A visually compelling plate is a secondary factor to great tasting food.
For the first challenge, the chefs had to create a work of art out of every day produce. The twist was that the judge would never taste anything on the plate. The challenge was solely based on the visual.
This concept caused the chefs to struggle. While they all know how to create textures, and gorgeous colorful dishes, this challenge was less about a well composed plate. It was a crafting challenge. Even Stephanie Izard mentioned that this concept was something similar that she would do with her son.
Some of the dishes were quite pretty. The majority of chefs took very different approaches to the challenge. Stephanie went all in with the arts and crafts vibe. Damarius went more abstract with her approach.
Since not a bite of food was eaten, it was all subjective and how the visual appealed to the judge, Fariyal Abdullahi. She loved Elia’s nod to Frida Kahlo and her explanation made sense. In some ways, this reference and approach led perfectly into the next challenge. Elia won the challenge, $2,400, and the ability to pick and assign the themes in the next challenge.
Unfortunately, Sawyer’s dish was a big miss. While his reference to a Rothko painting had merit, he did not execute that vision well. Or, maybe the color block reference was just a little too abstract. As the worst dish, he lost five minutes of cooking time in the next challenge.
In the artistry elimination shift on 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing, the chefs had to create a dish based on a particular well-known painting. As the winner of the previous shift, Elia picked her painting, a Monet water lily. Then, she randomly assigned paintings to the other chefs.
Unlike the first challenge, the chefs’ dishes would be judged both on the visual and the flavor. While still subjective, it helped many of the chefs. Sometimes the true magic of food is where all the senses intersect.
Some chefs had a clear vision. Others had paintings that were not easy to interpret onto the plate. For example, Damarius was clearly at a disadvantage with her painting. Interpreting the classic pairing of a girl with a pearl is not that visually engaging. Other than an obvious pearl reference, it is hard to find a way to make brown tones appealing.
The most curious outcome was how Sawyer went from the bottom to the top. His trip through the forest delivered visually and with flavor. Shocking him and others, Sawyer won the challenge, and he got the Golden Knife.
Unfortunately, Damarius was the chef sent home on this challenge. It was a one-point difference between her dish and Kathleen O'Brien-Price. Given that Damarius had a much more difficult painting to interpret, she should have been given a little more deference. Additionally, the dish was not bad. Again, like art, judging is subjective.
As the chefs left for the breakroom, another twist was waiting for them. Although they all could use a nap, or at least a little break, they would not be quite so fortunate. They were about to get the scoop on the next challenge.
The next challenge required the chefs to turn ice cream into a dessert. While they were provided with the ice cream, they could only use the food in the breakroom as the other ingredients, plus any staples on their station.
Sawyer was able to pick and assign ice cream flavors. It was clear that some chefs received good flavors and others were left scrambling. Poor Kevin Lee received mint chocolate chip, and he was less than pleased.
Overall, the desserts were good. Judge Brooke Williamson found that many of the offerings were creative and well-composed. There were some questionable choices, but that scenario was expect due to the limited ingredients.
Her favorite dish was clear as soon as she made a teasing comment. She picked Bryan Voltaggio’s tiramisu, which was a lovely transformation of the coffee ice cream. Her slight teasing of the plating gave it away that he would win.
As the next Golden Knife holder, he was able to take a break. Given that the chefs are almost at the halfway point, rest is coveted. As Stephanie Izard spoke to the cameras, the brain fog is starting to take effect.
Bryan was able to take three more chefs to the break room with him. He picked Sawyer, Kelsey, and Kathleen. It was clear he picked chefs that he thought that he could be or are not as strong as other competitors. The concept was smart gamesmanship, but nothing is ever simple on 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing.
The remaining five chefs had to create an elevated, five star entrée from traditional lumberjack breakfast food items. With two minutes to shop the ingredients and not knowing that they did were not making breakfast, this challenge was a mental one. A similar challenge with plenty of rest would be easy.
Since this part of the challenge focused on adaptability, another twist was waiting. During the challenge, Michael Symon turned off the gas. Chefs do not appreciate losing that cooking method. But, there were other options, like the oven or the deep frier
For the most part, the chefs stayed in their wheelhouse. They were able create flavor and textures with their dish. The food might not be ready for their restaurants’ menus, but they were good.
Unfortunately, Elia made a steak tartare but it was under-seasoned. The dish was well-made, but the lack of salt was a big issue, especially with a tartare. When Brooke Williamson called the dish dull, it was clear that Elia was in trouble. She was eliminated.
The episode ended with another twist. With eight chefs remaining, Bryan’s Golden Knife breakroom decision has come back to haunt him. Those four chefs along with the four chefs who survived the lumberjack breakfast challenge were placed into two teams. It seems that the Golden Knife is not a golden ticket after all.
Be sure to watch the next episode of 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network. Episodes can be streamed the next day on MAX.