As all 32 chefs prepare for their first-round battles, Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 1 brings together favorites, newcomers, and one chef who is switching from judge to competitor. With another brutal Randomizer twist, these chefs needed to be ready to compete or they went home.
A new twist to TOC Season 6 was that the regions were removed. It was unclear if the regionally divided brackets were an advantage or disadvantage. Now that it is just totally random, the idea is to ensure that everyone has an even chance.
Additionally, the first round competitions were all timed at 30 minutes. But, the Randomizer had another twist, the Wild Card. This element was meant to throw the chefs off.
For Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 1, Bracket A had four first round battles. The first one saw Rocco DiSpirito take on Tim Love. The two experienced chefs know their way around culinary competitions. Although DiSpirito had been a TOC judge, it would not ensure him success.
The Randomizer offered flank steak, rainbow carrots, food mill, breaded and canned pineapple. As Alton Brown said many years ago, pineapple is the food competition kiss of death. Canned pineapple is even worst.
Overall, both chefs did a good job to hid the processed flavor of the pineapple. Love made a flank steak curry. Overall, the dish had great balanced of acidity and sweet. The biggest criticism was whether it was a curry dish with a breaded flank steak or really a breaded dish.
DiSpirito made a breaded flank steak with pineapple, carrots, and herbs. The judges felt that the plate had a lot of work and appreciated the use of the Randomizer ingredients.
In close score, DiSpirito won over Love with a score of 83 to 80. It was the application of the Randomizer that earned the higher score. Maybe that experience as a judge served him well.
For the second battle of Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 1, Kevin Lee took on Kasey Thompson. Last season, Lee made a huge splash.
The Randomizer offered boneless pork chops, portobello mushrooms, creamy, air fryer and bread and butter pickles. While pickle flavor has infiltrated many food items, that twist should not be hard for the chefs. Plus, all these ingredients seem to work well together.
Lee made a duet of creamy with both portabella gravy and a creamy polenta over the air fryer pork. Additionally, he used most ingredients in two ways. The portobello bacon was a cute play on the challenge. The judges appreciated that his strategy.
Thompson made a fennel dusted crispy pork. The judges felt that it was a good earthy dish, but the creaminess was a little suspect. Overall, it was good, but it did not address the challenge as well.
In the end, Lee beat Thompson with a score of 83 to 81. Kevin Lee could make another run. Based on this first round, he has figured out the solution to the Randomizer.
For the third battle, Adam Sobel took on qualifier winner Adriana Urbina. Last season, Adam Sobel had never competed before and almost made the finale. He understands the nuance of the food competition.
In their round, the chefs had to use littleneck clams, broccolini, smashed, blow torch and black tea. Black tea was a difficult twist and did not necessarily go with these ingredients.
The judges appreciated Sobel’s dish, but it was not plated well. The clams, smashed potatoes needed a better vessel to better enjoy it. Additionally, the black tea steeped too much and became bitter.
Urbina’s plate felt rushed and unfinished. The judges felt that she had four ideas on the plate that never came together. It needed something to connect the clams and tostones to make a cohesive dish.
Even with a few missteps, Sobel beat Urbina with a score of 79 to 71. It goes to show that these dishes need to have a plan. It cannot be just a bunch of ingredients thrown on a plate.
The final battle of Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 1 featured Antonio Lofaso against Maria Mazon. The Randomizer offered chicken breast, leeks, donut pan, herbaceous, and yellow mustard. The two dishes were very different.
Lofaso has wanted the TOC title and this dish proved she is on her way. Even though she forgot the fried leek garnish, the dish had deep flavor and used most required elements twice. It was earthy, but some judges felt that a bright herbaceous note would have been beneficial.
Mazon made a yellow mustard ranchero chicken breasts. The dish had a messy visual, but a lot of complexity. Overall, it was good but it needed something more. Plus, the chicken was a little dry.
With the highest score of the competition so far, Antonio Lofaso’s 86 beat Mazon’s 82. Is it Lofaso’s season? Everyone will have to watch and see.
Will the B Bracket bring as many exciting battles? Be sure to watch Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network or stream the next day on MAX.