As the chefs go into the next round, the competition gets even more heated. Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 5 saw some creative approaches to the Randomizer. Still, one truth remains constant in this Food Network competition. The chef who plays the game best will always earn a win.
For the first battle of the episode, Lee Anne Wong battled Jonathon Sawyer. This first battle offered grouper, parsnips, meat slicer, and smoking gun. The wild card offered move one down. That changed smoking gun to meat slicer. These required ingredients created an equal playing field for both chefs.
Jonathon Sawyer created a grouper tostada. The judges appreciated the double use of parsnips. Overall, the dish felt like high-end street food. While the flavor succeeded, the judges would have preferred a slightly more high-end presentation.
Lee Anne Wong offered a roasted grouper with parsnip puree. The judges felt that the dish nailed the Randomizer. Although one grouper was slightly undercooked, the high-end sauce was a highlight.
In a very close battle, 84 to 83, Lee Anne Wong beat Jonathon Sawyer. The presentation between the two dishes earned Chef Lee Anne the win. With all her experience, she could make a run at the title.
For the second battle of the night, Michael Reed went head to head against Britt Rescigno. Chef Britt has been a force in Tournament of Champions. She just knows how to work the Randomizer.
The Randomizer offered whole lobster, English peas, vacuum sealer, and Sunday Supper. The Wild Card offered rock, paper, scissors, re-spin. Chef Michael was able to pick vegetable re-spin, which returned English peas. The Wild Card did not change the outcome.
Chef Michael chose a path that was full of risk. While the judges appreciated his flavors of peas and mint, risotto is never a good choice in a food television competition. It was fine, but it needed more time to come together.
Chef Britt seemed to have a cheat sheet to what the judges wanted in this solution to the Randomizer. Her poached lobster with polenta and peas was nearly perfect. It brough the fancy down to Sunday supper. It was a smart play in this Tournament of Champions game. ‘
Winning the second battle of the night was Chef Britt. In every battle, she just knows how to play the game. That insight proves her well in this Food Network competition.
In the third battle of Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 5, Shota Nakajima went against Kaleena Bliss. While the two Top Chef alumni have had much success, many people thought that this battle would be close.
The Randomizer offered Cornish game hen, salamander, weeknight dinner and low seed re-spin, which offered flowering cauliflower versus delicata squash. The ingredients could go in almost any direction.
Chef Shota stayed in his wheelhouse, but he took a big risk. The Cornish game hen dashi with soba noodles is a dish that would take hours to create. The judges appreciated what he made, but more depth was needed to be fully successful.
Chef Kaleena offered a lettuce wrap bowl. The judges called it easy to love. The non-complicated but craveable dish had all the elements that the judges wanted.
Earning a big score of 86, Chef Kaleena moves into the round of eight. She has proved that the pressure of this competition is not phasing her.
In the final Tournament of Champions Season 6 episode 5 battle, Jet Tila took on Joe Sasto. Even though the audience was able to determine the Wild Card re-spin, there was no change to the original requirements. The chefs had to use New York strip, chanterelle mushrooms, French fry press, and go to takeout.
With a background in takeout, Jet Tila went all in with his Thai beef and chanterelle fried rice. The judges’ praise was immense. They felt that it embraced the challenge and hit the theme perfectly.
Joe Sasto took a different approach with a loaded burger and fries. As judge Scott Connant said, it was such a good burger it made him angry. It was clear that Chef Joe put everything into that burger. He nailed the concept and the use of the Randomizer.
With the highest score year in Tournament of Champions Season 6, Joe Sasto beat Jet Tila. While the 93 score was impressive, it is sad to see Chef Jet to fall short of the title, again.
Could Chef Joe go all the way? What about Chef Kaleena? This season it seems that anyone could walk away a winner.
Tournament of Champions Season 6 airs new episodes every Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes can be streamed the next day on MAX.