In this week’s episode of Top Chef: Wisconsin, titled “Set Sail,” the semifinalists face a tough challenge that leaves everyone a bit off their game. Savannah and Laura, who had been performing well, found themselves struggling after a six-week break.
The episode starts in Curaçao, where Danny, Dan, Savannah, and Laura are tasked with a Quickfire challenge to pair lionfish, an invasive species in the Caribbean, with Dutch gouda. Given only 30 minutes and pre-cleaned fish, most contestants opt for raw preparations. Dan’s tartare aguachile wins him the challenge and a $10,000 prize, thanks to his use of Kewpie mayonnaise.
For the elimination challenge, the chefs must create an eight-course fish-tasting menu inspired by the Holland America Line’s seafood commitment. Each chef has to prepare two courses: raw, steamed, mousse, poached, fried, roasted, smoked, and blackened.
Savannah picks raw salmon and fried striped bass. Danny chooses mousse sea bream and smoked rainbow trout. Dan opts for poached dorade and blackened snapper, while Laura selects roasted grouper and steamed black bass.
In the cramped kitchen of the Eurodam cruise ship, things quickly go wrong. Savannah’s sake-cured salmon roll is too safe, and her fried bass sandwich has too much bread. Laura’s steamed black bass is poorly cleaned, and her roasted grouper is undercooked. Danny’s mousse is raw, but his smoked trout impresses. Dan’s poached dorade is raw, but his blackened snapper is perfectly cooked and praised by the judges.
Danny wins the challenge for his creative Scotch bonnet and green garlic spheres and smoked trout dish. Dan also advances to the finals. Unfortunately, Laura’s poorly executed dishes send her home, leaving Savannah, Danny, and Dan to compete for the Wisconsin crown.
Assorted Amuse-Bouche
Tom Hat Watch: Another straw fedora! Did Tom get a special one just for this trip?
Dishes to Try: Danny’s croquettes and Savannah’s fried-fish sandwich.
Quenepas: They look like lychee and rambutan. Has anyone tried them?
Morimoto’s Tuna Pizza: His “It’s good because I made it” line was charming. You can watch old Iron Chef episodes on Pluto, Tubi, and Peacock.
Danny’s Faith: The show respectfully shows Danny’s Muslim faith by featuring him praying and drinking nonalcoholic drinks.
Colonial History: The show briefly touches on Dutch influence in Curaçao. For more, read about the island’s colonial history and the broader impact of colonialism in the Caribbean.
Next week, Emeril Lagasse returns as Danny, Dan, and Savannah compete in the finals.