"Top Chef All Stars" Season 8, Episode 10: Me love Cookies!

OMG. Cookies for Cookie Monster? This had to be the most hilarious Top Chef Quick Fire challenge yet. The chefs are to make their best cookie for the connoisseur of shortbread. The chefs race around the kitchen with Jim Henson muppets zipping at their heels. Richard is beside himself giddy. Antonia isn’t happy with her presentation. She shouldn’t fear because her goods are going to be woofed down and I doubt looks count.  Mike’s almond and dried cherry cookies are like a party in Cookie Monster’s mouth. Tiffany can barely contain her laughter at the tasting.  She used Thyme in her cookie. “How much Time?” Elmo quips. The ultimate winner of $5K is Dale. Antonia came in second with Elmo cow chips. Did anyone else bust a blast from the past gut? Throughout, I kept flashing back to my own children as babies, dancing to Elmo’s “I’ve Got Feet.”

The Elimination challenge to feed 100 is even more down to earth. The contestants must shop for everything including knives and cook at Target. They have three hours to pull it together. I never knew Target carried food! Duh, me. The crew takes cart racing to a new level as they race around aisles in search of everything from spices to table linens. Richard goes for the braised pork ribs, a blue collar dish that is as good at 3am as it is at 7pm. Dale literally hand irons drunk college days steak and cheese sandwiches with tomato soup garnish. Everyone is whipping up dishes except Carla. For some reason she’s still perusing the linen aisle. She should have dropped by the toy aisle for an 8 Ball. On the first shake it would have said…… “Quit fidgeting and get moving!” But that’s just how Carla rolls. Antonia is one of the only chefs who isn’t making soup.  She has the $25K prize in her eyes. Mike and Angelo are tight. Angelo asks, What do you think it needs Mike. Salt he replies.

Judges table brings us a couple new guests. Ming Tsai owner/chef of Blue Ginger and Thomas O’Brien, Target home designer. Both Antonia and Dale get high marks. Padma makes sure Mike revises his script to exclude “fresh” in his description of coconut milk. Tiffany gets an “OK” for her jambalaya. Angelo’s potato soup receives a thumbs down for over salting. All the contestants are nervous, as it’s anyone’s game.

Judging day arrives and no one is happy. Dale, Antonia and Richard are called to the table. They are on top, and the winner of $25K is……..Dale. Who knew flat ironed grilled cheese and tomato soup would make such a splash? Carla, Tiffany and Angelo are then sent out to face the firing squad. Carla takes the “it was two dimensional” hit. Angelo’s potato soup is whacked for too much salt. Tiffany’s jambalaya is knocked about for using pre-packaged spices. Hey boys and girls. It’s Target, remember? Ugh. She breaks down not defending her dish, but letting both Angelo and Carla know it has been an honor to cook side by side. In the stew room Mike insists Angelo isn’t going home. Angelo isn’t buying it. The judges, tired chefs or not, couldn’t get past the artificial flavors. HELLO, it’s Target, but I get their point.

The cleaver falls heavy this week. Angelo is going home. He never really got to shine this season, but this dish was apparently is demise. He admits to exhaustion and making a critical error. With a heartfelt teary goodbye he leaves the stew room. Not to worry folks, Angelo is opening a new restaurant in NYC. I suspect many Top Chef fans wish him well.

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