After a disastrous camera challenge, an eight-course dinner at the house for Wolfgang Puck leads to the first shocking elimination of the season.<\/p>\n
For the top eight’s \u201cmidterm exam” camera challenge, the top eight had to make and present their signature dish. At elimination, two contestants would be sent home and the top six would go to New York. Bobby went around the kitchen giving everyone one-on-one personal critiques, which confused me because I distinctly remember that being the reason Giada was added to the panel. Seriously, what has she done so far this season besides occasionally saying something during elimination, and looking awkward in promotional pictures?<\/p>\n
Anyway, Whitney won the camera challenge, but only because everyone else was so awful. Her presentation didn’t impress me, but at least she didn’t embarrass herself by shouting at the judges. Jyll thought she’d be surprising by yelling not to change the channel because she mentioned raw beef. Definitely surprising, but in a way that made me flinch and briefly, well, change the channel due to second-hand embarrassment. She should leave busting myths about potentially harmful foods to Alton Brown and his fake government agents.<\/p>\n
Whitney got the advantage of picking which course each contestant would serve to Wolfgang Puck and the regular panel. On their trip to Target to pick out dishes, Mary Beth and Penny actually managed to get along, seemingly over their petty rivalry (in hindsight, I guess it foreshadowed that one of them was going home). Meanwhile, all eight contestants had to cook their dishes in the house’s kitchen, which is not<\/em> prepared to handle that much activity at once. Since Penny dropped the drama queen act this episode, Chris was the one causing trouble, accusing people of sabotaging his meal by messing with the oven temperature.<\/p>\n And of course, the most controversial incident during dinner was Jyll’s awful risotto, and how Wolfgang Puck took her back to the kitchen to show her how to make it. Horrified Jyll tried to maintain her composure, cheerfully going through the motions and keeping on a smile for the panel. That’s no easy task she was clearly in shock, on the verge of bursting into tears. And the judges had the nerve<\/em> to criticize her for it?! Look, I’m no Jyll fan, but that’s just wrong<\/em>. The judges are always saying that the contestants have to bring their A-game when everything is falling apart around them (Mary Beth during the dessert presentation, for example), then they pull this. I can’t decide who I want to punch more this episode \u2013 Puck, Susie (the judge) or Giada.<\/p>\n Given the editing slant this episode, I thought for sure<\/em> that Chris and Jyll were going home. Unfortunately, I was only half right. Okay, yes, I’m very<\/em> happy that Chris finally<\/em> left. But I’m outraged that Penny was sent packing with him. Does food matter at all<\/em> in this competition anymore?! While I would have never tuned into Chris’ show, I would have watched Penny’s because her food is interesting and apparently always excellent. Sure, she seemed very \u201caggressive” during the competition, but in a kitchen all by herself with no one else to antagonize, she definitely would have been watchable. She wasn’t going to win the whole thing, but I think she went home at least an episode too soon.<\/p>\n Really, there’s no one I’m really rooting for at this point. No matter who wins I doubt I’d watch the show, except maybe for Mary Beth since I do generally like her personality. But here’s my take on the remaining contestants.<\/p>\n Top Three<\/em><\/p>\n Susie: Oh, she pulled out all the stops this episode, crying in front of the judges when talking about her past. They’re putty in her hands now. As long as she stays consistent there’s no doubt she’ll be at least top three, probably top two.<\/p>\n Vic: Yup, I still can’t like him, but the judges still love him (despite his camera challenge misstep). Although I was surprised that he changed his POV from \u201cVegas Style” to \u201cMama’s Boy.”<\/p>\n Jeff: The most unpredictable frontrunner left. He could be top three, or go home in two weeks. It all depends on if he can be warmer, control his energy and not tell anymore \u201cballs on the roll” jokes.<\/p>\n Going Home At Some Point<\/em><\/p>\n Whitney: She’s pretty and her food can be excellent, but I don’t see her beating out those listed above. To me, she’s just been there<\/em>, never really standing out.<\/p>\n Mary Beth: Personally, she’s my favorite left in the competition. She doesn’t seem too fake on-camera and still manages to be interesting. But she just can’t make a perfect dish. She’ll probably be the one sent home next week if Jyll isn’t.<\/p>\n Jyll: I’m really annoyed she didn’t get eliminated after that risotto mess (and<\/em> she bombed the camera challenge too). If she doesn’t ace every challenge next week, she better be sent packing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a disastrous camera challenge, an eight-course dinner at the house for Wolfgang Puck leads to the first shocking elimination of the season. For the top eight’s \u201cmidterm exam” camera challenge, the top eight had to make and present their signature dish. At elimination, two contestants would be sent home and the top six would … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2082,7767],"tags":[29760,8251],"zone":[121876],"series":[],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/insidepulse.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/insidepulse.com\/feed\/podcast\/inside-pulse","embedCode":"Food Network Star<\/i> – Episode 7-7 Review<\/a><\/blockquote>