they did seem to love each piece of the Fire dish, but from the conversation at the table, even more than what we saw of the judging, I do think the bacon was the part that really wowed them.

And Antonia was right when she said she'd never said they couldn't do the soup!!

I remember her being pretty emphatic about the point though. But yeah, they should have just shut her out of this conversation. You don't have to be okay with it, you're not on the block.

I have to say, I was with Antonia, though. Butternut squash soup? It just didn't say "earth" to me. My first instinct was truffles, too, but maybe that would have been too obvious?

Either way, the beef was a bad choice.

My first instinct was truffles, too, but maybe that would have been too obvious?

I thought truffles as well. But, maybe truffles were too expensive?

Maybe. They had $500, though, right? I didn't even hear them mention it, though.

I felt bad for Richard, because he went so literal with the concept of water, and then realized, Oops.

Lisa and Spike, though, ugh. Shut up. Shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP.

I felt bad for Richard, because he went so literal with the concept of water, and then realized, Oops.

I was less concerned about the mushy and more concerned about the SCALES. Richard was crying because he was so fucky lucky that they diners disliked the carpaccio more than the salmon. If water had been on the block, he absolutely would have been out.

Lisa and Spike, though, ugh. Shut up. Shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP.

this gave me pause

True. It must be the pressure -- this isn't the first time someone's let fish go out with scales.

Not you! Of course. Annoying chef!Lisa.

But if you blow your $500 on a truffle big enough to feed 80 - how would you prepare it?

I loved Dale's description of Lisa as "observationally negative," - so accurate.

Or do something with truffle oil!

Actually, the thought I had for Earth was sea urchin. That's one of the earthiest tasting things I've ever had.

Also, grilled mole. It's possible that Whole Foods didn't have them in stock.

True. It must be the pressure -- this isn't the first time someone's let fish go out with scales.

Sure, and as always, I think there's a fundamental difference between an error caused by the rigors of the competition (fish not scaled as well as could be) and one caused by sup-par decision making and bad judgement. (Let's lightly season the mushrooms, even though Tom's always bitching about things that are underseasoned. Like, every episode.)

Dale doesn't bug me much -- Lisa, Zoi and Spike have all been passive aggresive and whiny this season, and while both Spike and Lisa ultimatley had the right ideas on what needed to be done, the way they went about presenting those ideas was annoying as all hell. (And Lisa at least got her ideas incorporated. Spike was just plain wussy. I can deal with a wuss, and I can deal with a trash-talker, but a wussy trash-talker is nobody's friend.)

I'm OK with Dale's and Richard's arrogance, although Dale's not accomplished enough to own it, and I think last night might have been Richard's wake-up call.) And Crazy Andy still amuses me. Hoping Ryan goes next.