'Top Chef: Las Vegas' - A Remarkably Ducky Episode

The final four competitors on Top Chef: Las Vegas headed to the Napa Valley this week to determine who will compete in the final challenge for the top prize.

Jennifer, Kevin, Michael and brother Kevin hopped on board the Napa Valley Wine Train to compete in a grape-themed Quickfire challenge. Adding on to the pressure, the bonus prize for the winner of the Quickfire was a Toyota Prius. Who doesn't want to take home a brand new car for a bit of cooking?

Guest judge and Top Chef Master Michael Chiarello gave the chefs 30 minutes to prepare dinner aboard the train using Napa Valley grapes and wine. Poor Kevin was stricken with motion sickness by the swaying train, but plowed through bravely anyway. Although Padma was starting to sport a bit of baby belly, she didn't seem to mind the ride. Morning sickness plus train ride would have not been fun, we're sure.

Kevin thankfully manages not to spew all over his entree, a honey and fromage blanc mousse. Michael produced some rather boring stuffed grape leaves and scallop kebab. Jen - I seriously have started to question her taste level - sautés up some chicken livers and clams. Chicken livers and clams? Yuck! Rounding out the final four, Bryan roasted up a ham with bacon and grape verjus.

Michael walks away with the win (and the new car) for the Quickfire challenge, mostly due to his innovation in using every part of the grape, including the stem - cleverly turned into a skewer for his kebab.

For the elimination challenge, the chefs were tasked with catering a party for 150 people at the Rutherford Hill Winery and Caves using all local ingredients. As an added twist, the contestants were required to make one vegetarian dish and one dish with a local protein.

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Once again, Jen's recent lack of self-confidence started showing the kitchen. After accidently letting the wood-fired oven go out, Jen was forced to cook her duck breasts comfit instead of grilling them, which left her rattled. When Tom drops by the kitchen to check up on the chefs, Jen is already a frazzled mess and you just know things are not going to turn out well for the last girl in the bunch.

The best line of the night went to Kevin, who showed his concern over his braised brisket by proclaiming: "Tender or not, that motherfucker is headed to the table." It's sad to see Jen taking such a nose dive, but Kevin is quickly moving into my favorite spot.

Bryan, meanwhile, slaves over his short ribs and squash, which he apparently had to have a dialogue with to make it work. "I'm talking to my squash," Bryan declares at one point, leaving me to wonder what exactly the squash says on its side of the conversation. Brother Michael, meanwhile, confesses he'd be relieved if Bryan was sent home. Maybe Michael would get along with his brother better if he spent a bit of time talking to his turnips.

Gail Simmons joined Padma, Tom and Michael Chiarello for the judging panel, making me feel a bit warm and fuzzy seeing the old gang back together.

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Michael quickly makes a faux pas with the judges, serving Padma a mouthful of raw egg white, which makes the pregnant lady not so happy. Kevin, on the other hand, pleases the judges with his "brilliant use of local ingredients," but annoys them with his stringy braised beef. "Ropey is the perfect adjective for it," Gail says nastily, all the while showing off her very perky breasts to their best effect.

Jen, poor Jen. The judges praise her dish for its lovely use of local ingredients and just can't seem to get over how "ducky" her duck is. "This tastes like duck," one states. "It's remarkably ducky," says another. "You really taste the duckiness." Okay, okay, we get it - Jen's duck tastes like duck! Bryan, meanwhile, gets praise for his short rib in fig glaze, although the judges note it needs more "figginess" and lacks enough salt.

In the end, the judges decide Bryan made the best use of the local ingredients and awarded him the win. Jen, on the other hand, was once again labeled "scattered" by the judges and told to pack her knives and go. I’m sure it didn’t help any that Jen basically threw herself under the bus at judge’s panel. It's a sad end of the season for a chef who really looked like she might take home the big win right from the first episode. Somewhere along the way, Jen lost herself in the competition and never recovered. But I'd still be pleased as punch to eat her food anytime.

The Voltaggio brothers and should-be-gay Kevin are left as the last three contestants going into the finale. While both the brothers have certainly shown they have the skills, I'm personally hoping for a Kevin win now that Jen is out of the running. Cooking good food is one thing, but really great food has one added element the Voltaggio brothers seem to lack - love. Kevin, you can just tell, LOVES to cook, loves his food and loves to make you happy eating it. That, to me, is the mark of a great chef.

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