I’m back on the right coast and that means that I’m at the hottest possible spot for Top Chef watching— Chef Spike’s Good Stuff Eatery, here on the Hill, in Washington, D.C. By the way, I’m sitting right next to the bad boy himself…ah, being a blogger. It does have its privIleges. ;)

It’s the “palate” test! Spike likes.

I think we can all agree that Padma’s hair looks great. ;)

“Actually, this challenge is kind of stupid.” Can I quote that, Spike? Laughs. “Yeah.”

SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP

Radhika is about to get tested, and she does well. Go, brown girl in the ring!

I typed too quickly— Radhika then lost the next round via a bad “chili powder”-covered answer.

“Everyone knows the base of a sauce is celery, carrot, onion.” - Spike

By the way: if you want to be the 432nd person to follow Chef Spike on Twitter, try this

http://twitter.com/bravotopchef

Radhika would rather be on SATAN’S team, on Stefan’s. Nice.

Awww, Spike shouts out SM on his Twitter! How sweet is that? Almost as sweet as my fantastic black and white milkshake.

Jamie proposes that for “something borrowed”, her team borrows Indian cooking, from Radhika’s mom. Radhika is THRILLED at this. ;)

Chef Spike and I both had the same rxn to tomato carpaccio, i.e. isn’t that…sliced…tomato?

Spike is speaking to the mutineer on my right about how he agrees that Daniel may be the unlucky chef out, this ep…

Radhika is making raita…how is that NOT overtly Indian, gf? She’s really worried about being THE INDIAN PERSON, but…she kind of is.

“There’s a reason why the best sushi chefs in the world do not have surf and turf on their menus!” - Spike

“we’re borrowing…from…um…radhika’s culture.” wow.

Spike: “too much shine between these three (colichio + two cheftestants who are also bald)…where are the fauxhawks? I want the fauxhawks back.”

re: colichio’s either this will be spectacular…or horrible. A resounding pronouncement of “horrible” from GSE.

How? How does make-your-own-sushi fit what Gail is about to do with her life?

FYI— Spike says Padma is HOTTER in person. (Hell yes!)

We all notice Fabio’s wedding pic and Spike says that Fabio’s pretty wife is Greek. Spike himself is “Gre-wish”. ;D

Chef Spike is SO OVER shot glasses. I agree when I see the jittery presentation of them!

me: “did he say SPOOGE??” spike: “Never refer to anything on a plate as a “spluge”.

“(this meal)…not a good start to my new life” - the guest of honor. Oh, SNAP.

Spike disagrees with the chef’s consternation about the lamb, calling it “beautiful”. I’m a strict veg, so I’ll trust him. ;) “Lamb tastes best rare…or really well-done. Either one.”

“We decided to…borrow Radhika’s culture…” spike: “so they’re going to give it back?” Word!

I thought radhika’s “borrowed team’s lamb/plating looked great. :)

I remark that the women are eating up Fabio’s accent and over-the-top compliments…says Spike, “That’s my boy…too bad there are turds in front of everyone (referring to the unfortunate looking sea bass).”

Gail agrees with Chef Spike that lamb was perfectly cooked.

We’re all saying “carrots”…”lamb”…as we wait for the guest judge to announce the winner…some of us were right. ;)

“None of us expected anyone but me to win”? Jigga wha?

“Sushi rice is not sticky rice, they are two different things”- Spike

Clueless Daniel: “I’m unbelievably happy (with what we put out)” …WOW. Just, wow.

Carla is so sweet to not throw mushroom-strewing Daniel under the bus, with prejudice.

The expressiveness of Colichio’s face is just awesome.

It looks like it’s between Eugene and Daniel for knife-packing and going, but a few of us here are talking about how the former has a better backstory, how we hope it’s Daniel.

DO NOT READ FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO GOT CUT!

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Daniel is OUT. As Spike is saying, he prob STILL thinks it was a good dish.

zomg, next week looks CRAZY. Martha Stewart? Food borne-illness? Radhika looking distressed? You best believe I’ll be back here, same place, same time, same seat, with Chef Spike feeding us the real 411.