Top Chef ™

Season:

Week:

Quickfire Challenge

The chefs were presented with a large display adorned with numerous miniature doors. The contestants took turns opening doors, each concealing a random ingredient. As the winner of the previous Elimination Challenge, Rasika was allowed to choose her door first. They then had 30 minutes to create dishes pairing their mystery ingredient with Door County cherries. The winner received US$5,000.

The guest judges were actress Clea DuVall and Top Chef: New York runner-up/Top Chef: All-Stars finalist Carla Hall.

Kristen Kish: "Just 3 hours north of Milwaukee is a place called door county doors. The quaint coastal towns of this part of Wisconsin are known for their scenic views and these cherries. So for your next quick fire challenge, we want to see what you can do with door county cherries paired with some unexpected ingredients. Behind these little tiny doors are mystery ingredients that you'll have to incorporate into your dishes with the cherries.

Rasika: Cherries with Cipollini Onions
Danny: Cherries with Bamboo Shoots
Amanda: Cherries with Yellow Mustard
Michelle: Cherries with Ginseng
Charly: Cherries with Chocolate
Kenny: Cherries with Marshmallows
Dan: Cherries with Kimchi
Kevin: Cherries with Black Garlic
Savannah: Cherries with Chicken Livers
Kaleena: Cherries with canned Pink Salmon
Laura: Cherries with Condensed Milk
Alisha: Cherries with Serrano Peppers
Manny: Cherries with Soy Sauce

How the Top Chef ™ competitors teamed up

What the Top Chef ™ contestants prepared

Soy marinated Roast Pork Belly with Sauteed and Pickled Cherries

Chef Manny: "I have a soy marinated roasted pork belly with sauteed cherries and pickled cherries. I hope you cherrysh it as much as I do."

Charred Golden Beets with Chocolate Cherry Demi, Smashed Purple Potatoes and Pickled Cherries

Chef Charly: "What we have here is charred golden beets, chocolate cherry demi smashed purple potatoes, and pickled cherries as well."

Kristen Kish: "Have you ever done beets and chocolate before?"

Chef Charly: "Never. "

Cherry and Ginseng Broth with Charred Shrimp and Bok Choy

Chef Michelle: "Today I made a cherry and ginseng broth with charred shrimp and bok choy."

Kristen Kish: "The first time using ginseng?"

Chef Michelle (who is a long-standing PitMaster): "Yeah, we don't barbecue a lot of ginseng."

Tart Cherry Cipollini Onions, Charred Pepper Relish and Berbere Sauce

Chef Rasika: "Cipollini onions cooked in tart cherry juice, charred pepper relish, and Berbere spice."

Kristen Kish: "Were you worried that the amount of spice was going to cover up the cherries?"

Chef Raskia: "The dried cherries that I use are pretty sweet."

Montmerency Cherry Condensed Milk Ice Cream, Tart Cherry Syrup and Pepper

Chef Laura: "I made a Montmorency infused condensed milk ice cream with some tart cherry syrup on the side and a little bit of pepper to bring the warmth of the spices out."

Cherry glazed Pork Chop with Cherry and Mustard Mostada

Chef Amanda: "I did pork tenderloin. On the very bottom is a cherry and mustard mossada."

Kristen Kish: "Did it come together in the way you hoped it would?"

Chef Amanda (laughing) : "That's a loaded question."

Toasted Marshmallows with Rum and Cherry Sauce, Fried Cinnamon and Sugar fried rice paper

Chef Kenny: "My first thought was s'mores, rice krispies. So I did a little rum and cherry sauce toast with the marshmallows, fried some spring roll paper."

Kristen Kish: "You were not excited about the marshmallows. How do you feel about them now?"

Chef Kenny: "Same. I hate them."

Beef Tenderloin with Poele of Cherries and Black Garlic

Chef Kevin: "I made you today a beef tenderloin with, like, a foil of cherry. Finish it with the black garlic."

Cherry and Salmon Croquette with Tart Cherry Cream

Chef Kaleena: "I've made for you a cherry and salmon croquette on the bottom. I use the tart cherries to do a cream."

Charred Cabbage with Cherry Serrano Reduction and Lime & Anchovy Butter

Chef Alisha: "I made charred cabbage with a cherry serrano reduction and a little bit of lime and anchovy butter."

Kristen Kish: "What made you choose cabbage like cherries?"

Chef Alisha: "I saw everybody else going for meat, and I thought, why not do vegetables?""

Kimchi Pancake with Kimchi Cherries and Bing Cherry Hoisin

Chef Dan: "I have a kimchi pancake with kimchi semisweet cherries, and then bing cherry hoisin.""

Grilled Skirt Steak, Bamboo Shoot and Cherry Gremolata with Cherry Gastrique

Chef Danny: "I have grilled sugar steak with a bamboo shoot and cherry gremolata and then a cherry gastrique. "

Chicken Liver Mousse, Panzanella Salad , Shishito Peppers and Cherry Vinaigrette

Chef Savannah: "I had chicken livers. I basically made a quick mousse. There is a panzanella salad with shishitos. And then I made a vinaigrette using the bing cherries."

Kristen Kish: "How did you build your mousse?"

Chef Savannah: "I sauteed onions and cherry with the livers."

Culinary Learnings from this challenge

What is Poêlée?

Poêlée is a nearly forgotten French culinary technique called butter braising. It is no longer used primarily because of its expense and the need for an already tender cut of meat.

Featured Recipes from Top Chef ™

Get recipes ...

Subscribe to our weekly recipes and culinary tips from streamed cooking shows.