As we join our chef-testants, Grayson wakes up feeling bad that Chris was eliminated and Ed gets out of bed dressed in a jacket, shirt, and no pants. He must’ve been pretty dang tired. But when the chefs arrive in the Challenge Kitchen of Doom, they are greeted with literally towers of pancakes. With all that, Grayson expects a kid, maybe Miley Cyrus (wait, isn’t she like 17 or 18 now? Check your Internet, Grayson!).
But no, it’s Pee-Wee Herman! I can’t decide which chefs are laughing for reals and who’s being polite (except Lindsay, who is obviously not finding it amusing — Sarah too, actually). Of course, the challenge is to make a pancake dish. Paul’s breaking out the champagne and liquid nitrogen (he’s been playing with it for a few months — doesn’t overuse, but when practical, sure. I like that perspective). I loved how Pee-Wee said, “This is the Best Pancake I’ve ever had,” each time — and chefs aren’t getting it at first, but then Grayson and Paul start cracking up. It’s Ed’s win this time, for his pancake bits with berries and bacon. Guess sleeping in your day clothes helps your cooking.
The Elimination Challenge is to buy ingredients with just 100 bucks, find a local restaurant that’ll let you cook there, and finally bicycle back to the Alamo. Geez. We get a dirty trick from Grayson, stealing Paul’s planned restaurant — DIRTY POOL, Grayson! Will she pay for her sins? It’s awkward to ask to use a kitchen, but they clearly have cameras and such. Not too suspicious, right? Lindsay finds a place, then runs off to find more food, but Sarah moves in while she’s delayed! WILL SHE FIND A PLACE TO COOK (spoiler: obviously, yes).
The funniest part is when Ed finds a nice bed and breakfast, complete with a pleasant couple that helps him but then actually has him make some eggs for them too. Hey, why not? AND THEN BACK TO THE ALAMO! Simple presentation this time, just the judges and Pee-Wee. And Lindsay wins with her stuffed zucchini (UPSET! sort of). But Grayson’s slightly odd if still tasty stuffed chicken is just not good enough, and she is sent off to face Beverly in the online Last Chance Kitchen “30 Minutes to Make a Dish Worthy of the Finale” challenge … and then the chefs are shocked to discover the secret underground event — someone’s coming back? UH OH! Spoiler: We don’t see! It’ll be saved for the finale, but it didn’t look like Sarah was happy — Beverly or fakeout? Watch for yourself to see how it went down.
Next week … Paul cries! He better not be eliminated, or this season will officially be incorrect.
Clacked by Jeremy Fogelman 
on Feb 02, 2012 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
I was surprised Grayson’s dish got her eliminated – conceptually at least, it sounded the most delicious to me. From the chefs’ comments, Ed’s dish was probably the worst. However, it seems likely that at this stage of the competition they know the chefs well enough that they’re actually eliminating them partially based on overall performance and who they think should move on, even though they like to justify it by saying that the person had the worst dish on the week they go home. If I’m right, it makes sense that Grayson was done, because she’s been borderline for a lot of weeks. She’s got good techniques, but is a little ham-fisted compared to the chefs who remain. Her personality cracks me up, though. Looking forward to the finale.