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Ashley presents grilled lamb that is "pretty rare" according to Padma, Bryan's poached black cod is very rare according to Todd and Jesse's un-seared scallops look raw.

Following the tastings, the chefs are circled up and Todd's verdict is delivered. On the bottom are Jesse (with her mushy scallops), Eve (with an overpowering inclusion of blue cheese) and Bryan who put in far too much yuzu. That's too bad, I actually think Bryan is one of our stronger chefs this season.

On top are Michael (Bryan's brother) who used classic combinations of flavors, Jennifer with delicate flavors and Kevin (last week's winner) who married great flavors. I'm thinking at this point that Kevin and Jennifer are probably the two to beat. Michael ends up winning this Quickfire and takes home a check for $15,000. Niiiiiiiice.

The Elimination Challenge will have the chefs catering a bachelor and bachelorette party, with the girls all cooking dishes for the bachelor's party and the guys cooking for the bachelorette's party. The winning team will be immune from elimination while one person on the losing team will go home. Given the extremely WEAK performances by the women thus far in the season, I'm thinking that the men have a very strong advantage here.

And as you'd imagine, Jennifer is NOT pleased that her fate is tied to the rest of the female chefs. I wouldn't be either.

The challenge itself is brilliant - Vegas is all about marriage and sin, so to cater a bachelor and bachelorette party is great. Ashley, though, is not happy. As a lesbian, she does NOT find it amusing that she has to cook food for a party that celebrates the institution off marriage when she's not allowed to participate in it. I wholeheartedly agree, Ashley. It's NOT fair.

Politics aside, it's time to plan the menu. The bride and groom come in with a tray of shot glasses - they have three drinks that they'd like the chefs to plan the menu around: a Moscow Mule (some gingery vodka), a shot of tequila and a Golden Delicious (some sugary sweet concoction that Mike finds disgusting). Each team will require at least two dishes that pair with each shot. The groom says that he loves shellfish, lean meats and has a sweet tooth. The bride tells the men that she's a pescatarian (doesn't eat meat but eats fish) and that one of her guests is a vegan.

Clearly, the men have a harder audience but they're also more talented. I think they have this one in the bag.

The chefs tromp off to Whole Foods and come back fired up to cook. Jesse has now been in the bottom of two out of the last three challenges. She wants to really bring her A-Game and is making some Thai lettuce cups. Bryan really wants to beat his brother Michael and has a sweet and sour meringue planned, filled with corn chips and guacamole. Meanwhile, his brother is making a frozen version of the Golden Delicious drink with a goat cheese cookie. I really think these two guys are very smart chefs.

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