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The cheftestants come back out and Jennifer looks utterly devastated. She keeps her eyes on the floor and she awaits Padma's invitation to pack her knives and go. I feel so bad for her.

Tom says that viewers always look forward to Restaurant Wars but losing this challenge is tough. He says that Jennifer wasn't able to perform to her ability, with several errors in her dishes. Kevin had a poor lamb dish but a pretty good pork dish. Laurine completely botched service and organization of the dining room. Pompous Mike didn't have anything seriously bad, but also didn't have anything seriously good.

At this point, I hide my face in my boyfriend's shoulder. I know Jennifer is going home and I can't stand it. I hear Padma start her elimination.

"Laurine, please pack your kni–"

WHAT?!?!?"

I had to stop and rewind the scene. Yes, Laurine actually got sent home. Apparently, the judges liked Jennifer's halibut dish enough to only fault her for the trout dish – one big error. Laurine, on the other hand, messed up as front of house and had a bad lamb dish – two errors. And thus, Jennifer was saved.

Laurine looks as shocked as I feel and Jennifer is starting to tear up. She says in her ending confessional that the competition was harder than she had expected. She said that most people think of her as a rock but this time her rock was rocked. Back in the stew room, she gives Jennifer a big hug and says, "You deserve to be here."

I have never loved Laurine as much as I did in that moment.

Laurine takes the time to say goodbye to all of the chefs, remarking to the viewers that she feels a little bit eager to get back to her own life. Jennifer gives her one last, long hug before Laurine walks out the door. It's a heartbreaking end to a really tumultuous episode.


LEADERS AFTER 9 EPISODES:

Kevin: Five times in the top of the Elimination Challenge, three Elimination Challenge wins, two Quickfire Wins

Bryan: Six times in the top of the Elimination Challenge, three Elimination Challenge wins

Michael: Seven times in the top of the Elimination Challenge, two Elimination Challenge wins, one Quickfire Win

Jennifer: Five times in the top of the Elimination Challenge, one Elimination Challenge win, two Quickfire Wins

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