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Nick is less fortunate. Gail offers kind words about how much she loves his food. Tom, the voice that matters on Top Chef, feels that the fish was undercooked. Carlos is equally popular while absorbing a few nitpicks as well. Gail feels that the dish needed a bit more acid while Tom offers the strangest criticism of the season. Apparently, Carlos’ mousse was so flavorful that the seafood did not mesh well with that. That is easily solved, Tom. Do not eat the mousse with the seafood.

A lot of the mystery of the episode is revealed prior to the final commercial break. Padma informs Nina and Shirley that they served the best two dishes of the night. Shirley beams with joy before breaking into tears of joy, stating “I’m really happy to find myself.” Her words cause Gail and Emeril to tear up as well. This is a nice group of people in this room.

The winner of the challenge receives a wonderful bonus. Their (well, her) plate of food will be permanently added to the menu of Emeril’s New Orleans. Imagine going to a restaurant and seeing your dish on the menu. It’s a special thrill. And Shirley is the one who receives it. Next time you’re in New Orleans, folks, order some black drum with Zhenjiang vinegar butter sauce, braised celery & mushrooms for us! I would also note that Shirley is unstoppable right now. She has won four out of the last eight challenges. So, it’s everybody else four, Shirley four.

The judges debate who will be shipped to Last Chance Kitchen. Tom confides that they were both strong dishes, which has been a recurring theme in recent weeks. Nobody has been eliminated for a bad dish for a long time now. Emeril notes that the real mistake made in not serving the tamale on the banana leaf is that the dish is not as warm when served. As an expert in Mexican cuisine, Carlos should have known that.

Tom again laments the lack of salt in Nick’s dish. Padma explodes at this moment, noting that she cannot believe Nick is still making the same mistakes this deep into the competition. She describes it as Cooking 101. I feel that is a bit harsh as they are basically asking Nick to undo over a decade of training to satisfy their particular palates.

Carlos notes that his dish is more creative than Nick’s. That statement allows me to point out the obvious. After an entire season of the two befriending one another then butting heads repeatedly over silly stuff, someone is about to win the feud. Carlos forged ahead earlier in the episode by winning a heads up battle for a car, and I suggest the license plate of SUKITNIC. The person who survives the night has ultimate bragging rights, though. Well, that is true unless the other person emerges victorious in Last Chance Kitchen and returns to the competition.

Given the comments, I would ordinarily expect Nick to be eliminated. The episode has certainly been crafted to tell his story. My Spidey Senses are tingling. I start to suspect a swerve and sure enough, Nick is announced as the winner. Both chefs seem moderately surprised by this turn of events. Tom explains he decision in unspecific terms. “Nicholas just stepped it up a little bit more.” So Carlos wins the car and Nick wins the war. For what it is worth, the two gentlemen are cordial to one another, shaking hands and man-hugging twice before Carlos departs.

The final three on Top Chef this season are Nina, Shirley and Nick. Don’t bother watching Last Chance Kitchen. They do that annoying thing where the results are not revealed, making the entire exercise a waste of time. The winner of Louis versus Carlos will have a chance to earn re-entry into the competition. All five of these people will at least get a free trip to Hawaii out of the competition. That’s pretty great.

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