Ep 3. Commander's Palace

In Top Chef season 11 episode 3, the remaining chefs head to Commander's Palace in New Orleans for one of the biggest challenges yet. Commander's Palace is a legendary restaurant that has been around for over 125 years and is known for its innovative Creole cuisine.

The episode begins with the chefs meeting with Commander's Palace Executive Chef Tory McPhail, who explains that they will be cooking a four-course meal for a group of Commander's regulars. The catch? The chefs must use traditional Creole ingredients and techniques, but they must also put their own modern twist on the dishes.

The chefs are split up into teams of three and are given two hours to prep all the ingredients they will need for their four courses. They must then take their ingredients to Commander's Palace to assemble and cook their dishes in the restaurant's kitchen.

One team decides to make a seafood-centric menu, featuring dishes like oyster pie and redfish courtbouillon. Another team focuses on meat, creating dishes like turtle soup and duck breast with a sweet potato puree. The final team opts for a vegetarian menu, featuring dishes like black-eyed pea fritters and a corn and okra succotash.

As the chefs cook, they must also deal with unexpected challenges, such as running out of key ingredients or a malfunctioning oven. But despite these setbacks, the chefs remain focused and determined to create the best dishes they can.

Once the dishes are all cooked and plated, the regulars arrive to taste each team's menu and give their feedback. The chefs watch nervously as the regulars sample their dishes, hoping for positive reviews.

In the end, one team is declared the winner, while another team is sent to the bottom. The chefs must then face elimination, with one chef ultimately being sent home.

Overall, this episode of Top Chef showcases the chefs' creativity and skill, as they are pushed to create innovative dishes using traditional Creole ingredients. With high stakes and unexpected challenges, it's a thrilling ride that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.