Ep 10. Skating By

In Beat Bobby Flay season 16 episode 10, titled "Skating By," two talented chefs compete for the chance to take on chef Bobby Flay in a head-to-head battle. The episode opens with host and judge, Ted Allen, welcoming this week's contestants into the kitchen studio where they will be facing off in two rounds of cooking challenges.

The first competitor is Chef Erika Monroe-Williams, a Detroit-based chef who focuses on Southern comfort food with a modern twist. She is known for her fried chicken and waffles and has appeared on the Food Network's Chopped. Chef Erika enters the studio with confidence, saying that she's ready to take on Bobby and beat him at his own game.

Her challenger is Chef Nini Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American chef based in Los Angeles. Her culinary style is influenced by her Vietnamese heritage and the diverse food scene of Los Angeles. Chef Nini is also confident in her abilities and believes that her unique flavor combinations will surprise and impress the judges.

In the first round, the chefs are tasked with creating a dish that showcases a mystery ingredient that is revealed to them just moments before the challenge begins. The ingredient is skate, a type of fish that is often overlooked in the culinary world. Both chefs seem confident in their ability to work with this ingredient, but they approach it in very different ways.

Chef Erika decides to go with a classic Southern style preparation, using a cornmeal crust and frying the skate to a crispy golden brown. She then pairs it with collard greens and a spicy hot sauce. Chef Nini takes a more unconventional approach, making a skate ceviche with a citrusy marinade and a bright and colorful vegetable salsa. The judges are impressed with both dishes and have a difficult time deciding who should move on to the final round.

In the second and final round, the chefs are given a much more open-ended challenge: to create a dish that represents their culinary identity. This is a challenge that both chefs are excited about, as they feel it gives them the opportunity to showcase their unique styles and flavors.

Chef Erika decides to go with a dish that represents her roots in the South. She makes a smoky and spicy gumbo with Andouille sausage and shrimp, served over a bed of deliciously creamy grits. Chef Nini creates a dish that represents her Vietnamese heritage but also incorporates some of the flavors and techniques she's learned during her time in Los Angeles. She makes a Vietnamese-style salt and pepper crab with a tangy chili sauce and a side of rice noodles.

Both dishes impress the judges, who once again have a difficult time deciding who will be declared the winner. In the end, the decision comes down to the smallest details, and the winner is declared with just a few points separating the two chefs.

Overall, "Skating By" is a thrilling episode of Beat Bobby Flay that showcases the talent and creativity of two skilled chefs. The challenges are exciting and unpredictable, and the dishes created are inspiring and delicious. This episode is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone who loves great food and cooking.