Ep 3. Comfort Food

In The Taste season 1 episode 3, titled "Comfort Food", the remaining contestants are tasked with creating their versions of comforting dishes. The coaches, including Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre, and Brian Malarkey, each select their team’s dishes to send to the tasting table.

The contestants get creative with their interpretations of comfort food; some make traditional dishes with their own twists, while others opt for more unusual choices. One contestant makes a lasagna with the unconventional addition of bechamel sauce infused with hot sauce, while another creates a chicken pot pie using puff pastry instead of the traditional pie crust.

As the coaches taste the dishes, the contestants’ personal stories and connections to their chosen dishes are revealed, adding an emotional depth to the competition. One contestant shares how the mac and cheese they made reminds them of their childhood, while another talks about how they invented their dish as a way to connect with their estranged father.

The judges are looking not only for delicious dishes but also for ones that provide comfort and evoke a sense of nostalgia. They are particularly impressed with the dishes that showcase the contestants’ personality and unique perspective.

In this episode, the coaches also engage in a mini-competition, each selecting their own comfort food dish and facing off against each other. The judges taste the coaches’ dishes blind and rank them from best to worst. The winning coach gets to choose an ingredient that must be used in the next challenge.

The episode ends with the coaches making tough decisions and eliminating one of their team members. The remaining contestants move on to the next challenge, knowing that the competition will only get tougher as they continue on their journey to become the next great chef.