Ep 8. Clean Up In Aisle 21!

In episode 8 of season 12 of Top Chef, titled "Clean Up In Aisle 21!," the remaining chefs face a unique challenge. The episode kicks off with Padma announcing that they will be cooking for the employees of a local grocery store chain, and that they will need to use ingredients that are commonly found in the center aisles of the store. This means no fresh produce, meat, or dairy, and lots of canned and packaged goods.

The chefs are split into two teams and given 30 minutes to plan their menus and shop. They quickly discover that it's not easy to come up with creative dishes using only non-perishable items, and tensions rise as they try to make the most of what they have. Back in the kitchen, the chefs get to work on their dishes, struggling to balance flavors and textures with the limited ingredients they have.

As they cook, the chefs are visited by chef Nancy Silverton, who offers them some tips and advice on how to work with canned and packaged foods. The judges, including Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and guest judge Ray Garcia, taste the dishes from both teams and provide their feedback, ultimately choosing a winning team and a losing team.

The losing team then faces the dreaded elimination challenge, where they must create a dish using only the ingredients that were left in their baskets after they finished cooking for the grocery store employees. This means even fewer options than before, and the chefs must get creative in order to avoid being sent home.

Overall, "Clean Up In Aisle 21!" is a thrilling episode that showcases the talent and creativity of the remaining chefs in the competition. It's a unique challenge that forces them to step outside their comfort zones and come up with dishes that are both delicious and unexpected. With only a few weeks left in the season, the stakes are higher than ever, and the chefs know that every mistake could be their last.