Ep 3. Pan African Portland

In Top Chef season 18 episode 3, titled "Pan African Portland," the chefs head to Portland, Oregon, where they are challenged to create dishes inspired by African cuisine. The episode starts off with the quickfire challenge, where the chefs have to utilize traditional African ingredients like yams, plantains, and okra to create a dish that showcases the flavors and techniques of African cooking.

After the quickfire challenge, the chefs head to a local marketplace to source their ingredients for the elimination challenge. For the elimination challenge, the chefs are split into teams and are tasked with not only creating a cohesive menu but also incorporating African flavors and techniques into their dishes. Each team is given a different region of Africa to focus on, which adds a layer of complexity to the challenge.

Throughout the episode, the chefs face various obstacles, from sourcing ingredients that they're not familiar with to adjusting their cooking styles to incorporate unfamiliar flavors. One chef struggles to find the right balance of spice in their dish, while another is tasked with cooking meat in a way they've never done before.

As the clock ticks down, the teams present their dishes to the judges, who include renowned chef and restaurateur Gregory Gourdet, who is also a Portland native. In typical Top Chef fashion, not all dishes hit the mark, and some chefs are left scrambling to make last-minute adjustments.

Overall, "Pan African Portland" is a challenging and eye-opening episode that showcases the diversity of African cuisine. The chefs are pushed out of their comfort zones, and viewers get to see the creative ways that they adapt and incorporate African flavors into their dishes. The episode is a reminder that there's always something new to learn in the kitchen, even for seasoned chefs.