I checked in with Top Chef a few minutes late last night, because Lost went over 10 pm.



Anyway, they got to the Quick Fire right away! In honor of the upcoming Superbowl, the cheftestants were made to fill their names on a simulated football pool grid, knowing only the categories of "food groups" running down the side. Across the top their main ingredients were later revealed.



Everyone's main ingredients turned out to be oats, since Quaker was sponsoring the challenge.



Fabio made an egg plant fried roll out of oats and vegetables.

Stefan did a banana mousse with oats and dairy.

Carla went with pasta using oats, nuts and grains.

Jaime cooked up shrimp with a fruit sauce from her oats and fruit.

Leah made crusted fish out of oats and seafood.

Hosea whipped up schnitzel and potato salad from oats and meat.

Jeff went with chicken poillard from his oats and poultry.



I missed who the guest judge was, but he didn't look familiar, so it's no big deal. Leah, Fabio and Jeff were chosen as the bottom three, while Carla, Jaime and Stefan were tops. Stefan was chosen the winner -- again -- he's won 5 challenges now.



(I'm gonna go out on a limb now and bet on Stefan to win the whole thing. He pretty well seems like a lock, however, so did Richard last season, until he completely blew it in the finale... )



At this point in the game, the winner does not receive immunity from elimination, but Stefan did receive a "useful advantage" for the challenge.



On to the Elimination Challenge (which is what we've been waiting for since last week's preview)!

The Top Chef Bowl brought on contestants from prior seasons (called the All-Stars) to go head-to-head with the remaining seven cheftestants. Returning along with Spike and Andrew were Josie, Andrea, Camille, Nikki and Miguel. Other than Spike & Andrew, no one to get excited over.



For his "useful advantage" Stefan got to choose his competition. He picked the Dallas Cowboys and Andrea, thinking he would be safe because she wasn't nearly as skilled as he was (in his mind). The groups were given their choice of NFL Teams and five minutes to decide which player would be on which team. Teams were tasked to cook something native to that region.



According to which NFL Team they picked, that's how they were paired up with an All-Star.



Jeff-Josie each picked the Miami Dolphins, because that's where they're from.

Fabio-Spike each chose the Green Bay Packers, thinking the ingredients would provide for an easy win.

Hosea-Miguel went with Seattle Seahawks.

Leah-Nikki chose the New York Giants.

Jaime-Camille picked the San Francisco 49ers.

And Carla-Andrew got the New Orleans Saints, which delighted Carla because she's a huge fan of Andrew!



Each player was given two hours to plan their dish. Remember, each cheftestant is going up against the All-Star they were paired with.

Fabio, of course, was very confident -- "If they gonna give me monkey ass to fill, it's no problem!"

Back at the apartment on the day of the challenge, Hosea's stressing, while Fabio's musing about sleeping on the top "bunky bed." Fabio wants to win it for his Mama, while Carla's off getting "centered."

The chefs take center stage in a room filled with the other eliminated chefs and the Top Chef judges. Judges will award 7 points (touchdown) to the player whose dish they deem best, while 3 points (field goal) will be awarded by audience vote. Whichever "team" (Cheftestants or All-Stars) garners the most points wins. Any single cheftestant that doesn't beat their All-Star will be up for elimination.

Josie's hot shrimp and bean ceviche with mango glaze beats Jeff's rock shrimp ceviche with sangria sorbet.

Fabio's venison with salad and cheddar is defeated by Spike's venison w/cherries.

Hosea's salmon roll/salad triumphs over Miguel's cedar plank salmon.

Nikki's sauteed chicken livers are bested by Leah's seared steak and salad.

Jamie's crab plows over Camille's miso sweet potato mash.

Andrew's crawfish crudo with spicy lime is beaten by Carla's gumbo and grits.

And Stefan's salad, prime rib and pork is shut out by Andrea's Tex Mex chili, chips and guacamole.

The Cheftestants win! But that also leaves Stefan, Fabio and Jeff in the elimination round.

Stefan declared he was in love with Andrea, "call me", then called himself a "douche bag!"

Hosea, Carla, Leah and Jaime are called from the "Stew Room" to stand before Judges Table. Carla is declared the winner.

As for the "losers:"

Fabio defended his meat as being "medium rare," saying it sat too long.

Stefan apologized for his disappointment, while the judges criticized him for picking Andrea, thinking his win would be "easy." Padma declares Stefan's salad "abominable!"

Jeff is humiliated after judges emphasize that he was beaten by a hot bean ceviche. Oh the horror!

Jeff -- please pack your knives and go!!!

Up Next: The Elfman's favorite guest judge is back -- that friggin' tip-lipped Frenchmen Eric Ripert!! Set your DVR now Elfman!

For more info or to watch Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php