Yeah, I know it's not Chicago, but I liked this banner and decided to post it anyway!

Well, Top Chef presented it's most popular challenge last night -- Restaurant Wars -- and the episode was hot and heavy, and I'm not just talking about the Hosea/Leah hook-up!

Right at the beginning, we see Hosea in the cheftestants' apartment talking about his girlfriend (no, that wasn't foreshadowing or anything). A little musings about throwing Arianne under the bus followed, and then it was off to the Quickfire Challenge.

And, finally, a guest judge that I actually recognized! Philadelphia restauranteur Stephen Starr, owner and creator of Morimoto, El Vez, Parc and Butcher & Singer (his latest), as well as other successful dining digs in New York City and Atlantic City, was brought on by Padma to participate in a quickfire tasting.

Padma announced that the next challenge would be the revered Restaurant Wars and the Quickfire Challenge was about creating one dish to showcase a theme for your restaurant. And the chefs were off and running, eager to impress Starr. As Fabio put it, "In love and in war you are allowed to do anything!"

Leah chose Red Snapper and quickly declared that it "smelled like ass," while Fabio had trouble opening the freezer doors!

Restaurant Themes:
Carla - Homey, Rustic
Hosea - Seafood, Mediterrean
Leah -- Asian
Stefan - American
Jeff - also American
Rhadika - Latin
Jaime - Seasonal
Fabio - Meditterean (would we expect anything else from him?)

After sampling all, Starr chose Rhadika's pan-seared cod with corn, spinach and chorizo as the winner. Leah came in second, so both were deemed leaders in the "war" and got to pick their teams.

Rhadika chose Carla, Jeff and Jaime, reiterating how much she dislikes Stefan ...
Leah picked Hosea (obviously), Fabio and Stefan.

Back at the apartment, where teams were left to come up with menus and names for their restaurants -- Sahana for Rhadika's team/Sunset Lounge for Leah's -- Leah and Hosea got a little too close and made out on the couch (oh no they didn't -- oh yes they did!). The next morning both admitted to the camera that it was a mistake because they are both in relationships (hmmm wonder if they still are after last night's ep aired). Then they continued to whine about it throughout the rest of the challenge ... yawn!

Each team was given $3,000 to start their respective restaurants, with six hours to prep their dishes. They also got $5,000 to shop for linens, furniture, accessories, etc. at Pier One. While shopping, Fabio declared, "This is the feeling my wife have all the time!"

Keep it up Fabio -- I love the stuff that man says!

Rhadika took on the task of manager, supervising the front of the house and kitchen, for her Middle Eastern-themed restaurant. While Fabio, wearing a Team Fabio shirt (where can I get that?), eagerly stepped up to play host for the Asian-themed Sunset Lounge. Jaime decided to make scallops -- AGAIN!!

Teams got to work, cooking and decorating their restaurants. Fabio walked in all decked out in a suit, to the cheers of his teammates, and delivered his best line yet -- "I run the front of the House. We can serve monkey ass in empty clam shell! We're gonna win this one. I'm running the show in the front!"

And much to his credit -- they did!

I don't know if this was an oversight or on purpose, but apparently, no one checked to make sure that the freezer was working properly and it made for chaos among both teams. Carla's yogurt sorbet turned to soup and Stefan's desserts had problems as well.

Diners arrived in swift fashion to both restaurants and the service began ... people complained right away about Rhadika's lack of finesse out front. The judges were particularly disappointed, purposely getting up to leave to see if she would bid them a proper farewell (never knew this was soooo important!).

But it was quite the opposite at the Sunset Lounge, where Fabio absolutely shined!! Starr declared Fabio "Fabulous!"

Judges weren't too impressed with either team's dishes, but decided that Fabio's fabulous demeanor and Stefan's delicious desserts were enough to win the challenge for the Sunset Lounge, with Stefan taking the top prize.

Team Sahana was really called to the carpet for their disappointing dishes and service at Judges' Table. Leah's cod was a "disaster." Carla was called out on her soupy yogurt, which she defended, saying that she knew it wasn't good, but sent it out "with love" anyway. Head judge Chef Tom Colicchio wasn't buying it, saying her explanation was "nonsense" and asking Rhadika why she, as manager, didn't do something about it!

And then -- horror of horrors -- Tom announced to team Sahana that the judges "walked out without a goodbye!"

To no one's surprise, Rhadika was asked to pack her knives and go ...

Next week: Top Chef All-Stars Challenge! Several former cheftestants are being brought back to compete either with or against this season's players, including Spike and Andrew, who made the most popular Top Chef quote of all time --- "I have a Culinary B-ner!" and I know there's a T-shirt over on bravo.com with that on it!


Andrew


Spike

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