Most of us know the fable of the tortoise and the hare, but how many of use can recall having seen the fable play out. Well, if you have been watching this season of Top Chef the fable is right there before your very eyes. For this showing the tortoise has been perfectly played by Carla. Now that I think about it, some of her faces can look like our shell-backed friends.

Top Chef's resident tortoise: Carla

When the episode began, Wylie Dufresne was presented as the guest judge of the quickfire challenge. The challenge was simple, make a dish with eggs. However, since Dufresne is the master of molecular gastronomy our chefs got a bit too creative. Carla clearly won the challenge by keeping it simple and tasty.

Go little tortoise, GO!

To be honest, we are getting to that portion at the show where you can see them really nitpicking to identify a loser. The food looks creative and overall gets good reaction. I think the cream has risen but we still have a little bit of skimming to do.

With that in mind, the chefs draw knives to reveal their elimination challenge. Each knife has a name of a legendary chef. Since Carla won the quickfire challenge, she has the option to switch with any of her fellow contestants, but she doesn’t. This is always the smartest move. Almost without fail, when the winner of a quickfire tries to pick what they determine to be an easier option for the elimination they fall flat. Exhibit A: Stefan during the Superbowl challenge. But that is just the most recent example.

So the chefs are asked to create each legendary’s chef’s last supper. Here are the pairings:

Hosea: Susan Ungaro, shrimp scampi and tomatoes provincial
Carla: Jacques Pepin, squab and fresh peas
Leah: Wylie Dufresne, Eggs Benedict
Stefan: Marcus Samuelsson, salmon and spinach
Fabio: Lidia Bastianich, roast chicken, roasted potatoes and leafy salad

The chefs are all fairly confident. The biggest issue is determining if they should stay true to the dish or give it their own spin. Most stay true to their dishes, except Hosea. He forgets that the end of the day the judges only care that it tastes good, exceptionally good, despite what they may say.

During the prep for the challenge the chefs here a bang. Fabio’s finger was broken. When asked if he wants to go to the hospital Fabio says: “Hospital? No way hospital. I will chop it off and sear it in the flat top and deal with nine fingers tomorrow.”

So have I mentioned how I love Fabio. He is hilarious. He is a great chef but a greater personality. I have usually watched Top Chef and been attracted to the arrogant personalities. Not because I like them, but because I don’t and I want to see them go down. I want to witness them swallowing their hearty dose of humility. Sometimes I have been disappointed (Hung). This season however, I love watching the good guys. I love Fabio and Carla is my tortoise. She is gaining steam and I am learning to love her too!

So now Fabio is cooking his food with “one hand tied behind his back.”

In the end, it seemed that the food was good. The winners were between Fabio’s chicken and Carla’s squab. I would have been happy with either winner. Fabio was cooking from his heart after conjuring up the memory of his “grandma.” Carla was keeping it simple and delicious. They loved both dishes but did not like Fabio’s “airplane salad.” Carla’s squab was a bit overcooked, only there wasn’t a clear consensus on that point. In the end, Fabio won broken finger and all. I was so relieved he was in the top four. I need Fabio on the show!

At the bottom three sat Stefan, surprisingly, for having overcooked his salmon. There was no disagreement on this point. It was overcooked. He was accompanied by Leah who made a weak and thin hollandaise sauce on undercooked eggs and Hosea whose twist on the meal was not appreciated.

Let’s be honest here, as a viewer, we didn’t believe for one minute that Stefan would go home. He would have to have burnt his salmon to a crisp before they would send him home. He has won too many challenges and they will have him in the final. It is a given. He even knows it.

Top Chef's Leah

Generally Hosea’s dish was good but could have used a little tweaking so the loser was clear. Leah PACK YOUR KNIVES AND GO HOME! See ya’.

Wait…did you see that? I could have sworn I just saw a tortoise go by.

We will see next episode.