The final four are back after a non-televised break in competition. Not sure what the rest of them did, but Fanboy-favorite Stephanie took a trip to Asia.
Call it Finale Part 1, as the competitors take the show on the road to Puerto Rico. After exchanging pleasantries and unveiling Lisa's new haircut, the gang heads off for their first elimination challenge. The chefs must create two dishes for Padma and guest judge Wilo Bennet using a Puerto Rican staple, plantains.
Though all four make excellent dishes, it's Stephanie's frituras that take the prize, giving Stephanie her first Quickfire win all season.
Padma then explains that they will have some help in the upcoming elimination challenge and brings out former contestants: Dale, Spike, Nikki and Andrew. Stephanie's prize is that she will get to assign sous-chefs for herself, Richard, Lisa and Antonia.
As the sous-chefs head out to the market, the chefs start butchering. The kitchen is not what anyone is used to: very small, not necessarily up to the standards of a high-volume kitchens. There is even a mild pigeon invasion.
Prep time is going well for all chefs, that is until we find that Dale has forgotten to store away one of Stephanie's pork dishes, leaving it out all night.
Dale admits that he will never forgive himself if he causes Stephanie to be sent home and never fear, the two improvise with a fruit and chiccarone salad that impresses everyone, putting Steph in the top two along with Richard who eventually wins the challenge along with a new Toyota Corolla.
This leaves Lisa and Antonia on the chopping block. (Could we go one episode without seeing Lisa's totem-pole like stature and sour puss? She looks like a bad Scooby-Doo villain.)
In the end, it's underdone pigeon peas that sends Antonia home.
After a tearful goodbye to Antonia, Lisa wonders aloud to her fellow remaing chefs why they haven't congratulated her to which Richard responds off-camera: "Congratulations, you won the bronze medal."
See you next week, where we find out who will be this season's "Top Chef."
PHOTOS: Bravo.com
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