"Top Chef: Texas" 12/21- FINAL SHOW THIS YEAR

Quickfire #6: As ordered by people on the show's twitter feed, the chefs had 45 minutes to make bacon dishes that also included hash & a random pantry ingredient selected by someone else. The winner brought home the bacon to the tune of $10K.

Notables:

Beverly: Crispy pork belly w/ corn, bell peppers, Habaneros & potato hash
Chris J.: Corn puree w/ bacon, potato hash & seared scallop
Heather: Smoked paprika quail w/ bacon jam & leek hash
Edward: Potato hash w/ bacon & soft shell crab de-glazed in Sriracha
Sarah: Burrata-stuffed squash blossom w/ bacon & zucchini hash
Chris C.: Bacon-wrapped Monkfish w/ potato, leek & bacon hash
Grayson: Shrimp puff w/ crispy bacon hash cake
Ty-Lor: Maple-glazed bacon w/ bacon & kale hash
Paul: Bacon fat & crispy bacon w/ blackberries, chorizo & mushroom hash

BOTTOM THREE- Grayson, Chris J. & Edward
WINNER- Paul (Runners-up: Beverly & Sarah)

FINAL ELIMINATION CHALLENGE OF 2011: The crew first went to The Driskill in Austin to see guest judge Patti LaBelle sing "Lady Marmalade", after which Padma came in to tell the chefs that they needed to make dishes in two hours to honor their cooking inspirations.

A half-hour was given to shop at Whole Foods Market this week.

DISHES:

Chris J.: Lemon pepper NY Strip steak w/ baked potato & vegetables
Heather: Beef Stroganoff w/ herb spaetzle & roasted wild mushrooms
Paul: Quail Adobo & ginger rice w/ green mango salsa
Sarah: Pork sausage-stuffed cabbage & spinach w/ brown butter
Beverly: Korean-braised short rub w/ Edamame scallion puree & Hon Shimeji mushrooms
Chris C.: Sockeye salmon w/ confit potato & brown sugar carrot puree
Lindsay: Trout Spanakopita w/ crispy leeks & Rainbow Trout Roe
Edward: Modern Bibimbap w/ lemon-chili sauce
Grayson: Grilled Rib Eye steak w/ German potato salad & grilled veggies
Ty-Lor: Duck fat fried chicken tender in buttermilk batter w/ pickled peaches

WINNER- Sarah (Runners-up: Beverly & Ed)
IN JEOPARDY- Heather (Dishonorable mentions: Chris C. & Grayson)

LAST CHANCE KITCHEN CHALLENGE #7: Make half-hour dishes while frying, injecting & foaming food.

Nyesha: Brown butter foam & Beignet injected in caramel sauce w/ lemon zest & cinnamon extract
Heather: Fried Gulf Shrimp injected w/ smoked paprika & porcini mushroom foam

LUMP OF COAL- Heather

But she still won a Toyota Venza.