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I was also so sad to see Ashley go home! I understand that there were problems with the dish, but there were also problems with Michael & Ash's dish -- and Ash pretty much contributed nothing and then threw himself under the bus.

I was also disappointed by this week's episode. I think it would have been cooler if they had to cook on a tighter budget or avoid using any ingredients over a certain price. As a home cook, I don't think I could successfully recreate any of those dishes.

As far as Ashley goes, I totally agree! I hate their voting process - she won last week! Why don't they remember previous performance? Ash has been in the bottom 4 for the last few weeks and he didn't do anything this week. Totally bummed to see her go. :(

I heart Ashley! Mike Isabella needs to get out - he's arrogant and not very versatile. If I see one more scallop come acrsoss a Top Chef plate, I may have to give up (in the eternal words of Fabio, this isn't Top Scallop) ... and I whole heartedly agree that there was nothing "family style" about those dishes! Other than the fact that they were on shared platters. They were all individual gorgeous portions sitting on bigger plates. FAIL.

Ashley did not deserve to go, but I respect her for not pointing the finger at her teammate. I'm glad Jen and Kevin won because it seemed like they actually created the dish as a team. If they were cooking solo each of them probably would've created something different, so it was a true creative collaboration. I can't wait for Mike I to leave.

I adore Kevin. He seems to have such a sweet personality and takes every challenge in stride no matter what's thrown at him. I hope he makes it to the end.

Ashley definitely stumbled in the beginning episodes but has been progressing. I can't help but think she got sent home in order to save someone else that they thought was more important.

If the challenge was based on the dishes alone it sounds like the halibut was an utter failure and the prawn dish had some issues. So, I see that as halibut lose, prawn win. Then, the halibut team had only one person conceptualizing and executing the dish that failed. So, I would say halibut team effort lose, prawn team win. The decision doesn't make sense. I know we're talking about two losing teams but one team clearly lost bigger than the other.

I also thought it was funny how the one guy asked the brother of the guy on the losing team what the components on his dish were and he got snapped at. "Did you taste it? You cannot pass judgment on the dish unless you have tasted it." Sounded to me like he was just asking what was on the dish--not passing judgment.

There actually was a ceviche in this episode. Eli made a mushroom ceviche in the quickfire challenge.

Kevin is my favorite. I did not like how the one monotone brother snapped at him when he asked about the dishes. Get a grip, bro.

I was mostly disturbed by the odd green pantsuit that Padma wore during the Quickfire. The hell?

Hitting her stride?! Are you insane? She has been at the bottom repeatedly since day 1! And she always cops major attitude while the judges are interviewing her. Frankly, she should have been gone weeks ago. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Scallops, yuzu, halibut, ceviche - I think Top Chef needs to restrict the use of these ingredients or recipes, to something like only once in the season for each chef. It is tiring to see three or four scallop dishes and two halibut dishes in one episode.

Also, I liked Ashley (not initially). I think Eli or Ash should have gone home; they are both completely overrated and have made nothing that I would want to eat. I am willing to give Bryan a small pass for his snappish attitude - he seemed worried about his bro...

@Nikita: yeah, I never need to see that outfit ever again.

I've thought that I wasn't too interested in this season, but I find myself watching it for lack of anything better on tv. Gotta say, while I feel like the show has focused a lot on who has the biggest ego, I do really like Kevin.

i am definitely rooting for kevin! he seems (based on the show's editing, at least) to have the perfect combination of talent and humility.

my main problem with the show is that it comes on so late on the east coast, and i get hungry watching it!

I feel like this season is a lot stronger than last. Kevin, the brothers, and Jennifer would have been shoo ins last season.

Mike I is growing on me. Robin can't stop talking, and that can make someone who's trying to concentrate insane. That said, she was more familiar with their stuff, and he just didn't care what she wanted to do.

Ashley: loved her. Ash really should have gone home. The argument that you can cook really well isn't good enough when your team made a crap dish. This is Top Chef. Not Top Cook. He and Robin should be next to go, then I feel like it's game with the best chefs from the season.

I was so happy to see her go. Her whole tirade about not wanting to compete in the bachelor/bachelorette party challenge was so obnoxious.

I don't want to make this a political discussion, but her rant was against not being able to have same-sex marriages in this country. Meanwhile I believe six states allow and perform services. I'm all in favor of same-sex marriages, but her whining left a bad taste in my mouth.

I agree about the Ashley rant at the bachelor/bachelorette party being ridiculous. NOT because of the issue but because as a chef - or any sort of professional for that matter - you are going to have to work for people or events that you don't necessarily like or agree with. I found it rather juvenile.

About Brian snapping at Kevin - I thought it was soooo cute! I mean, I heart Kevin more than anyone else on the show, but Brian is always competing with his borther and he jumped to defend him and it was just sort of heartwarming.

Jen gets on my nerves. Maybe its the "I am just as good as a man" attitude she has. Like she's the only woman who ever had to compete with men, and like she's so put upon but oh, please don't give me any sympathy. Its like a caricature of all the women who really made strides for equality in the past.

As far as scallops go, the chefs didn't pick their own ingredients for this challenge. Really though, you can carmelize a scallop perfectly, we get it. Let's see someone do some game birds or duck or, heaven forbid, a pork chop or some lamb.