French master Daniel Boulud was the guest judge, and Padma was curiously absent from the first half of the episode. For the Quickfire, the chefs had to cook with snails - excuse me, escargot - using them as the main protein. Not only was it a high-stakes Quickfire involving a big prize for the winner, but it was high-stakes because the loser was being eliminated from the competition at large. Before it even began my guess was Robin, who had an interview early in the episode, and has been largely useless thus far.

Ashley seemed to have another freakout in the kitchen - that happens to her a lot - and there was another inadvertent pan swap between Ron and Robin. That's two in two weeks; we've never seen that before this season. Weird. Mattin claimed he had an edge because he is from France, and has worked with and eaten snails his whole life. True, but you also wear that stupid red scarf, so you've got that to overcome, Frogger.

The results: Mike I was in the top for his Greek-inspired dish, as were Kevin, and Jennifer. Has there been a challenge yet where Jennifer has not been in the top? And Kevin pulled out the win, giving immunity at the elimination challenge. Least favorite dishes: Jesse for her BLT-inspired dish, plus Robin and Ashley. Colichio surprised them with a curveball: they were given a second chance, 20 minutes to create an amuse bouche from anything in the kitchen -- basically a "one bite to save your life." Interesting concept, and it felt very tense. Ashley's nerves creeped up again, Jesse's self doubt seemed to dissipate a bit, and Robin basically admitted she had no idea what she was doing.

Robin made avocado soup, Jesse made tuna tartar with egg, and Ashley made foie gras with pineapple. All of them seemed to have issues with proportions, but they also were apparently quite tasty. Ultimately it was Jesse who got cut, making it four women in a row who have been eliminated this season. It's turning into a sausage fest around here.

For Elimination Challenge the chefs had to draw knives with either a French sauce or a protein written on them. They were then tasked to working in pairs making a six-course meal based around the meats and sauces, which would then be served to a table of some of the best French chefs in the world, including Hubert Keller and Joel Robuchon, named the Chef of the Century in France and regarded as the chef of his generation. Kevin didn't have to cook at all, AND he was invited to dine with the other chefs. Wow!

The teams pair up like this: Bryan (trout) & Mike I (sauce bernaise); Mike V (rabbit) & Jen(sauce chasseur); Eli (lobster) & Laurine (sauce Americaine); Ashley (poussin) & Mattin (veloute sauce); Ron (frog legs) & Robin (brown butter sauce); and Ash (chateaubrian) & Hector (sauce au poivre). Mike seemed a little clueless about how to break down the bernaise sauce, although Bryan seemed to have some experience with what they were doing. Robin was totally spastic, and Ron basically just tried to ride it out. All in all, I've never seen contestants on this show so stressed about service - these guys were sweating balls cooking for the guests at that dinner.

Ron & Robin were up first with frog-leg meuniere with lemon confit. The frog legs were overcooked and over-floured, but the chefs thought there was some inventiveness in the dish. Bryan & Mike were next with warm-cured tout with deconstructed b�arnaise. The judges really loved it; one dubbed it "simple but really sophisticated." Then Eli & Laurine served their lobster with cauliflower puree;� the judges felt the lobster was too tough, and that the sauce lacked the traditional flavors of a sauce Americaine. Ashley & Mattin came out with seared poussin and ravioli, and the judges were not happy -- bland chicken, too much bacon in the sauce. Jen & Mike created rabbit with mustard noodle and shiso, which the judges loved, especially the rabbit, which was perfectly cooked. Tom referred to it as "mature work." Finally, Ash & Hector had major problems with their plating, and their steak au poivre was REALLY bloody. The judges complained that there was almost no sauce on the plates, that the meat was cooked very unevenly. Gail said her meat looked like it was "hacked with an axe." Eek! On the upside, Gail and Tom both agreed that they could never had a meal that sophisticated at this point in any other season. I can't taste the food of course, but it sure looks like this group of chefs is leagues better than what we've had the past two runs or so.

Padma called Bryan & Mike and Mike & Jen to the winners circle. No surprise. I think Bryan, Mike, and Jen will be joining Kevin in the Final 4; in fact, I will be shocked if that's not precisely how it shakes out. Mike I took credit for the deconstructed b�arnaise, which did not seem like how it went down. Jen and Bryan had a mutual admiration society going, and I wonder if I didn't detect a little bit of sexual tension there. Ultimately Bryan got the win, which I believe gives him two elimination wins. And for his trouble he's been invited by Robuchon to study with him for a week at his restaurant in Las Vegas. Damn!

Losers Table: Mattin & Ashley, Hector & Ash. Again, no surprise. Mattin tried to pass off his lousy sauce as being out of practice, and Ashley seemed to be falling apart in front of our eyes; she was a squiggling, face-grabbing mess. Ash was castigated for the lack of sauce, and then Hector was challenged for his cooking and carving skills, while they were both given crap for poor time management.

Ultimately Hector was given the cut. That's fine by me; I've yet to e impressed with really anything he's done thus far. But I was kind of hoping for Mattin to go home, since he's French and he fucked up the French challenge. If he can't do that right, what can he do?

Next: chuck wagons! And Tom Colichio eats something so bad he actually walks away from the table! � � � �