The excitement of Season 6 of the Tournament of Champions unfolded with Episode 7, titled Down to the Great 8, which aired on April 13, 2025. This exciting installment welcomed back eight determined chefs vying for a coveted spot in the finale and the grand prize of $150,000. One standout from this episode was Chef Britt Rescigno, who triumphed over Chef Kaleena Bliss in a high-stakes sudden death duel, propelling herself closer to victory.
In this gripping episode, contestants faced off in four intense battles, each fully aware that their culinary creativity could either lead them to victory or send them home. The competitive sequence began with Joe Sasto taking on Lee Anne Wong, followed by the electrifying match between Britt and Kaleena.
The latter half of the evening featured two more culinary confrontations: Sara Bradley squared off against Nini Nguyen, while Kevin Lee faced Antonia Lofaso. Each competitor brought their A-game, but only some would secure their advancement.
Chef Showdown: Britt vs. Kaleena
In a thrilling moment, Britt showcased her culinary prowess by crafting a Filipino-inspired dish featuring pork sausage, beef oyster steak, and avocado. Her remarkable efforts earned her an impressive score of 88 out of 100 from the judges, while Kaleena’s dish secured 85 points. This solid performance allowed Britt to move one step closer to claiming the Tournament of Champions title.
The Recipe Challenge
Each week, the show’s unique randomizer adds a layer of unpredictability by challenging chefs with an eclectic mix of ingredients, cuisines, and kitchen tools. This week, Britt and Kaleena were tasked with creating a “fruity and nutty”dish that incorporated longganisa (Filipino pork sausage), avocado, and beef oyster steaks. They were further challenged by the requirement to use a pizzelle press and complete the dish within a tight 40-minute timeframe.
Britt, a New Jersey native, expressed her frustrations regarding the randomizer’s choices but remained motivated to impress the judges. Speaking candidly to the camera, she stated:
“This is the whole new Chef Britt: getting married, my first restaurant… This is a lot of new things and exciting things happening, and I have space for one more thing, and that’s TOC champ.”
Britt’s creative output included a dish known as farrotto, where farro was prepared like risotto, accompanied by seared beef oyster steak, a vibrant herb and frisée salad dressed with grilled avocado vinaigrette, and a savory pizzelle made with the sausage fat. Meanwhile, Kaleena’s offering featured an herb-grilled oyster steak with avocado, paired with spaetzle, cashew cream, and a refreshing fruity salad.
The panel of judges—Michael Symon, Ming Tsai, and Cat Cora—tasted each dish blind and ultimately favored Britt’s farrotto, praising its seasoning and creativity. Britt’s consistent excellence was rewarded with a score of 88, overshadowing Kaleena’s 85, resulting in Britt’s advancement while Kaleena fell short.
Britt’s recent success secured her position in the Top 4 of the Tournament of Champions, marking her third appearance in the finals of this competitive culinary series. In the previous season, she navigated through formidable competitors like James Beard Award winner Jonathan Sawyer and renowned judges such as Marc Murphy and Amanda Freitag before facing off against Maneet Chauhan in the finale.
As the competition reaches fever pitch, Britt previously showcased her skills against fellow chefs Tiffani Faison and Jose Garces before ultimately losing to Maneet in the last season’s finale.
Mark your calendars! The highly anticipated finale of the Tournament of Champions will broadcast on April 20, 2025, at 8 PM ET, exclusively on Food Network.