Top Chef Season 22 Episode 5: A Culinary Challenge with Indian Cuisine
The latest episode of Top Chef, titled Line Cook for a Day, aired on April 10, 2025, presenting an intriguing team-based challenge for the contestants. Chefs were paired into duos to create a cuisine-specific dish for 150 diners at The Bentway. Vinny and Lana chose to showcase Indian flavors in their dish, featuring chicken and flatbread; however, their execution ultimately fell flat.
Judges’ Feedback on Vinny and Lana’s Dish
“Vinny and Lana, there was just very little Indian flavor in that dish. And I think that they got too wrapped up in the story and so wrapped up in hollandaise and chicken that they forgot that this was a major part of the challenge.”
These critical remarks from judge Tom Colicchio highlighted the duo’s struggle to capture authentic Indian cuisine. Co-judge Gail Simmons echoed Colicchio’s concerns, critiquing Vinny for focusing on narrative over flavor. Guest judge Sara Bradley also emphasized the need for Vinny to express his own culinary identity rather than simply imitate his mentors.
The judges were particularly disappointed with the choice to incorporate hollandaise sauce, arguing that it overwhelmed the main flavors of the chicken, diluting the vibrant essence typical of Indian dishes. As a result, Vinny and Lana found themselves in the bottom two, facing the threat of elimination.
The Inspiration Behind the Dish
Before tackling the challenge, the contestants visited Dil Se, an Indian restaurant where they served dishes and sought inspiration. During their time there, both Vinny and Lana acknowledged their unfamiliarity with Indian cuisine, despite recognizing its characteristic spices and bold flavors.
One standout dish they tasted was the chicken kamasutra, which captivated their taste buds. Inspired by this dish, Vinny proposed a recipe featuring chicken thighs paired with hollandaise—an approach he admired from his previous work at the Nomad restaurant. While Lana hesitated, she ultimately agreed to explore this unique pairing. With their ingredients procured, the chefs began prepping their dish, with Lana crafting flatbread dough while Vinny focused on the chicken.
“We are making chicken thighs with curry hollandaise and flatbread,”Lana said.
Cooking and Presentation at The Bentway
Upon arriving at The Bentway, the duo began preparing their dish. While tasting the hollandaise, Lana felt satisfied with its mild flavor, considering it might appeal to the judges. When explaining their creation to the panel, Vinny detailed the components:
“So we have chicken thighs cooked down in a base of a cashew sauce and a caramelized onion and tomato sauce, and then a curry hollandaise. This is my homage in this dish to my past working at the Nomad.”
Lana added an artistic touch by garnishing the dish with edible flowers, which she enjoys using. While the judges praised the texture of the chicken skin, they agreed on the need for more intensity in flavor. Tom and Gail both expressed disappointment, expecting more heat from the Indian-inspired dish.
“I don’t know why you need a rich hollandaise when you have a rich sauce. What’s the point of it?”
Ultimately, Vinny and Lana finished in a precarious position alongside fellow contestants Corwin and Kat. However, they managed to avoid elimination while receiving a clear message to enhance their culinary skills moving forward.
New episodes of Top Chef premiere every Thursday at 8 PM ET on Bravo, promising more culinary excitement and challenges ahead.