"Top Chef Masters" 7/8

Before I start this recap, I would like to make a note to all of you "Top Chef" fans- a week after this series ends, catch the new season of "Top Chef" from Las Vegas starting August 26th at 9 PM EST. This season, the biggest prize package in the show's history is offered, which is worth over $200K- including $100K from Glad and $100K worth of merchandise from Macy's.

This week's top-quality chefs:

Mark Peel (Campanile in L.A.)(Charity: Doctors Without Borders)
Douglas Rodriguez (Alma de Cuba in Philadelphia)(Charity: Ayuda for the Arts)
Anita Lo (Annisa Restaurant in NYC)(Charity: SHARE)
John Besh (Restaurant August in New Orleans)(Charity: Make It Right)

Quickfire: Create an egg dish with one hand behind their back in 25 minutes. This Quickfire Challenge was first done on a Season 3 All-Star episode. The judges for this challenge are Gail Simmons (who also replaces Jay on the Elimination Challenge judges' table this week), Terry Reish and Monica May.

Douglas: Open-faced corn cake w/ scrambled eggs and ham
Mark: Fresh duck egg pasta w/ egg & olive oil cream sauce
Anita: Soft scrambled egg & Shitake mushrooms w/ truffle oil & oyster sauce
John: Slow-cooked egg

Scores:

Douglas: 3
Mark: 2.5
Anita: 5
John: 0.5 (I had a bad feeling his score would be very low)

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE: Make a dinner inspired by one of the four qualities of magic (as determined by a blind card draw) and serve it at Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA to Neil Patrick Harris and some of his friends.

The assignments:

Mark: Mystery
John: Surprise
Douglas: Spectacle
Anita: Illusion

This week's shopping lasts 45 minutes, and the budget is $250.

While they're cooking, "Top Chef's" own Tom Colicchio stops by!

Mark:
A: Tai snapper in parchment w/ garlic mashed potatoes & leeks
B: Scallion oil & Dassai Sake

John:
A: Salmon tartare w/ cauliflower blini
B: Cucumber and Salmon Roe Salad w/ horseradish & creme fraiche sorbet
C: Tempura-fried lobster wrapped in smoked salmon

Anita: Braised Daikon w/ Kombu caviar, steak tartare & shellfish broth

Douglas:
A: Oyster ceviche w/ duck broth
B: Empanada w/ Foie Gras & figs
C: Duck breast w/ butternut squash
D: Duck soup w/ young coconut

JOHN:
Quickfire: 0.5
Diners: 2.5
James: 3
Gael: 3
Gail: 3
TOTAL: 12

MARK:
Quickfire: 2.5
Diners: 4
Gael: 4.5
Gail: 4
James: 3.5
TOTAL: 18.5

DOUGLAS:
Quickfire: 3
Diners: 3
Gael: 2.5
Gail: 2.5
James: 2
TOTAL: 13

ANITA:
Quickfire: 5
Diners: 4.5
Gail: 4.5
James: 4
Gael: 4.5
TOTAL: 22.5- WIN!