Top Chef Cuts Slurping Turtle's Aaron Cuschieri

Slurping Turtle executive chef Aaron Cuschieri was eliminated from Top Chef New Orleans in last night's episode. He was booted at the beginning of the episode, losing the Elimination Quickfire Challenge.

The chefs were challenged by Food & Wine editor Dana Cowin to make better versions of "bad food trends" (her opinion): kale, bacon, smoke and eggs on top of other things. Cuschieri got saddled with kale, and his decision to fry it and then overwhelm it with soy, Mirin and rice vinegar proved to be way too salty for everyone who came into contact with it (including Cuschieri himself).

Chicago almost lost 100 percent of its Top Chef contestants last night when Mexique's Carlos Gaytan landed in the bottom three for the regular Elimination Challenge. Gaytan left the mixing of blackened seasoning to another contestant. The seasoning, along with blackening his fish too much, really aggravated the judges. Luckily for Gaytan, someone else screwed the pooch worse than he did and he's still around.

But honestly, Chicago's chances of gaining another Top Chef winner are not very promising this season.
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