“Sausage Race”: 9 of the biggest takeaways from this week’s baseball-themed “Top Chef”

I was rooting for Kevin in LCK, so I’m glad he’s advancing, but the Rasika “story” had such a flat, anticlimactic ending, did it not? In hindsight, it seems like while it’s clear she was clearly the winningest cheftestant, her edit still felt a bit contained or streamlined, especially when compared to Danny and Michelle, or even Manny and Dan. 

Overall, Rasika seemed a bit inflexible — she wanted to make eggplant and crab and didn’t pivot, she wanted to do a five-course meal in LCK and didn’t pivot — but her talent is undeniable. I would say she’s on the shortlist for a “second chance” or another “All Stars” return, though, no question.

I’ve compared Rasika to host  former contestant-turned-host Kristen Kish, but I wonder now if she could be more of a Melissa: Quiet, talented, unassuming in her first run and then a major contender, and eventual winner, in “All Stars.” We shall see. Either way, I look forward to what she’ll do in the future. She’s young and remarkably talented.