Dean and Carnie walk out hand in hand, ready to face their final challenge of the competition. Carnie is nervous and can't help but hold onto Dean for comfort. She becomes even more nervous once she hears who they'll be cooking for. They listen up as Rachael and Guy explain the task at hand.
You've Made It!
Rachael and Guy congratulate Carnie and Dean for making it this far. Their final challenge will be cooking a three-course dinner for 11 guests, including famous chefs Nancy Silverton and Suzanne Goin, representatives from their charities and a special guest, comedian Kathy Griffin. The one catch: they won't know ahead of time what ingredients will be available for them to cook with.
Cooking Side by Side
Carnie and Dean have no problem sharing the kitchen and cooking alongside one another. However, they realize they have a big challenge in front of them — pulling off a dinner party and making three dishes each: an appetizer, entree and dessert. After brainstorming some ideas with their mentors, the two waste no time in getting started.
Reinforcements Have Arrived
Rachael and Guy surprise Carnie and Dean with kitchen help. Carnie is overjoyed to have her dear friend Amy acting as her sous chef to help her with the challenge. She hopes she can feed off of Amy's natural composure under pressure to remain calm.
Focus and Concentration
Dean is very focused on what he must do for this challenge. He wants to impress the dinner guests with his concepts, techniques and execution. He's got a lot of things planned for each of his dishes, which are all restaurant-quality. Here he gets working on the mushrooms for a sauce he'll serve alongside his steak dish.
Rachael's Reassurance
Carnie is alarmed when she sees what Dean is up to in the kitchen. Rachael stops by to remind her not to compare her style of cooking to Dean's. Staying true to herself will be the most important thing for Carnie in this challenge. Rachael advises her to cook the food she knows and loves. Carnie is still worried she might be penalized for not making food as elaborate as Dean's.
Guy's Game Plan
Since the celebrities didn't know what foods would be available to them, Guy advised Dean to grab all the proteins as soon as he got to the kitchen. Dean was ruthless in grabbing scallops, lobster, beef filet and flank steak. He and Guy had talked about creating a menu that was both elegant and decadent, but Dean may be making it too complicated. He keeps thinking, "Keep it simple, stupid," but it's obviously not working.
Carnie's Not Afraid of Flavor
Carnie isn't afraid of flavor. She's using lots of herbs in her recipes. For her tuna dip appetizer she's using cilantro and for her entree she's creating a mixed herb pesto to go over penne.
High Scores for Dean
Dean's using a unique technique for his seared scallops — he's scored each side with crosshatches to create an extra-crisp sear. The guests are very impressed with the technique, which Chef Michael Cimarusti says he's never done before.
Extra Points for Flattery
Dean and Carnie present their appetizers to the guests. Dean attempts to suck up a bit and calls the theme of his menu "Kathy's Day" in honor of special guest Kathy Griffin. The group finds Dean's dish impressive but Chef David Lentz doesn't get the dish. Everyone loves the flavor of Carnie's tuna dip but Chef Brad Miller comments on the watery texture and Chef Nancy Silverton comments on the oversized plating.
Plating up Perfection
Carnie's putting the finishing touches on her entree of pesto penne with jalapeno-lime shrimp. She's done a great job of plating, topping the dish with a garnish of seeded, chopped tomatoes, which Chef Jet Tila praises her for.
Some Food, Some Laughs, Some Letdowns
Dean and Carnie present their entrees to the guests. Carnie extols her pasta dish, explaining the array of flavors they can expect. Dean goes into detail about how he wrapped the beef filet in flank steak to make the lean cut more flavorful in the absence of fat. Carnie jokingly offers up her backside to Dean in case he needs some more fat. The table loves Carnie's dish but wants more heat. They appreciate Dean's dish for its complexity, but many think it didn't come together completely.
Special Nod to a Former Contestant
Dean's friend and momentary sous chef Scout helps him plate the dessert of grilled pound cake with caramel sauce, macerated mixed berries and syllabub. The dish was inspired by Kathy Najimy's elimination-round dessert from the previous episode.
Praiseworthy Desserts
After dessert is served, the guests discuss the merits of each dish. Carnie's apple fritters were a surprise hit with no criticism. Many found Dean's dessert a bit too complicated, but Nancy thinks it was perfect as it was. She particularly commends the syllabub, which had great body for having so much liquor whipped into the cream.
Sighs of Relief
Dean and Carnie can't believe the challenge is over. They're both proud of what they've accomplished and now it's up to the judges to determine who wins the competition.
Awaiting the Final Results
Dean and Carnie await their judgment. Rachael and Guy summarize how the dinner was received by the guests. Carnie achieved exactly what she was going for: simplicity. And everyone loved her dishes. People appreciated Dean's ingenuity but there was a big concern that his dishes were overreaching and overcomplicated. But before they announce the winner, Rachael and Guy have surprising news.
Not 1, but 2 Surprises
Before announcing who will win $50,000 for his or her charity and the title of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off Champion, Rachael and Guy inform the finalists that the runner-up won't leave empty-handed. A $10,000 check will be given to his or her charity. Carnie and Dean can't believe the great news. But before the envelope with the results is opened, Rachael and Guy surprise the celebrities with their families, who have come to join them for the announcement.
Dean's Defining Victory
The winner of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off by one vote is Dean! He feels so validated and thankful to Guy for his mentorship. His charity, Miracle Babies, will be awarded $50,000. Carnie is so thankful to Rachael and is excited to give her charity, the Autism Research Institute, $10,000. She feels she's won too.
More Rachael vs. Guy
Read more about the competition, watch exclusive videos and keep up with the show on the blog.
