‘Top Chef: Houston’ Recap: Episode 2’s Queso and Carb Showdown Showcases Tex-Mex, Football Fanfare, and Chris Shepherd | Eater Houston

"Used as the setting for a football-themed elimination, the stadium hosted two teams of seven who had 30 minutes to produce pre-game, carb-forward dishes in head-to-head matchups judged by a points-for-votes system that translated into yards on the field. Previous finalists Sam Talbot and Dawn Burrell captained the sides, and while judges praised many plates, neither team reached the 100-point threshold for immunity. Strategic missteps stood out—one team matched a sticky Filipino rice cake (Biko) against a savory potlikker and lost after judges favored the latter, while overcooked rice and under-seasoning sank other entries. Standout moments included a boosted congee that benefited from added black garlic and an MVP performance that paired a hearty 'dirty farro' with 'nduja pork, chicken thighs, and liver' to clinch the round. The overall takeaway was a reminder that vision must translate to seasoning and properly tasted dishes, which ultimately sent a tearful contestant home." - Brittany Britto Garley