Top Chef Season 16, Episode 8: ‘Whatever Floats Your Boat’ Recap | Eater

"Set on a lake touted as the houseboat capital of the world, this two-day boat-party challenge pits a fun-loving, party-first crew against a stressed, perfectionist team aboard two houseboats outfitted with compact home kitchens and hot tubs. Captains from a yachting reality show greeted the chefs and showed them around, and judges Tom Colicchio and Emeril Lagasse later boarded to taste. The winning team focused on crowd-pleasers — shucking Alabama oysters, plating watermelon salad, frying walleye, serving shrimp rolls, batching a gelatin-based “jiggle juice” (Maker’s Mark, peach‑mint tea and gelatin) and handing out Key lime “puppy chow” favors — and earned the guests’ votes; Kelsey’s oysters with watermelon mignonette were singled out as the night’s best dish. The other boat struggled with a power outage and a poorly cooked porchetta (described as tasting like honey-baked ham), cold portions and some dishes that didn’t suit a cocktail-party setting, resulting in that team’s chef being sent home. Overall the location highlighted the contrast between party-focused, crowd-pleasing cooking and precision-driven, perfectionist cuisine, with atmosphere and guest appeal deciding the outcome." - Greg Morabito