Maui chef’s food wins out

Restaurant Wars left no time for a Quickfire Challenge last week. Cheftestants were too busy designing an empty space into two restaurants.

Maui chef Sheldon Simeon’s sinigang soup had earned him the executive chef spot on one team, and he named his restaurant Urbano after his grandfather, whose traditional food inspired its contemporary Fili­pino menu. Simeon’s teammates: Stefan Richter and Josh Valentine.

Multiple challenge winner Kristen Kish headed up Atelier Kwan, which delivered reinventions of French classics. Her team: Brooke Williamson, Lizzie Binder and Josie Smith-Malave.

Judges Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and host Padma Lakshmi were joined by super restaurateur Danny Meyer.

Drama started early in Kish’s kitchen, as Smith-Malave resumed her procrastinating ways and failed to prep her bouillabaisse. Kish bit her tongue and instead said she wanted to see every plate served. The mix of Smith-Malave’s problematic work ethic — and bouillabaisse — coupled with Kish’s inability to juggle all the duties she took on, resulted in mixed reviews.

Atelier Kwan’s lineup: the boui­lla­baisse, Binder’s rabbit and poached root veggies, Williamson’s cheeses with roasted radish and fruit compote, and Kish’s beef bourguignon and dessert of deconstructed macaron.

The Urbano team’s challenge was in the dining room where Richter, serving as host, responded dismissively to the judges.

Urbano’s menu: Simeon’s yellowtail with spicy chili, adobo of pork belly, and prawns and tapioca with achiote; Valentine’s balut-inspired poached egg, and a coconut sorbet halo halo; and Richter’s dark chocolate with macadamia nuts.

One of the season’s most dramatic moments came when Kish’s team was pressed by judges about the problem-laden bouillabaisse. Smith-Malave blamed Kish; Kish shouldered it.

Judges gave the win to Simeon’s team. And who could have guessed it? Kish packed up her knives.

Last Chance Kitchen: Chris Jacobson and Kish had to use snapper and a smoke element in 30 minutes. Jacobson’s Brown Butter Snapper couldn’t compare to Kish’s bouillabaisse.

Save a Chef: Jacobson faces the seemingly immovable Kuniko Yagi. Vote at www.bravotv.com/top-chef.

Tonight at 8 on Bravo (repeats 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.): Cheftestants face sushi master Katsuya Uechi, then fry chicken for Wolfgang Puck.