Picture Perfect Brunch

This episode like a set up from the judges to "impress" the guest judge - who really didn't provide any helpful feedback. The judges gave the set up, provide your "it" item - which ALL the contestants did. If they were looking for an Instagramable challenge, this should have been stated outright (and some could argue the cronut is merely delicious but not necessarily instagramable) . What the contestants provided was the "it" item they are known - and all the judges said their dishes were generally delicious. I also found it completely ludicrous that Solah only ate one bite of banana bread to make a point... clearly the judges should have figured out by that point their explanation was off base since everyone "got it wrong" and not have been punitive and petty. This episode really highlighted the contestants being great and made the judges, including the guest judge, looking a bit indecisive and frenetic - like they can't plan a challenge properly.

Love the show, judges, and contestants. Up to this point the challenges and grading have felt on point. The issue here is one that was detectable on the first episode, there is a lack of organization and clarity in the explanation of the challenges. The brief on this episode's starter was "create your 'IT item'" and "deliver a dish with unique flavor combination". What follows is the remaining contestants doing exactly that, and each time they are shot down and made to listen to things like "it's good but not special" or "it's just another dumpling" or even "viral food makes you want to find it and eat it". It's as if the judges changed the challenge without telling anyone and it's brutal to watch the contestants getting humiliated in front of a man they all admire for something entirely out of their control. It's so universally misunderstood that at one point all the contestants are brought up and made to listen to "I think across the board we didn't quiet listen to the challenge". !!! Look if it's one cook that makes a mistake ok, if it's everyone it's not them it's the judges communicating the challenge.

I really like this show but it was shocking to see such a disconnect and then have the competitors pay the price for it. Perhaps an unintended but predictable byproduct of judges drinking before and during the challenges? Just saying.