"Top Chef: World All Stars" elevates the humble mushroom for a top-tier penultimate challenge

I've been tough on "Top Chef: World All Stars" over the past few weeks — and this episode shows why. Suni Lee and Gabriel Rodriguez in "Top Chef" Marchand and Padma give Ali the win, noting that they literally couldn't tell the difference looks-wise between his potato-leek soup and Mallory's, which is the whole purpose of the challenge, making him a clear-cut winner. Ali's aiming for a mushroom "steak" of sorts that's seared off, while Buddha references a favorite meal of his — mushrooms on toast — and how he's aiming to amp it up a bit, since this is the semifinals and the cheftestants will be serving on iconic chef Alain Ducasse's boat/restaurant for the elimination challenge. Buddha Lo, Sara Bradley, Gabriel Rodriguez and Ali Al Ghzawi in "Top Chef" Something that strikes me throughout this episode is Gabri's deep, impassioned desire to succeed, which stands in slight contrast with Ali's general laid-back air and Sara's consistently "chill" vibe. On Ducasse's boat, Buddha works on his dish, which becomes a terrine with bacon, mushroom and leek mousse, while Gabri's dish contains a "potato nest" with morita pepper and mushrooms in different preparations.