Who got eliminated from Top Chef in Season 22 Episode 11? 

Top Chef
Top Chef | Image Source: Instagram /@lana_cooks

Top Chef Season 22 took a frigid turn in Episode 11, "Calgary, Yahoo!" as the final six contestants packed their knives for Canada's cowboy city. The competition has reached fever pitch with Massimo, Shuai, Lana, César, Tristen, and Bailey all vying for a spot in the finale. This pressure-cooker episode served up two intense challenges that would separate the wheat from the chaff.

The Quickfire Challenge had chefs flipping pancakes for 50 hungry diners in just 45 minutes, while the Elimination Challenge demanded they master local Alberta beef paired with foraged berries. With Top Chef judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Kristen Kish watching every move, one chef's journey came to an abrupt end.

The stakes couldn't be higher as the finale looms large, and every mistake carries the weight of elimination. In a season where culinary excellence is the baseline, even good dishes can send you home when perfection is expected.


What happened in this episode of Top Chef?

The Olympic Plaza in Calgary set the stage for a breakfast bonanza that had nothing to do with your typical morning meal. Top Chef guest judge Connie DeSousa from Top Chef Canada challenged the remaining six to create handheld pancakes for 50 diners in 45 minutes. No forks, no knives, just pure pancake innovation.

The chefs struggled with griddle temperatures and oil ratios while racing against the clock. Shuai impressed with cornmeal pancakes featuring lap cheong and chili crisp avocado aioli. Bailey crafted elegant buckwheat crespelle with brown butter pecans. Tristen went Venezuelan with cachapa and berbere chorizo.

When the smoke cleared, Shuai claimed victory with his bold flavor combinations. The bottom belonged to César, whose XO pancake did not resonate with Gail, while Massimo's mini pancakes were deemed too small and Lana's creation seemed to them more like sausage than anything else.

The real test came at Rouge Restaurant, where chefs had to marry Alberta beef with local berries. Each contestant drew cards for their protein and pulled knives for berry selection. The pairings ranged from Massimo's tenderloin with elderberries to Bailey's beef cheeks with saskatoon berries.

After shopping at Calgary Co-op with a $250 budget, the chefs had 2.5 hours to cook (Shuai earned an extra 30 minutes from his Quickfire win). The pressure mounted as they faced a distinguished panel including Rouge's Paul Rogalski and Tsuu T'ina Nation's Amber Big Plume.


Who was eliminated finally in this episode?

The top three dishes in this episode of Top Chef showcased technical excellence and creativity. Massimo's tenderloin earned praise for its balanced elderberry integration. Shuai's stuffed cabbage with braised short ribs transported Judge Denia Baltzer back to childhood memories. Tristen's flat iron became what Paul called "a tribute to gooseberries."

Massimo ultimately claimed the Elimination Challenge victory, securing his spot in the next round.

The bottom three faced a harsh reality. Despite Tom Colicchio's admission that they’re not getting bad dishes anymore in this stage of the show, someone still had to go home. Lana's grilled strip steak with pommes anna and haskap berries fell short of expectations.

The sage overwhelmed her dish, the steak was over-rested, and the pommes Anna felt disconnected. As Tom explained before the elimination:

"Unfortunately, tonight there was just one dish that felt incomplete and someone's going home for a good dish."

Lana's departure marks another step toward the finale, where only the most exceptional chefs will survive. In Top Chef's unforgiving landscape, good simply isn't good enough anymore.


You can catch Top Chef: Destination Canada (Season 22) every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes available for streaming the next day on Peacock.

Edited by Tanisha Aggarwal