As the group of contestants becomes smaller, the challenge for this week was to create a kid-friendly menu and tie it into a promotional toy for this group of tough critics. In my opinion, children are a very hard crowd to please when it comes to food. If they don't like what they're eating they'll tell you like it is.
The contestants had to be creative with both the menu and the promotional toy. My advice? Don't underestimate this crowd - you'll be amazed how honest and direct they are.
Joey had a great advantage because kids love meatballs; he just needed to create a simple yet flavorful menu, and also a toy which would entertain the kids. The combination of a great meatball burger, pasta-edamame salad and a chocolate-dipped strawberry, took it home. Plus his toy was interactive and very entertaining.
Stephanie also put forth an interesting menu that the kids were very drawn to. I am happy to report that in this case, the kids were very open to the idea of healthy food. I realized at that moment that our younger generation is looking for good-tasting food, but also healthy food. It's a sign we're on our way to a healthier generation! I was concerned about Spice Coast, since spicy food can be a little offensive for our little tasters, so we made sure to advise Sudir to lower the level of spice for this challenge.
I was also skeptical of Grill'Billies' kabobs. While they were nice and flavorful, serving them on a sharp stick was risky and hazardous for the kids, a major concern in my eyes. Grill'Billies totally dropped the ball on this one, and made it impossible for us to keep them in the competition.
Oh and one last thing, my props to Bobby's daughter, Sophie. You can tell she comes from a household of foodies!
Until next time...L.