Linkie Marais
Linkie Marais' Videos
See All VideosLinkie Marais' Photos
See All PhotosItalian Inspiration
The next challenge brought Team Giada to Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx, to lead a food tour. Linkie appropriately chose Palombo Pastry Shop and set out to make a cheesecake inspired by their famous cannolis.
Photo By: Todd Plitt ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
Back-to-Back Challenges
Linkie did nail the Chopped challenge, with Alex Guarnaschelli calling her chocolate mousse "beautiful." She was less successful in the Fashion Week challenge that came next, which she outlines here in her journal. Her over-rehearsed script caused her to stumble in her presentation.
Game Time
Linkie wrote out the recipe for her football-shaped "crunchy cookies with cranberry filling" in her journal. On the opposite page, she can't contain her excitement after the judges' and mentors' reaction: "Giada loves the cookie! Susie says cookie is ready to be packaged! Bobby wants to order 3 dozen!"
Food-Court Cuisine
After the Game Day win, Linkie was feeling good. But creating a Mexican dish for Team Giada's food-court kiosk left her stumped: "I don't even know what they serve for dessert in Mexico!" With Martita's help, she decided to make churros and spicy hot chocolate.
Photo By: Edward Chen/Creel Films ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
One Last Shot
Linkie faced Nikki in a Producers' Challenge that focused on turning ordinary chicken — FoodNetwork.com's most-searched ingredient — into an extraordinary dish. Linkie was eager to prove to the judges that she wasn't a one-trick pony and could make impressive savory dishes.
Photo By: Edward Chen/Creel Films ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
Giada's Pitch
Giada told Bob and Susie that Linkie reminded her of herself when she started: "I too grew up speaking two languages. She has come a long way in a short amount of time and I'm very proud of her. She's doing something that took me several years to master." Though Bob and Susie called Linkie's spiced rum chicken "delicious" and loved her natural warmth on camera, it was her confidence issues that ultimately sent her home.
Photo By: Edward Chen/Creel Films ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.