WARNING: Full spoilers for Top Chef Carolinas S23E10 aired May 11, 2026.
In one of the most heartbreaking eliminations of the season, Duyen Ha — a consistent frontrunner — was sent home after serving severely undercooked fish during a scenic but brutal lakeside challenge. Episode 10, titled “Hook, Line & Dinner,” took the final seven chefs to Green Pond Landing at Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, for a fishing derby that mixed fun with unforgiving pressure.
The episode delivered classic Top Chef drama: a chaotic mise en place relay, live fishing for protein, and a high-stakes cook-off at Abyss restaurant. By the end of the night, only six chefs remained in the hunt for the $250,000 grand prize.
Quickfire Challenge: Mise en Place Relay + Carolina Cook-Off
The episode opened with a high-energy team relay. Chefs were split into two teams and tasked with a fast-paced mise en place race featuring local Carolina ingredients: scuppernong grapes, shrimp, pecans, and corn. The first team to win three rounds advanced to an individual cook-off.
- Red Team (Duyen, Sieger, Rhoda) defeated Blue Team (Anthony, Sherry, Jonathan).
- Laurence Louie earned a fast-pass straight to the cook-off as the previous week’s Elimination winner.
In the individual round, Rhoda Magbitang finally claimed her first Quickfire victory of the season. Her Warm corn, pecan & shrimp salad with scuppernong-tamarind vinaigrette impressed the judges with perfect balance and bright regional flavors. Rhoda took home the $10,000 prize and much-needed momentum after her dramatic Last Chance Kitchen return.
Elimination Challenge: Top Chef Fishing Derby
The chefs headed onto Lake Hartwell to catch their own fish, then had 90 minutes the following day at Abyss restaurant to transform their catch into a standout dish. Advantages were given for biggest fish, smallest fish, and most fish caught. Guest judges included actress Danielle Brooks and local chef James London.
Laurence once again proved why he’s the season’s frontrunner. His Cantonese steamed fish — a heartfelt recreation of the first dish he ever cooked for his wife — was called “flawless” and a “big slap in the face of flavor” by the judges. It earned him his fourth Elimination win of the season and another advantage moving forward.
Other strong performances included:
- Rhoda’s elegant pan-seared bass with mussels and meunière sauce
- Jonathan’s crowd-pleasing beer-battered fish taco
- Anthony’s spotted bass with bold poblano egusi sauce
Performance Breakdown
| Chef | Quickfire Result | Elimination Dish | Judges’ Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurence | Fast-pass | Cantonese steamed bass | Elimination Win |
| Rhoda | Quickfire Winner | Pan-seared bass with mussels & meunière | Top |
| Jonathan | Team race | Beer-battered fish taco | Top |
| Anthony | Team race | Spotted bass with poblano egusi sauce | Top |
| Sherry | Team race | Green curry spotted bass | Middle |
| Sieger | Bottom (cook-off) | Baked bass with lentils & sofrito | Bottom (safe) |
| Duyen | Top (cook-off) | Canh Chua (Vietnamese sweet & sour soup) | Eliminated |
Duyen Ha’s Shocking Exit
Duyen’s Canh Chua (a traditional Vietnamese sweet-and-sour soup) received praise for its flavorful broth and thoughtful seasoning. However, the fish was severely undercooked — essentially raw in parts — a critical error this deep into the competition. Judges noted that while the dish showed creativity and heart, food safety and basic technique could not be overlooked at this stage.
Duyen, who had been a strong contender since the early episodes and won Restaurant Wars, took the news gracefully but was visibly devastated. Her elimination marks one of the biggest upsets of Season 23, as many expected her to reach the finale.
Current Standing & What’s Next
With Duyen’s exit, six chefs remain: Laurence (clear frontrunner with 4 wins), Rhoda (building strong comeback momentum), Jonathan, Anthony, Sherry, and Sieger.
The competition is now razor-sharp with no more safety nets. Episode 11 airs next Monday, May 18, 2026, and is expected to push the finalists even harder as they head toward the finale.
This lakeside episode blended beautiful Carolina scenery with raw culinary pressure — and reminded everyone that one mistake, even from a favorite, can end a Top Chef journey in an instant.
Catch up on Peacock or Bravo and let us know in the comments: Was Duyen’s elimination fair, or the biggest shock of the season so far?
