Bravo.com: First, the Quickfire Challenge: What were you thinking when you saw that Eric Ripert was guest judge?
Everybody knows the Master of Fish. He is one of the best french chefs in America and of course it made me happy to see him. And to his person, what a sweet and nice chef. I would work for him at anytime.

Bravotv.com: Were you worried at all about the fileting? Which did you think was the hardest?
See again we go back to apples. It is the basics like I said prior. You can’t fillet a fish, you should not be in the kitchen, or at least learn and keep your eyes open and watch and go to a fish market on your day off and work for free. Again, eel I love and it is probably the easiest. We used to catch them in horses' heads in the river in Germany and Switzerland. You rope the head of the horse and throw it in the river or stream, wait a few days and pull it out and here you have beautiful eel.

Bravotv.com: Hosea really seems to want to beat you specifically. Do you feel the same sense of competition with him?
I know Hosea wants to beat me. That’s OK. He knows who is the better chef. Do I feel the same way? Not really. I have cooked in so many different countries and continents there is always somebody jealous and wants to beat you, comes with fame, fortune, and good looks. Ha! Hosea that one is for you. My hair looks so much better then yours.

Bravotv.com: Onto the Elimination: You seemed surprised that a challenge was announced at lunch. Were you?

Not really. I was counting the peeps on the table and six courses, six chefs. Do the math. And why would Tom and Eric sit with us for lunch and check us out?