Watch What Crappens #2819: Top Chef S22E7 Part Two - Pizza Party Behavior

Release Date: April 28, 2025

In this episode of Watch What Crappens, hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam dive into the tumultuous world of Top Chef Season 22, Episode 7: Pizza Party Behavior. This two-part recap focuses on the second half of the episode, where contestants face the ultimate pizza-making challenge, leading to unexpected triumphs and dramatic eliminations. Here's a detailed summary capturing all the key moments, discussions, and humorous exchanges between Ben and Ronnie.

1. Contestant Struggles and Creative Attempts

The episode kicks off with Henry grappling with his pizza dough. [02:55] Ronnie sets the stage by explaining Henry's predicament:

"So Henry has no flour, and everyone... he's just concerned that his shit's not going to work. And spoiler alert, it definitely does not."

Ben confirms the dough disaster:

"It does not work. And Ronnie even helps him by giving him some flour. But, yeah, it doesn't work."

As a result, Henry pivots to creating a sushi pizza, using rice as his crust. This unconventional approach immediately raises eyebrows:

"He's gonna make the literal thing that they showed you. This is so uncreative. Henry."

In contrast, other contestants showcase their unique takes:

• Shoy decides on a scallion pancake pizza, aiming for a giant scallion pancake base adorned with various toppings. [03:22] Ben critiques:

  "Shoy is doing a scallion pancake pizza... he's putting stuff on there."

• Tristan opts for an Armenian flatbread pizza, highlighting his versatility:

  "Tristan's gonna make a, like, an Armenian flatbread pizza... I was working with these crazy Swedes... this week I'm gonna cook Armenian food."

• Paola experiments with a Fugazetta doll, enhancing fermentation with milk and sugar:

  "Paola is gonna do a Fugazetta doll. You bloom the yeast on milk and sugar, making a faster fermentation."

• Vinnie focuses on perfecting his dough through relentless mixing:

  "Vinnie is... I just try and develop much as possible. And that's just. I just keep beating it and beating it."

2. The Niagara Falls Anecdote

Amidst the chaos of pizza preparation, Lana shares a personal story about a trip to Niagara Falls, revealing a softer side:

"Lana is like, you know, I'm from New York City... we get close to Niagara Falls and they all get rain in their faces."

Ben expresses his surprise at the beauty of Niagara Falls, contradicting his initial unimpressed stance:

"But it's more impressive... I thought Niagara Falls was going to be this great thing. It's just like a little thing... I actually thought it was very pretty."

Ronnie passionately defends the majesty of Niagara Falls:

"I went there in sixth grade and I literally had my mind blown... I could sit there and just stare at those waterfalls for hours."

This exchange adds a light-hearted moment, showcasing the hosts' differing perspectives.

3. Judging the Pizzas

As the contest progresses, the judges evaluate each pizza based on creativity, flavor balance, and execution. Notable feedback includes:

• Tristan's Armenian Flatbread Pizza receives praise for its thin, crispy texture and balanced flavors:

  "Tristan's... a flatbread in the style of dough. Very thin, crispy. It was spicy. It had tang."

• Paola's Fugazetta Doll faces criticism for being too soft and overfilled:

  "Paula's fugazetta was too soft. There's too many fillings... her pizza turned out awful."

• Henry's Sushi Pizza is met with disdain, leading to his elimination:

  "Henry's dough is dead. It did not rise. He's gonna have to make sushi pizza... it's doomed."

The judges' remarks are often interspersed with the hosts' humorous takes, enhancing the recap's entertainment value.

4. The Winner and Elimination

After tasting all the creations, Tristan emerges as the winner of the pizza challenge for his standout Armenian flatbread pizza. The announcement is met with both surprise and applause:

"The winner is Tristan. Wow."

Contrastingly, Henry faces elimination due to his failed attempt with the sushi pizza:

"Henry's rice pizza... it sucked. Get out of here."

The hosts emphasize the high stakes and the competitive nature of the challenge, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster for the contestants.

5. Humorous Host Interactions and Ongoing Banter

Ben and Ronnie maintain a lively and comedic dynamic throughout the episode, often poking fun at contestants and each other's takes. Highlights include:

• Ben's Mockery of Henry's Dough:

  "Why are you wasting your life? We raised you better than this rice."

• Ronnie's Jokes About Gail Simmons:

  "Gail's entire apple maps is filled with little pizza shops dotted along the way."

• Sarcastic Comments on Contestant Strategies:

  "She's putting cornmeal on the bottom to stop it from sticking... but she put way too much on there."

These exchanges keep the recap engaging, providing comic relief amidst the intense competition.

6. Sponsor Mentions and Skipping Non-Content Sections

As per the episode’s structure, Ben and Ronnie briefly touch upon sponsors and advertisements but ensure the focus remains on the content recap. They humorously acknowledge ad segments without delving into them, maintaining the flow of the main discussion.

7. Final Thoughts and Teasers for Upcoming Episodes

Wrapping up the episode, Ben and Ronnie reflect on the challenges and highlight the standout performances. They tease future Top Chef episodes, keeping listeners hooked for what's next in the culinary showdown.

"Next week is Restaurant Wars... it's probably a good idea they got rid of Henry before Restaurant Wars."

Their anticipation for upcoming episodes adds an element of excitement, encouraging listeners to stay tuned.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [03:22] Ronnie: "If your ratios are wrong, your pizza dough is just not going to rise."

• [07:53] Ben: "Yeah, I knew this was not gonna go well."

• [16:20] Ben: "Sometimes in life we have scallions. Sometimes in life, we have pancakes. This is a journey."

• [19:04] Ben: "Why do people like this even own restaurants?"

• [30:17] Ben: "I just got a text from my friend Tricia that says Padma and Martha."

• [39:37] Ben: "I'm so confused."

• [43:40] Ben: "And Spike's like, yeah, here's where you lost me on your first bite."

These quotes encapsulate the hosts' humor and critical observations, adding depth to the recap.

Conclusion

Watch What Crappens #2819 offers an entertaining and insightful recap of Top Chef S22E7: Pizza Party Behavior. Ben and Ronnie navigate through the contestants' creative endeavors, judge's critiques, and the resulting drama with their signature humor and candid commentary. Whether you're a seasoned listener or new to the podcast, this episode provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of one of Top Chef's most memorable pizza challenges.