Biggest Loser 5: Couples, Episode 6 – Food Fight!

Alison has again assembled the teams for a challenge. Everyone has their ankles taped and wristbands in place. But this time, they aren’t going to a gym – they’re going to a culinary school! Today, Mark is darn happy the challenge is not physical.

Within time limits, teams will cook a pre-defined meal that is both healthy and tasty. The judge is to be Rocco DiSpirito, once head honcho on his own reality show, The Restaurant, plus numerous appearances on The Food Network.

The teams are given recipes from Rocco to follow, but they need to be modified to be healthier. They must shop for ingredients and then prepare a three-course meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert). Rocco will subjectively choose the best meal based on taste, nutrition, and calorie count, and as reward, prepare a special meal for the winning team.

Plus, the winning team members earn what Alison calls “prizes from home, something special.” My wife thinks they’ll be getting videos from loved ones. I’m guessing that for the women, it’s the last month of Days Of Our Lives on DVD, so they can catch up. For the men, it’s probably a shoebox full of unsorted receipts and an unbalanced checkbook. We’ll see who is right.

The challenge begins at a local supermarket that is unfamiliar to all. They may not be alone in that – the place is almost devoid of human life forms. Given just fifteen minutes to shop for ingredients, the teams split up to best find things. As they run madly about, Kelly pretends to consider a stop for beer. Ha! Meanwhile, Maggie feels too rushed to make the best choices.

As they return to the kitchen, Rocco is there to meet them. Alison tells the teams that they have to deliver their appetizer in fifteen minutes, the entrée fifteen minutes later, and then just ten minutes after that, the dessert. Early preparations are predictably chaotic. Mark says his brother Jay can only make cereal and toast, while Maggie has trouble with tongs.

Pretty soon it’s time for the first course. The Black Team has Paul’s palm tree, which also features scallops about the base. Using a butter substitute saved them 90 calories. Mark of the Blue Team explains how they also altered the recipe to minimize calories. He does a very creditable job of explaining his meal, but they are nine calories above the Black Team. Rocco comments that he’s surprised both teams delivered on time, but we don’t find out who is ahead.

The second course is due soon after the first, and it’s the former-Blue and former-Orange teams who are presenting plates. Bernie and Dan (!) do the talking. Dan explains that they used sugar substitute Stevia. Both dishes look great and are listed at 350 calories. Rocco says both are pretty good, but again, no preference is shown.

For the final round, it’s Kelly versus the football teammates. The guys are having fun, but I’m not sure they know exactly what they are doing. Kelly is using a sugar substitute named Zylitol. Her dessert has 257 calories, while the guys are over 600. Plus, the guys’ plating skills are a little suspect.

It’s time to announce results. Rocco admits all the dishes tasted pretty good, and he cannot make his decision based on taste factors. He point out to the football teammates that three tablespoons of low-salt butter was a bad idea. Low salt doesn’t mean low calories! However, he also tells Kelly that her sugar substitute had an unpleasant aftertaste. The Black Team have a huge advantage in caloric value, and Rocco declares them the winner.

The Black Team exchanges hugs, and then all eleven players congratulate each other. That’s nice to see after last season’s general animosity between team members.

Back at the house, it’s time for Rocco to make dinner. However, it’s half Rocco cooking and half the team cooking while Rocco supervises. I see Maggie’s hanging back. Along the way, Bernie meets his first lentil and Maggie mistakes parsley as cilantro. Cute. They eat with Rocco, and the meal looks fantastic.

Ahh, it turns out I was wrong – the second part of the prize is indeed videos from home. Those pesky debit receipts will just have to wait.

As the videos play, everyone is weepy over the videos… and the weepiest is Paul. Paul is still carrying a blazing torch for his ex-wife Kelly, and he is devastated to hear Kelly’s boyfriend talk about kissing her. Paul comments how seeing that upsets him, and Kelly herself becomes upset that Paul is spoiling her moment. She even has to remind him that she’s not his wife any more! Even when they both record individual interviews later that night, the emotions are still raw.

Here’s a thought from left field: I’m sure watching this season has been no treat for Kelly’s partner, what with Paul’s crush on Kelly so evident every week.

Back at the gym, it’s last-chance workout time. Both teams are pushing hard. All Mark can do is ride the stationary bike, which he recognizes is less efficient than running.

Alison meets the teams in front of the big scale, and, making another “David and Goliath” reference, she says, “What (the Black Team) lacks in power, they more than make up with heart.” I wonder how many more times we’ll have to hear that before the Blue Team says they have a wee bit of heart as well.