The pressure is mounting in this 16th season of Top Chef . Episode 12, broadcast on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, on M6, severely tested the contestants' nerves. Between culinary creativity and technical mastery, the remaining chefs battled to secure their place in the quarterfinals. A look back at an intense episode, full of emotion and unexpected twists.
Challenge 1: When diving becomes a work of art
The first part of the episode set the bar very high with a challenge judged by the formidable inspectors of the Michelin Guide. The challenge? To elevate a dish based on a free theme, but with maximum demands on originality, coherence, and execution.
Ilane is the standout, with a daring dish inspired by… dishwashing! Yes, you read that right: she transforms an ordinary kitchen task into a gastronomic experience. The judges praise her inventiveness and precise execution, earning her the first ticket to the quarterfinals.
Grégoire, for his part, offers a three-bite, chewing-gum-like menu that is surprisingly accurate. Unfortunately, the taste fails to impress the inspectors.
Margaux will not succeed in breaking the rules and impressing the inspectors with her dish based on the 4 elements.
Quentin offers a dish on a subject close to his heart: water pollution.
Challenge 2: Pithiviers, between tradition and creativity
The second part of the episode, also judged by the inspectors, is themed around Pithiviers.
· Grégoire makes a bold choice by preparing a vegetarian pithiviers.
· Margaux is going for a Vietnamese-style pithiviers featuring bluefin tuna.
· Quentin suggests a pithiviers with smoked mackerel, duck, chard and mushrooms.
It is Grégoire who discovers the red envelope and joins Charlie and Iliane in the quarter-finals.
Final duel: The café as a playing field
Only Quentin and Margaux remain for one last chance to qualify. This time, the challenge introduces an unexpected and difficult ingredient: coffee, which must be incorporated into a savory dish. At stake: the final spot in the quarterfinals… and a €10,000 prize for the winner.
Margaux combines shellfish and coffee: "Shellfish marinière with two coffees, sweet potato cream and braised parsnip".
Quentin takes a risk by opting for a subtle combination of coffee, meat juice, and vegetables. A winning gamble: his creation impresses the jury with its coherence and finesse. He wins, securing both his qualification and the financial prize.
Unfortunately, the adventure ends here for Margaux. This elimination is all the more significant as it also marks the departure of her brigade leader, Stéphanie Le Quellec.
