Top Chef Masters' second episode was a lot more watchable than the premiere, with a come-from-behind, against-the-odds surprise win. Chef Carmen Gonzalez lost her food (and precious preparation time) when, upon arriving at the elimination challenge, she realized she had to drive back in Los Angeles traffic to the Top Chef kitchen to pick up the stew she'd left behind.

But we get ahead of ourselves. In this week's lineup, three New York-based chefs (Gonzalez, Aquavit's Marcus Samuelsson and David Burke) faced off against Houston's Monica Pope and Seattle's jolly Thierry Rautureau.

The quick fire challenge made us very, very hungry. Make a grilled cheese for Kelly Choi! Rather than plain cheddar on sourdough, options ranged from Carmen's Manchego with cilantro lime to Monica's feta on date raisin bread, which took the win. Unlike most dishes, these seemed within easy reach to replicate at home.

This week's elimination challenge: make soul food for actor Mekhi Phifer (whom may have been most recently on ER but for us, will always be Rabbit's BFF in 8 Mile.)

After the obligatory trip to Whole Foods, the chefs set about their business. All is well, until the chefs pack up to head over to the party. After a whirl of excitement, the chefs exit... and a camera lingers on an aluminum pan full of food.

Once Carmen realizes that she left her dish behind, she heads back but pleads with the others to help her. Three of the four take time to put yucca on the stove and shuck oysters. Marcus, who had seemed likable enough, sticks to his corner, arguing the old trope: "It's a competition." The chefs unwittingly burn Carmen's yucca so she heads out to face the crowd with just her stew and some gumption.

Guess what? People go nuts for it. Even as Marcus beams that people came back multiple times for his barbeque chicken, mac & cheese and collard greens, it's Carmen's simple oyster and hot sausage stew that takes the win.

The takeaway: Trust your gut and you'll win... but also don't help others and get second place. The Good Samaritans in the episode (David, Thierry and Monica) just get pats on the back before being shown the door. It's a cold world, Top Chef.