Top Chef Season 23 Ep 6 Recap

Top Chef Season 23 Ep 6 Recap

From We Know Top Chef by RHAP Judges Table

April 16, 2026 · 1h 25m

About this episode

Curt Clark and Chef Jim Smith recap the barbecue-themed episode 6 of Top Chef Season 23, discussing cooking strategies and s'mores creativity.

Top Chef Season 23 Ep 6 Recap Curt Clark and Chef Jim Smith recap episode 6 of Top Chef, Season 23! Top Chef season 23, episode 6 takes center stage as Chef Jim Smith and Curt Clark break down the barbecue-themed competition, filled with overnight cooks, inventive s’mores, and a puzzling Last Chance Kitchen twist. With Haley Strong out this week, Curt and Jim dive deep into the strategy, stress, and surprises that define this North Carolina barbecue showdown. This episode digs into the whole hog barbecue team challenge, exploring the high-stakes head-to-head cook-off across different pork cuts, including the infamous loin and pork belly. The discussion turns playful as the hosts debate their favorite s’mores, ranging from peanut butter popcorn pyramids to biscoff and lucky charms combinations. Jim shares his experience running a s’mores bar and gives insights into the tricky execution of barbecue loins, comparing real-life restaurant challenges to what unfolds in the Top Chef kitchen. The hosts also react to the surprising, cryptic absence in Last Chance Kitchen, speculating on what really happened and what it could mean for the competition’s future. - Different barbecue…

People in this episode

Hosts: Curt Clark, Chef Jim Smith

Topics covered

  • Top Chef recap
  • barbecue competition
  • s'mores creativity
  • Last Chance Kitchen
  • cooking strategies
  • pork cuts

Keywords

  • Top Chef
  • Season 23
  • episode 6
  • barbecue
  • s'mores
  • cooking strategies
  • pork cuts
  • Last Chance Kitchen

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Top Chef

Places: North Carolina

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