Telenova star Fabian Rios eliminated from Telemundo’s ‘Top Chef Estrellas’

Last night’s episode of Telemundo’s “Top Chef Estrellas” featured plenty of family recipes and many magical moments for the seven stars remaining in the culinary competition. On this fourth episode, host Ingrid Hoffman welcomed the contestants in the kitchen with boxes packed with ingredients familiar to each. The celebrities were caught by surprise and couldn’t contain their emotion as their special cooking assistants for the night arrived to help prepare their Elimination Test dishes – family members and friends, some coming from far away, bringing tears to contestants and viewers alike.

Gabriela Vergara was joined by her best friend, Claudia, who helped create her famous paella with noodles; Judith Grace had her daughter to share a very familiar Mexican recipe of “chiles rellenos and almond rice;” and Fabian Rios’ wife, Yuly, helped him make a “Genovese cake,” a Colombian dessert she prepares for him at home on Sundays. Maripily Rivera was surprised by her sister Frances, whom she hadn’t seen in two years, and together they prepared a traditional Puerto Rican dish that incorporates pork chops, rice with chickpeas and plantains. Gabriel Coronel was deeply moved when he saw his mom, arriving after a long trip all the way from Venezuela. Together they prepared “chupe de pollo,” a traditional Venezuelan chicken soup that she used to make for the young star as a child. Sissi Fleitas also got a visit from her mom, Dinorah, and cooked a dish consisting of shrimp, green beans, bacon and wine. Kimberly Dos Ramos welcomed her mom, Marisol, to help with  her grandma’s recipe – a Portuguese “milho” – while everyone commented on her mom’s youth and beauty.

After 45 minutes working in pairs, the surprise guests left the contestants alone to put the final touch to the dishes that would be enjoyed in a very special night. The “Top Chef Estrellas” judges, Chefs Lorena García, Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu, had a difficult time choosing someone for elimination after realizing how much family sentiment went into each dish. However, after Kimberly became the last star to be saved, Fabian was eliminated. As he traded off his uniform for the Sous Chef one, he talked about what a wonderful experience it has been for him and that he will continue to support the fight against cancer even though he wasn’t able to win any funds for his charity.

Gabriela Vergara was the night’s winner for the second time after she impressed the judges with the exquisite execution and presentation of her “seafood noodles with aioli sauce.” She now has a total of $10,000 for the Ricky Martin Foundation. She is followed by Maripily and Judith – with $5,000 for each of their charities – and Kimberly, with $2,500.

Next Sunday, February 15 at 9pm/8c, the “Top Chef Estrellas” kitchen will be filled with music as it enjoys an exclusive visit from Mexican regional music star Diana Reyes and her band, who will be the special guests the celebrities will cook for. Although there was a truce in the battle between divas Sissi and Maripily during a night of pure family emotion, things will get heated again in the next episode.

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