Torn between the thrill of innovation and the anxiety of elimination, the eight remaining contestants faced two intense rounds in this episode. The first challenge, dubbed “La Surprise de Hervé” (Hervé’s Surprise), required chefs to craft a 3-course meal using a mystery basket of ingredients including preserved lemons, duck confit, and a rare Alsace heirloom apple. Contestants had just 45 minutes per course—a test of improvisation and technique. The second round was a “Culinary Showdown” inspired by French gastronomic heritage: a blindfolded “blind tasting” challenge where chefs had to recreate a legendary dish (hinted to include a vintage wine pairing) from memory and sensory clues alone.