The kitchen heat on “Top Chef VIP 4” isn’t just about cooking. It also brings out strong emotions. This was clear during the latest elimination. Mexican influencer CurvyZelma said goodbye to the show. Her departure was tough for many. Chef Inés Páez Nin even got teary-eyed. She struggled to share a farewell message. Some of CurvyZelma’s fellow contestants also shed tears.
Fans on social media had mixed feelings about her exit. Some viewers felt CurvyZelma was the most dramatic person on the show. Others described her as the kindest and most likable contestant. CurvyZelma herself understood these views. She shared, “Some people love my sweetness, and some find it too much.” She believed her “sweetness” helped her get along with the other chefs.
Salvador Zerboni was clearly sad to see his friend go. He gave CurvyZelma a warm hug. He said he would deeply miss her friendly spirit in the competition. It wasn’t all good vibes for CurvyZelma, though. She also admitted that her friendships with Paco Pizaña and Cristina Porta had broken down. This happened many episodes ago. She mentioned a “cultural clash” with Spanish journalist Cristina. They were a team for one challenge, but they couldn’t fix things between them.
CurvyZelma. Photo by Adrián Monroy/Medios y Media/Getty Images
Matías Ochoa’s Pantry Peace Offering
After his own farewell hug, Argentinian influencer Matías Ochoa had a special request. He led CurvyZelma to the show’s pantry. This is where all the fruits and vegetables are stored. CurvyZelma joked about having a boyfriend, thinking Matías might try to kiss her. But Matías had a more serious goal: he wanted to apologize.
The singer picked up two bell peppers, one green and one yellow. “This is what drove us apart,” Matías said. “Today, it must bring us together.” He explained that tensions were incredibly high during their earlier conflict. He didn’t want CurvyZelma to leave with a bad memory. He repeated that he truly wanted to make amends.
Their past fight started when CurvyZelma took two bell peppers from Matías. She gave them to another contestant to help them out. This move really hurt Matías. Even though CurvyZelma had apologized before, they hadn’t had a chance to properly end that disagreement. This pantry meeting finally closed that chapter for them.
A Look at Eliminated Contestants (in order)
Here is a list of the chefs who have left the competition so far:
- Sergio Goyri
- Christopher Vélez
- Karina
- Elvis Crespo (left the show)
- Sergio Sendel
- Valeria Cuevas (returned to the show)
- Jerry Bazúa
- Hector Sandarti
- Yany Prado (left and then returned)
- Norkys Batista
- Nicole Curiel
- Celinee Santos
- Paco Pizaña (returned to the show)
- Curvy Zelma
It’s worth noting that Matías Ochoa himself was eliminated earlier, on September 8th. However, he used a special “advantage” he had. This allowed him to overturn the judges’ decision and stay in the competition. The winner of “Top Chef VIP” season four will earn more than just bragging rights. They will also take home a grand prize of $200,000.