The kitchen on ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ serves up more than just amazing dishes and funny moments. It often brings out plenty of tears, too. This past Monday saw Guatemalan actor Héctor Sandarti become the eighth contestant to leave the show. The three judges made the tough decision.
The elimination challenge came down to Sandarti and Mexican influencer CurvyZelma. Both presented their creations to the judging panel. Then, they stood before the judges to hear the final word. The judges weighed Sandarti’s dish presentation against the good flavor CurvyZelma’s food offered.
“The person leaving the ‘Top Chef VIP’ kitchen is… It’s you, my dear Sandarti,” Chef Toño announced. A deep silence fell over the entire set. CurvyZelma shared a heartfelt hug with Sandarti afterward. She then said, “This feels terrible. I adore Sandarti. I’m going to miss him so much, you have no idea.”
Chef Toño explained the decision. The 57-year-old artist’s dish had “small bits of bitterness.” This ruined the tasting experience for the judges. CurvyZelma’s bread, on the other hand, was not cooked perfectly. However, the judges felt she deserved to stay in the competition.
Now, only twelve famous faces remain. They will keep battling to see who will be crowned the king or queen of the kitchen. Everyone is eyeing the coveted $200,000 grand prize.
Héctor Sandarti: A “Gentleman of Peace” on ‘Top Chef VIP 4’
The Guatemalan actor received a moving farewell, filled with tears, kind words, and grateful hugs. Chef Toño himself called Sandarti a “gentleman of peace” during his time on the reality show. Nicole Curiel shared her admiration. She said, “I have met few men with so many values. If I had had a father, I would have liked him to be him.”
Lorena Herrera also offered warm words. “You are a gentleman in every sense of the word,” she commented. “And now you are in my heart.” Actor Juan Soler gave Sandarti a heartfelt hug. He then quickly stepped away, explaining that the elimination truly pained him.
“He leaves the house and also leaves an empty space,” the Mexican artist expressed. “He’s a good teammate, a good friend. Honestly, it hurts me a lot that good Sandarti is leaving.” Salvador Zerboni added to the farewells. “Sandarti, my great friend, we’re going to miss you, old man. It makes me upset that he’s leaving.”
Sandarti, for his part, thanked all his fellow contestants. He also thanked the team of chefs who make up the judging panel. He saved special praise for the show’s host, Carmen Villalobos. “I can’t imagine this show without you,” he told her.
Who Has Been Eliminated So Far (in order)
- Sergio Goyri
- Christopher Vélez
- Karina
- Elvis Crespo (left on his own)
- Sergio Sendel
- Valeria Cuevas
- Jerry Bazúa
This fourth season of ‘Top Chef VIP’ follows a weekly routine. Mondays are for elimination rounds. Tuesdays focus on immunity challenges. Wednesdays offer a chance for salvation. Thursdays bring another elimination. Fridays are for immunity. Sundays also offer a salvation opportunity. There is no episode on Saturdays.
The cooking competition airs at 7:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm CT. You can watch it Sunday through Friday on Telemundo. It is also available live for streaming on both Telemundo and Peacock.