Throwdown!

Beef Tenderloin with Spring Vegetables

As he takes the finished dish back to the room and sets it down in front of Garth, Jo, Meg, and Claire, Dean says, "Admittedly, this should be made with lamb, but I wanted to make a different version with beef. Made enough for everyone, so enjoy yourselves!"

Claire goes first, spearing some of the vegetables with a fork and asking, "So what exactly is it I'm eating here?"

Dean explains, "Carrots and beans cooked with boiling saltwater, with bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus and zucchini, covered in a special sauce I made."

Jo whines, "Aw, why do you have to make us more hungry?!" 

Meg agrees, while Garth looks at the dish more objectively.

Okay, so far it looks like just a normal beef tenderloin with vegetables. Wouldn't be out of place on a food truck menu.  Not unless…

Meg and Claire get ready to dig in, admitting, "This is looking pretty good."

But it's Garth that takes the first bite. Then he has another one. And another one. "Delicious!"

Jo notes, "The beef is perfectly juicy, and the vegetables are still crisp! All the flavors pop up on my tongue with every bite."

Claire picks it up, "There's no way just broiling it could've done this, so how?"

Meg takes a bite and says, "Braising."

When Jo and Claire turn in her direction again, Meg says, "He made this tenderloin by braising it. Also commonly called the poele method."

Claire says, "What?", Jo says, "Are you serious?" While Dean just says, "Huh?"

Upon hearing that, Jo points a finger and demands, "Where do you get off acting surprised?"

Dean explains sheepishly, "I've never heard the term 'pollee' in my life, so…"

Jo's taken aback, but Garth speaks up again before she can say anything, "Little cooking lesson for you. Poele is a method of cooking meat that's well known in the French region of Europe. It's one variation of the saute. You heat up olive oil and cook the meat in it, letting the meat absorb the oil to make it juicy."

At Dean's shocked look, Garth asks, "I'm curious, Dean Winchester. Who taught you to cook like the French?"

Dean says, "My dad. He's pretty much been my mentor for as long as I can remember, and he's the one who taught me to cook like this. Said it was ideal to make tenderloin to just the right juiciness. It's awesome with a medley of broiled vegetables. And they're flavored with a sauce made from a dry red wine, beef and chicken stock reduction, and chilled butter whisked in slowly. Gives it an amazing flavor that goes really well with the tenderloin. Depends on what you're after."

But upon hearing Dean's explanation, Garth has a different question, "So your dad is well versed in French cuisine?"

Dean admits, "Not entirely sure. I couldn't say for sure about anything my dad's been up to. But I guess it's accurate to say my dad's studied all over the world."

Garth turns back to the meat, "I can definitely see that." Who would've thought an Irish dish could be made using a French cooking technique? He doesn't stick to one category or cuisine. It's so... freeing! And braising it was perfect, given the thickness of the meat, ideal for both filets and tenderloins. He thought that up in a snap second and made the necessary adjustments. The colorful vegetables look like they just sprouted up out of the ground! No doubt about it, this is definitely spring on a plate.

It's silent for several moments as everyone keeps taking more bites, loving the juiciness from the meat and the deliciousness of the vegetables, until finally, the plate is completely empty.

Garth has to compliment Dean, "Well done."

Dean smiles, "Thanks. I actually like yours too."

Garth holds out a hand, "Thanks for the competition."

Dean takes it, and shakes his hand firmly, and right at the same moment, everyone else in the room starts waking up.

As Charlie starts to stir from her sleep, she sees Dean and Garth shaking hands. 

What parallel universe have I dropped into here?

On the other side of the room, Jo keeps slapping Kevin's face to no avail,

"Kevin? Kevin! Wake up!"

Claire notes, "Dead to the world, huh?"

Jo agrees, "Guess so."

Then, once they see Ed and Harry fast asleep, they all decide it's best if they don't stick around for Kevin to wake up.

But Charlie's still confused, "Why did Garth challenge Dean to a battle?"

Claire rolls her eyes, "Who knows? Since when does anyone really know what goes through that guys head?"

Jo agrees again, "Exactly. Gives me a headache just to even try."

As everyone else goes into their rooms, Garth hangs back to put a blanket over Kevin and say,

"Well, Dean, with all this excitement, I'd say you're officially a member of Cuthbert Sinclair's."

Dean pauses from sharpening his knife at this, then Garth adds, "If there's anything you need help with, don't be shy about asking."

Dean already has a question in mind, "Well, since you're offering...how does one join the Garrison?"

That definitely surprises Garth, but upon seeing the expectant look on Dean's face, Garth laughs, "That's right. You're looking to take the top spot at this academy, aren't you? Then I have to ask, what's your driving force?"

Now that they've battled, Dean feels comfortable enough to admit, "Truthfully, me and my dad are kind of butting heads right now. Unless I get a spot on the Garrison, he doesn't see the point in acknowledging my talents as a cook. Our battle may have been a draw, but what if I had beaten you? Would that mean I'd take over as Kendrick's Number 7?"

Any normal person would've gotten pissed at Dean's nerve to say something like that, but Garth just smiles, "Oh, wow, this is awesome! You really do have a lot of spunk, don't you? You're gonna need to hold onto it if you're gonna survive at Kendrick's."

Dean gets embarrassed at this, "Right…"

But immediately, Garth calms down,

"But, regardless, we'll have to talk about that another time. It's already getting pretty late, isn't it? Go get some rest."

Dena nods, "Yeah, you're right."

As Dean leaves the room, Garth thinks,

After the top spot, huh? All too soon, you'll come to realize how heavy those words can really be. You'll come to learn that at this school...cooking is your lifeline.

"In this challenge, your main ingredient is eggs. Make me one, and only one, well made dish. If you actually manage to impress me, you'll be allowed in. Fail, and you will be blackballed permanently."

"Quit being so smug and hand me that sandwich, you moron."

"DISGUSTING!!!!"

"I'm going to make myself perfectly clear so even you can understand. If it were up to me, you wouldn't be standing here at all. Not you, nor your second rate cooking."

"You really think you're going for the 'crown jewels'? I've heard dad jokes that are funnier than that. All incoming students who've actually passed their exams have already learned so many techniques used in fine dining restaurants. Stuff you clearly lack, and will never be able to survive without."

"Have fun perpetually in dead last!"

Dean lays on his bed as those words from Jack at his audition play through his head, until he finally falls asleep.