America's Culinary Cup: Chef Kim Eliminated After Meat Challenge Mistake

Paulette CohnThu, March 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC

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(Photo: Jackie Brown/CBS)

CBS’ latest entry into unscripted TV, America’s Culinary Cup, hosted by Padma Lakshmi, returns tonight when the 12 chefs remaining after last week’s elimination take on their first Culinary Commandment challenge: Meat.

The guest judge for the evening is Pat LaFrieda, a fourth-generation butcher, whose company, Pat Lafrieda Meat Purveyors, was established more than 100 years ago. He’s also the author of the seminal book, Meat.

In a challenge that strips cooking down to its raw essentials, the chefs leave the kitchen behind and head to the farm. Paired up and pushed outside their comfort zones, they must break down a massive 250-plus-pound hind saddle of beef, then transform their cuts into unforgettable dishes for more than 100 meat-loving guests at the inaugural America’s Culinary Cup Carnivore Classic.

The America’s Culinary Cup winner will be awarded the biggest cash prize in culinary history: $1 million dollars. Here's our spoiler-filled recap of what happened this week on the new cooking show, including who went home.

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Who went home on America’s Culinary Cup tonight?

Kim AlterJames Beard Nominee

Advancing contestants tonight on America’s Culinary Cup Season 1 Night 2

Beverly KimMichelin Starred Chef

Buddah LoMichelin Starred Chef & Two-Time Top Chef winner

Cara StadlerJames Beard Nominee

Chris MorganMichelin Starred Chef

Diana DávilaJames Bead Nominee

Emily YuenJames Beard Nominee

Katie ButtonJames Beard Winner

Keith CorbinJames Beard Nominee

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Malyna SiMichelin Starred Chef

Matt PetersBocuse D’Or Gold Medalist

Michael Diaz De LeonMichelin Starred Chef

Related: America’s Culinary Cup Premiere Eliminates 4 Chefs — Who Went Home?

What was the first challenge on America's Culinary Cup tonight, and who won it?

There were actually two parts to the night’s challenge: Mastering the Art of Meat -- Butchery and Cookery. The first part was the chef pairs breaking down a steer into: 1 flank steak, 8 top sirloin center cuts, 10 New York strips, 3 Brazilian Picanhas, 1 tri trip and 6 filet mignons.

Judge Pat LaFrieda awarded the points. There was a total of 20 points possible.

Here are the results:

Beverly & Diana: 14Michael & Matt: 12Buddah & Cara: 12Emily & Chris: 8Katie & Keith: 5Kim & Malyna: 3Related: America’s Culinary Cup Reveals Powerhouse Lineup of 14 Guest Judges for $1 Million Cooking Competition (Exclusive)

What was the elimination challenge on America’s Culinary Cup tonight, and who lost it?

The second challenge was an individual challenge to create a dish using one cut of meat but cooked two ways for more than 100 meat-loving guests at the inaugural America’s Culinary Cup Carnivore Classic. Which cut of meat was determined by the ranking from challenge No. 1 as each team had to use a different cut.

The chefs were judged by Padma, Pat, Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne on Taste, Presentation, Creativity and Mastery of the Commandment. The two scores were added together for a possible 100 points.

The winner was Matt with 87 points, but it was close. Here the are total scores for the chefs that were safe:

Matt: 87Cara: 86Diana: 73Beverly: 71Chris: 65Keith: 63Michael: 55Katie: 53Emily: 51

No scores were shown for the bottom three: Buddha, Malyna and Kim. But it was Kim, who was asked to pack up her knives.

“I feel disappointed in myself,” said Kim, who got a low score because she didn’t realize that she had to cook the meat two separate ways, not apply two types of cooking to the same meat. “In the moment, I literally stopped and my mouth dropped open and I realized I had f*&%-ed up. To come into the competition, to risk leaving your restaurant and to not go far is awful.”

America’s Culinary Cup airs Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Streams next day on Paramount+.

Next, Top Chef Star Joins Padma Lakshmi’s New Culinary Competition Show

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”