Bobby Flay is 3-9 against Indian cuisine. He is 1.000 against most things. Against curry he is .250.
Palak Patel — Chopped winner, James Beard nominee, now chef-owner of Dash & Chutney in Atlanta — is one of the chefs who put that record together. Her credit, more than anything, was understanding that the spice work is the recipe. She toasts whole spices before grinding them. Bobby pre-ground his.
The judges' word for Bobby's chicken curry, per the episode, was "dainty." "Dainty" is what you call a tea sandwich. It is not what you call a curry. The judges meant it the way they meant it; the camera held on Bobby's face for a beat longer than was kind.