Catherine Chung, speller 265, misspelled potager, a cook whose specialties are soup, broth and bouillon.
"After fighting with the manager at the restaurant, the potager went back to the kitchen and stewed," read Dr. Bailly, who added "Thank you, I'll be back tonight" as the audience laughed.
Catherine, a South Korea seventh grader, tied for 22nd last year.
We also lost Akshra Paimagam, speller 276.
The North Carolina eighth grader misspelled panettone, a usually yeast-leavened holiday bread containing raisins and candied fruit peels.
In 2015, she tied for 39th place.
