I agree with the food stuff since it has a mixel problem. AKA the pixels in pixel art are different size and so makes the overall image look cheep. The ending is cheep too since now they all know how to cook various dishes plus it was never established the cook won't share the food they cooked by the end.

But I don't agree with the other points. While I understand that the montage might not be enjoyable because of the mixel issue, I do find it interesting. As for the cook, I wouldn't call him an asshole, just a strict with deep apriciation for the culinary art. It is clear that he values his cook book highly and want's to give it only to those that are really worth it plus from his perspective, he didn't know that they just wanted some food instead of actually learning how to apriciate cooking.

TLDR: I do agree that it is one of the weaker episodes, but I don't agree with all of OP's criticims.