Help the food critic finish their dramatic review of a disastrous dinner service by choosing the correct words for each blank.

The grand soufflé collapsed into a sad, eggy puddle, try as Chef Gordon might to save it.

He ultimately decided to just order a pizza for his guests, much as he prided himself on his culinary arts.

Something went terribly wrong in the oven, carefully though he had measured the delicate ingredients.

The correct answers are try, much, and carefully.

Try as he might is an advanced, fixed concessive phrase meaning "despite his best efforts."

Much as is often used before clauses with verbs of feeling or valuing (like pride, love, or hate) to mean "even though."

Carefully though is an example of fronting for emphasis. Because the word modifies the verb measured, we must use the adverb carefully rather than the adjective careful.