DiningBuzz! - Top Chef Season 6

WOW, I 'm into this show...

http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef

Brothers, Hotheads, great cooks, Vegas....

I'm happy.

Discuss.

An interesting twist... having brothers on the same show.... that should get fireworks going at some point... :)

I had a tough time making the connection between some of the vices and the actual dishes....

The Vices challenge was rather weak, the chef from Haiti had no clue was the challenge was about.

What about the quickfire at the start, the one chef Preeti couldn't open a clam and killed her teams chances from the start. On that team, why wouldnt somebody step up and shuck the clams?

I like Top Chef, lets see how the season unfolds.

That quickfire was brilliant. I doubt the people on preeti's team will last, if they can't work on a team.

As far as the challenge goes it was a great start, not too complex and not too simple. Most of the early challenges last season were soooo bad and made me wonder about the shows staying power. As long as the producers don't take the vegas too far it should be good.

Wolfgang Puck was also brilliant, one of the best guest judges.

I really enjoyed the show. I'm fairly amused that someone who would try out for the show (be accepted for the show) wouldn't have at least some idea of how to open a clam. Also, no-one on the team could accurately describe how to do so? Ugh.

I thought the challenge was good, but they should have made more of sticking to the "vice" and the connection to the food.

Lots of Burbon drinkers there...I'd fit in. Surprised no one created Magic Mushrooms...:p

This show tries to introduce certain challenges for the contestants.
One episode they cooked for the Chicago Police Academy.
Another they got children involved.

I would like to see TC involve a school for the blind or to be PC visually impaired.
I had a friend who has passed but and was blind since his teens.

We talked about his condition and how he had to rely on his other senses to help him compensate for his lack of vision. I remember one year when he and I were directors at a youth summer camp. Early one day a forest ranger had come to our camp and told the staff of a mountain lion that had been spotted near our vicinity.

That evening 3 of us went for a walk in the woods, as my friend was holding on to me, he mentioned that my heart rate was up by feeling my wrist. It was true. I was freaked out about the mt lion walking around in the dark but he knew.

I would love TC to make an episode involving the blind to see how they could involve them and get they're take on what they were tasting.

I really enjoyed the show. I'm fairly amused that someone who would try out for the show (be accepted for the show) wouldn't have at least some idea of how to open a clam. Also, no-one on the team could accurately describe how to do so? Ugh.


How about having the brains in the two minute meeting to say, "I've never opened a clam before." It's not like she drew a knife and had to do it.

Speaking of racks, Padma seemed to be serving up a healthy portion.

Mike Isabella appears to be an arrogant jerk, though it looks as though he may get knocked down a peg next week.

As always editing plays a huge role how the contestants are perceived. Mike Isabella is sure shaping up to be one of the "villains" of this season.

I'm amazed at the talent and work experience of the contestants this season. Right now I'm rooting for my hometown contestant Mattin and Jennifer C (having been the sous chef at Ripert's Le Bernadin means she's got serious chops). Michael Voltaggio also seems interesting. His sous chef in LA is/was Marcel from season 2.

I'm also looking forward to the episode they teased at the end where the challenge seems to take place at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Robuchon himself is there along with Boulud and Keller.

As always editing plays a huge role how the contestants are perceived. Mike Isabella is sure shaping up to be one of the "villains" of this season.

I'm amazed at the talent and work experience of the contestants this season. Right now I'm rooting for my hometown contestant Mattin and Jennifer C (having been the sous chef at Ripert's Le Bernadin means she's got serious chops). Michael Voltaggio also seems interesting. His sous chef in LA is/was Marcel from season 2.

I'm also looking forward to the episode they teased at the end where the challenge seems to take place at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Robuchon himself is there along with Boulud and Keller.

I have to agree that Mike Isabella is a clown, an arrogant clown. Really Mike? Really? Are you really going to go there about the 'no offense but a woman should not win' or something like that in the quickfire.

I do not like his tone and his arrogance..... at all.

Bizarre episode last night. All the whining about how it wasn't right to make them cook for a bridal couple because "everyone can't get married". I would think that anyone in the food industry is going to be cooking for all kinds of married and to-be-married couples in their career, since a large percentage of the population falls into that category. Grow up.

But, I'm glad Eve is gone, she seemed like a hack. Now if we could get rid of the one with the really annoying lip piercing...... Which reminds me. Are chefs, as a group, more prone to body art than the general population, or is this just the profile Top Chef is looking for.

Ha! How right was Jenn C: "concentrate on 1 dish!" Too bad the whiny gay woman didn't listen to her. You'd think these chefs would've caught all the previous episodes and try to not repeat the past errors. :rolleyes:

The women said it themselves, the men as a whole this season are stronger. The only female chef I'm rooting for is Jenn C - she already displayed her training in precision and clean cooking a la Le Bernadin. For the guys the V. brothers. I'll get a chance to dine at Volt in MD next month, but I think Bryan would still be away filming though.

This season's chefs are much luckier: they've already given away $15K in two episodes! What did they give the last few seasons...2 r/t tickets, some pots and pans - whoopeedoo.

I predicted within the first few minutes of the first episode, or hoped, that the first person to go would be the chef with the huge earrings WITHIN the ears - I could not look at her at all and I guess the judges probably felt the same and found an excuse to cut her off early. :p

Bizarre episode last night. All the whining about how it wasn't right to make them cook for a bridal couple because "everyone can't get married". I would think that anyone in the food industry is going to be cooking for all kinds of married and to-be-married couples in their career, since a large percentage of the population falls into that category. Grow up.



Agree. ^ ^ What is she going to do in her restaurant, provide each diner with a questionaire upon arrival so she knows every diner's political and religious beliefs, so that she doesn't have to serve those who she disagrees with?

BTW, I like Gail Simmons as a judge. She seems to be fair and consistent with her feedback.

I have to agree that Mike Isabella is a clown, an arrogant clown. Really Mike? Really? Are you really going to go there about the 'no offense but a woman should not win' or something like that in the quickfire.

I do not like his tone and his arrogance..... at all.

More of the same last night, though didn't I hear him say something like some people get over him very quickly?


But, I'm glad Eve is gone, she seemed like a hack. Now if we could get rid of the one with the really annoying lip piercing...... Which reminds me. Are chefs, as a group, more prone to body art than the general population, or is this just the profile Top Chef is looking for.

Seems like it on these reality shows, anyway. I have a friend who is short, stocky, dark and well inked. He is a pasty chef. He came to visit us in Hawaii. We went to Waimea Canyon and he took off his shirt, climbed up on a rock and posed like a Maori warrior. He told us he is auditioning for a reality show in LA this month. :)

But, I'm glad Eve is gone, she seemed like a hack. Now if we could get rid of the one with the really annoying lip piercing...... Which reminds me. Are chefs, as a group, more prone to body art than the general population, or is this just the profile Top Chef is looking for.

I agree. Eve had a really annoying "accent" so I was glad to see her go. On the other hand, her vacant bovine stare at the judge's table always made me giggle. And I try not to judge people on their body art but some piercings are just gross. I can't figure out why yet, but those lip piercings that chick has are really ugly (by contrast I've seen some people with nasal piercings that actually are pretty - something about the positioning?)

I don't know that I've ever enjoyed an episode of the show any more than the last one...budding stars (mostly in their own eyes) called upon to cook for a sample of the sort of folks who actually pay for dinner themselves.

I'm not sure what the challenge proved, although the viewer emerges with the impression that men cook better for women, than do women for men - commercially, at least. The men's team did seem to adapt to regimentation and coordination a little better, although perhaps the viewer impression that sexual orientation was less an issue among the men had to do with editing.

The comments by the announced lesbian were offensive and as blatantly sexist as those of a chauvinist wife-beating male. Not only would she be likely to go broke running a restaurant, she would grow broke gracelessly.

Tattoos are fine, as long as not overly visible in a chef's jacket, but lip piercings or black nail polish - or almost any nail polish - tend to diminish one's visible credibility as a chef.

Did any of the judges comment on the brisket? A great dish of low repute among those for whom food is cuisine, not lunch or dinner, the one fleeting image was pretty unattractive, revealing a lack of careful trimming prior to cooking or before serving. I regularly eat in roadside joints which serve barbecued brisket on butcher paper with naught but onions, pickles, light bread and a bowl drippings sauce - no utensils - yet trim brisket artfully as a matter of course.

I expect we'll have some anger, bitterness and a loud confrontation or two in the weeks ahead. I'd wish that the two brothers would stick around for a while. Competing with each other, they've formulated a set of "rules" for the game. For them, playing harder replaces spite and anger (at least at this point). I suspect that a number of the other contestants have far less ability to comprehend that they are competing for the camera and the judges, not for their own self-gratification.

I think those of you complaining about the lesbian are missing the point and you are ignoring the comments she made later about being happy for two people who found each other. I certainly didn't get a sense that she would object to cooking for or catering such an event. My understanding was that what she was complaining about was that the SHOW was highlighting it when not everybody has the same rights. That said, she made a bigger deal of it than necessary.

Bizarre episode last night. All the whining about how it wasn't right to make them cook for a bridal couple because "everyone can't get married". I would think that anyone in the food industry is going to be cooking for all kinds of married and to-be-married couples in their career, since a large percentage of the population falls into that category. Grow up.


I didn't interpret her beef in that way. She did cook for them. And she most likely would cook for them if it was her restaurant as well.

The beef, it seemed to me, was with Bravo who *chose* these challenges. This isn't someone walking into the restaurant looking for service. This is Bravo sitting around a boardroom table trying to come up with challenges. And if Bravo is supposedly liberal, then it is a little surprising that they would have an essentialist challenge like this.

I think her response was a little bit overblown, however (although, in truth, this probably had to do with the editing of the show).

I think those of you complaining about the lesbian are missing the point and you are ignoring the comments she made later about being happy for two people who found each other. I certainly didn't get a sense that she would object to cooking for or catering such an event. My understanding was that what she was complaining about was that the SHOW was highlighting it when not everybody has the same rights.

Wow. Same exact thought posted almost simultaneously. Scary. ;)

I didn't interpret her beef in that way. She did cook for them. And she most likely would cook for them if it was her restaurant as well.

The beef, it seemed to me, was with Bravo who *chose* these challenges. This isn't someone walking into the restaurant looking for service. This is Bravo sitting around a boardroom table trying to come up with challenges. And if Bravo is supposedly liberal, then it is a little surprising that they would have an essentialist challenge like this.

I think her response was a little bit overblown, however (although, in truth, this probably had to do with the editing of the show).

I thought the comments were just out of place and a little strange. Me personally, I could care less if a chef is straight, gay, transgender, etc. I just want to know that they can cook, especially in the context of the show. If the show was Top Gay Chef then maybe her comments would be relevant. It seems that Bravo needed to fill a minute or two and found her comments to be enough "controversy" to fill them.

Me personally,

Are you gay?

Are you gay?

No, but I don't care if someone is gay or straight to interact with them. They're a person and that's it.

I am saying from a straight person's point of view, I do not see where the comments come into play for the show's eventual outcome. They have no bearing on whether she can cook or not and are not relevant to her winning the challenge.

Sure, it's her prerogative to bring it up and that's fine, I just didn't see the point. Was she thinking about refusing to cook for them?

No, but I don't care if someone is gay or straight to interact with them. They're a person and that's it.

I am saying from a straight person's point of view, I do not see where the comments come into play for the show's eventual outcome. They have no bearing on whether she can cook or not and are not relevant to her winning the challenge.

Sure, it's her prerogative to bring it up and that's fine, I just didn't see the point. Was she thinking about refusing to cook for them?

I don't think she was refusing to cook for them. She was expressing her disappointment in a tv network that is supposedly pretty liberal to have an essentialist/traditional marriage task. Of all the challenges Bravo could cook up (pun not intended), this is the one they choose? If I was gay and excluded from a social institution such as marriage, I would probably be a little miffed as well. I would expect such an insensitivity on Fox, but Bravo?

Again, I think the emotions expressed were more about disappointment in the creators of the program than an attitude about not wanting to participate.

I don't think she was refusing to cook for them. She was expressing her disappointment in a tv network that is supposedly pretty liberal to have an essentialist/traditional marriage task. Of all the challenges Bravo could cook up (pun not intended), this is the one they choose? If I was gay and excluded from a social institution such as marriage, I would probably be a little miffed as well. I would expect such an insensitivity on Fox, but Bravo?

Again, I think the emotions expressed were more about disappointment in the creators of the program than an attitude about not wanting to participate.

And next week they're cooking for a bunch of servicemen. Will we hear someone complain about how they're a pacifist and why is Bravo making them cook for these people?? Like I said, get a life.

And next week they're cooking for a bunch of servicemen. Will we hear someone complain about how they're a pacifist and why is Bravo making them cook for these people?? Like I said, get a life.

I don't really see the same as similar in kind, but your point is taken.

Again, I'm not really trying to defend the comments so much as try to explain what I think the genesis of them is. I believe she was misconstrued.

I don't really see the same as similar in kind, but your point is taken.

Again, I'm not really trying to defend the comments so much as try to explain what I think the genesis of them is. I believe she was misconstrued.

I wonder what the reaction would have been had self-announced active hetero made a similar comment about cooking for a reception after a gay or lesbian wedding (in a state where same sex marriages are legal)?

After all, when will the inevitable occur on "Top Chef", a request for the chefs to bake a bit of Bud in the Brownies? I guess they'll have to fly to Schipol to film that episdode.

I wonder what the reaction would have been had self-announced active hetero made a similar comment about cooking for a reception after a gay or lesbian wedding (in a state where same sex marriages are legal)?

Surely there would be a difference in reaction.

And shouldn't there be? Isn't there a bit of a difference between a minority member speaking out against the tyranny of the majority versus a majority member speaking out of against the minority?

I think those of you complaining about the lesbian are missing the point and you are ignoring the comments she made later about being happy for two people who found each other. I certainly didn't get a sense that she would object to cooking for or catering such an event. My understanding was that what she was complaining about was that the SHOW was highlighting it when not everybody has the same rights. That said, she made a bigger deal of it than necessary.

Wrong on all counts. I am not missing the point at all. Some of the posts following yours aptly reflect my point of view on this.

Wow. Same exact thought posted almost simultaneously. Scary. ;)

What a shock! ;)

What a shock! ;)

Shocking that we're right and you're wrong? Nah, that's obvious. :p

Surely there would be a difference in reaction.

And shouldn't there be? Isn't there a bit of a difference between a minority member speaking out against the tyranny of the majority versus a majority member speaking out of against the minority?

"Tyranny of the majority?" Are you kidding me? :rolleyes:

I know this is turning into an OMNI/PR thread so I'll stop now. :D

Shocking that we're right and you're wrong? Nah, that's obvious. :p

Yes, you're right. Thanks for setting me straight. :rolleyes:

"Tyranny of the majority?" Are you kidding me? :rolleyes:

How is it not tyranny of majority when you're a minority member locked out of social and political institutions?

Yes, you're right. Thanks for setting me straight. :rolleyes:

It ain't personal, it's FT. ;)

I just saw this show today..... so who won... the Oriental Guy, the Girl or the doode with the punk-like hair..???

the Oriental Guy

Speaking of essentialist...........

so the Asian Doode won....?????

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so the Asian Doode won....?????

can someone confirm...? I think the show airs in the US before down here....

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can someone confirm...? I think the show airs in the US before down here....

What Asian dude? Who here is from Asia: http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-6/bios

:confused:

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can someone confirm...? I think the show airs in the US before down here....

If you think an Asian "doode" won, it might air several years here before there. What city are they in? In the current season showing in the U.S., they are in Las Vegas.

Who here is from Asia

Preeti?

* Kevin = fat, bearded Conan O'Brien?
* Is this Top Chef or Top Tattoo?
* The average age for chefs this season seems a lot higher than past seasons, right?
* I didn't like how the Judges were trying to get the chefs (when working as a "team") to incriminate each other. :td:
* Next week's episode looks intense

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can someone confirm...? I think the show airs in the US before down here....

If you think an Asian "doode" won, it might air several years here before there. What city are they in? In the current season showing in the U.S., they are in Las Vegas.

yeah.... The show here is behind... No mantion of Vegas...

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can someone confirm...? I think the show airs in the US before down here....

that was two seasons ago. Yes, the asian doode won. I believe that was the Hung/Casey/Dale finale

Not much to say about this week's episode except PASTA SALAD????

What were they thinking, it didn't even look like GOOD pasta salad, but like the junk that's been on every buffet I've even had imposed upon me.

that was two seasons ago. Yes, the asian doode won. I believe that was the Hung/Casey/Dale finale

Hung... yes, thats the Asian doodes name... ^

So what happened to this guy after he won.... did he open his own restaurant or something.... is he now a gazillionaire celebrity chef...????

Preeti?

* Kevin = fat, bearded Conan O'Brien?
* Is this Top Chef or Top Tattoo?
* The average age for chefs this season seems a lot higher than past seasons, right?
* I didn't like how the Judges were trying to get the chefs (when working as a "team") to incriminate each other. :td:
* Next week's episode looks intense

Good observations all, and I agree with them. I think sometimes the judges try to add a little personal conflict into the mix and to me, that's not necessary. It usually arises by itself from the different personalities of the chefs.

Top Tattoo! I love that. :D At least they don't all get together after a challenge and start smoking like chimneys, a la Hell's Kitchen.

Man, I was amazed tonight. I thought Hector would last a few more rounds. But, I gotta say "all he had to do was put the beef in the oven!!!"

I thought that any of the top four could have walked away with the prize tonight, and I'm now looking forward to the rest of the season.

Man, I was amazed tonight. I thought Hector would last a few more rounds. But, I gotta say "all he had to do was put the beef in the oven!!!"

I thought that any of the top four could have walked away with the prize tonight, and I'm now looking forward to the rest of the season.

Hector looked like a good chef. I really think that they just did not want to kick another female off of the show this season.

Also, I thought that the comment about the higher level of the chefs this season than any other by this point was funny. Are they really that much better? A few of them are excellent, but most seem just Ok. Too funny that the real competition seems to be between the brothers. There are a half dozen this year that are solid to this point. This is fun. I am glad that TC6 is bringing it this season.

Wow! What a group to judge this week. That must have been fun. ^

Jenn C continues to kick .... Fantastic!

The Volt. brothers are really creative. Very impressive.

Add Kevin and they'd make the final 4. Too bad they're all in this season...they would surely have won if they were in the previous seasons separately. It's like night and day compared to the previous "winners" like Ilan and Hosea...*blech*

Don't really need a translator, I'd listen to Chef Robuchon all day long if he can talk that much! :D

The Volt. brothers are really creative. Very impressive.

Has anyone else noticed that when they talk, nothing moves but their mouths and then barely. It's as though they have had massive amounts of plastic surgery.

I thought Ashley was gone when Frenchie (who screwed up the sauce with the bacon) lied about not vetoing the asparagus in the sauce. Nothing worse than a liar. I hope he goes next.

Has anyone else noticed that when they talk, nothing moves but their mouths and then barely. It's as though they have had massive amounts of plastic surgery.

I thought Ashley was gone when Frenchie (who screwed up the sauce with the bacon) lied about not vetoing the asparagus in the sauce. Nothing worse than a liar. I hope he goes next.

I'm still a bit confused about the whole asparagus thing. When Ashley asked about it in the store he DID veto it saying something about how it doesn't go with veloute sauce, and she walked away without it. Then it wound up on the plate anyway. Maybe I blinked and missed something.

I'm still a bit confused about the whole asparagus thing. When Ashley asked about it in the store he DID veto it saying something about how it doesn't go with veloute sauce, and she walked away without it. Then it wound up on the plate anyway. Maybe I blinked and missed something.

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought she wanted it in the veloute sauce as (I thought) Tom suggested at judges table. I thought that is what he was vetoing. Anyway, it's deleted now! :D

I'm a big fan of Kevin, though the brothers and Jenn are amazing as well.

You HAVE to be able to roast and carve a tenderloin to have a hope of lasting on this show.

That being said, I thought Ashley would have been voted off (perhaps there is something to the 4 females in a row would have unbalanced the show).

I was also amazed that the frog leg dish didn't make it to the chopping block. It looked blah and unappealing.

I was floored by both of the winning dishes tonight. Deconstructed Béarnaise! Wow. That rabbit looked fantastic as well.

Agree with all the comments about last night's show.

My only addition is that I do not like an elimination on a quick fire challenge. As Collicchio (sp?) himself said, it's hard to send someone home after one small taste.

My only addition is that I do not like an elimination on a quick fire challenge. As Collicchio (sp?) himself said, it's hard to send someone home after one small taste.

Actually, he had more than one small taste. The escargot dish was a pretty good indicator of which one really deserved to go home.

Actually, he had more than one small taste. The escargot dish was a pretty good indicator of which one really deserved to go home.

I sometimes wonder if it's just about the food or sometimes is about the personality of the chef or prejudices of the judges (e.g., I didn't like what this person cooked the last two weeks so I'm not going to like this either).

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought she wanted it in the veloute sauce as (I thought) Tom suggested at judges table. I thought that is what he was vetoing. Anyway, it's deleted now! :D

Agreed, that's how I read the situation as well.

.......I really think that they just did not want to kick another female off of the show this season.

Also, I thought that the comment about the higher level of the chefs this season than any other by this point was funny. Are they really that much better? A few of them are excellent, but most seem just Ok. ........

Based on the judges' blogs (even on past seasons) the producers have only intervened once or twice (Marcel's headshaving attempt and maybe the refrigerator failure). The judges really don't care if it's a male or female chef leaving.

If you look at the accolades and caliber of chefs of this season compared to all the previous seasons, you'll notice that this season's cast is noticeably stronger. It seems like half of this season's cast has received or been nominated for some James Beard or Food&Wine award. Most are head/executive chefs. Stage/training/worked at top restaurants worldwide.

My only minor issue with the casting this season is that aside from Hector and possibly Preethi, the cooking is pretty homogenized to American/French styles.

I absolutely love this show, and I think the contestants are a mixed bag. Quite a few people who have been sent home already I had to wonder how they got onto the show in the first place. That being said, Jenn, the brothers and Kevin are quite talented. And Michael from the brothers is quite cute ;)

j

I sometimes wonder if it's just about the food or sometimes is about the personality of the chef or prejudices of the judges (e.g., I didn't like what this person cooked the last two weeks so I'm not going to like this either).

Bingo! We have a winner!! ^ ^

Couldn't agree more.

Noooooooooooooooooooo! Hated seeing Mike I. win $15K.

Mike V. is hanging out with Mike I. too much...starting to act and sound like a sore loser.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! Another win for Bryan. The only dish that fit in the theme AND seemed delicious.

What's with using seafood on a desert ranch? 3 ceviches?!

As soon as Tom spit out his food I knew the french guy was done.

Kind of a weird show last night. I prefer they let them cook in a real kitchen but challenge them with the ingredients and whatnot.

Well, frenchie is gone. I found it interesting that the entire episode they sort of showed his bad side, and then he was gone. Creative editing, I guess.

But, what an odd set of challenges. First we have the quick fire with cactus. Cactus? At least most of them pulled off something edible.

Cooking over open pit fires with almost no kitchen support without telling them what they were walking into seems a bit of a stretch to me. I guess I would have gone in assuming the worst and planned for little more than a source of heat - which is pretty much what they got into.

What was wrong with the shrimp, exactly, were they spoiled or did they just taste really, really bad.

I gotta agree with the "why would you serve cerviche to a bunch of ranchers when you know you're going to be outside in about 500 degree heat."

What was wrong with the shrimp, exactly, were they spoiled or did they just taste really, really bad.


They did a really poor job of explaining that. I have to assume that they became spoiled somehow.

Kind of a weird show last night. I prefer they let them cook in a real kitchen but challenge them with the ingredients and whatnot.

Tom Colicchio wrote in his blog on bravotv.com that he didn't like the ranch challenge either. Besides cooking outdoors, he says, there was nothing specific to being in a ranch, not to mention the desert heat.

He also explains their judging criteria; it's an interesting read.

http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/blogs/tom-colicchio/desert-heat

(I no longer live in the US, but still watch the show, thanks to iTunes/AppleTV).

I would have been happier had the producers better informed the contestants of the nature of resources available...fire pits, utensils, etc., but the "chefs' surprised me by being unable to adjust their planning and menu choices to potential circumstances.

Obviously, several of them were simply "strangers in a strange land". None of the chefs seemed to really consider any of the standard dishes for outdoor prep, some examples of which the judges would have been hard put to let their taste buds get in the way of expectations "high-falutin'" styles and cuisine.

I must admit, had I been called upon for a similar challnge, I'd have been left looking for skewers at the market, suitable cuts of beef or lamb (or even pork), grilled veggies and imaginative approaches to a salad. Other than perhaps shrimp (and that grilled), I can't imagine choosing fish (even though the a couple of the fish dishes emerged well).

Sadly, no "Dutch Oven" biscuits.....(and no real attempt at kabobs, an almost automatic choice to me).

Sadly, no "Dutch Oven" biscuits.....(and no real attempt at kabobs, an almost automatic choice to me).

^ If I were a judge for this episode I'd have hoped to get something that reinterpreted "chuck wagon cuisine" in a new and innovative way. Something like deconstructed frank and beans.

They did a really poor job of explaining that. I have to assume that they became spoiled somehow.

From the blog, there were apparently spoiled:

Maybe Robin’s shrimp turned overnight.

I like Tom's use of the word "cheftestant" and learned from the blog that the open fire pit was actually PROPANE.

Near the end of the show, it was either Laurine or Melissa remarking that something smelled really bad when someone opened their cooler.

Yes, the shrimp went bad. And she didn't taste it before she sent it out.

Robin is a friend of mine - I met her years ago in Seattle, before she opened Crave. She is such a genuinely good person and a brilliant chef, I'm hoping she wins!

But I really think she hasn't gotten much attention on the show. I've been specifically watching out for her and it seems like they do the little cutaway interviews with everyone but her (they have never done one). Twice they have completely skipped her dish. I haven't noticed that happen to anyone else.

So, I wonder what is up. She of course can't say anything about the results but from some interviews and Facebook posts I think she may have gone pretty far.

As for the others, I like(d) Matin, I like Jessie though I wish she was turning out better food, I'm already tired of the twins and their invented rivalry, and I wish Mike the d-bag would just get sent packing already. Aside from Robin the one I want most to win is the fat bearded guy. I like his plates and I like his personality.

Im glad frenchie has gone, he was too arrogant

Im glad frenchie has gone, he was too arrogant

Ditto. Every time he spoke, I wanted to go all Van Gogh on my ears.

Ditto. Every time he spoke, I wanted to go all Van Gogh on my ears.

:D :D :D

^ If I were a judge for this episode I'd have hoped to get something that reinterpreted "chuck wagon quisine" in a new and innovative way. Something like deconstructed frank and beans.

^ (just watched the show last night) I have to agree. Once told that they would be cooking for "cowboys" someone should have been thinking of upscale though rustic food. Also, one of the contestants (now departed frenchie?) stated that they didn't modify their cooking for the client, they just let their food stand on its own. That's ridiculous. So is serving ceviche and most of the seafood dishes that were created. Who ever heard of a cowboy eating fish? :confused:

Given the $150 and cooking for 12? I’d have suggested:

Pork tenderloin w/ Whiskey pan sauce
Baby Anise and Wild Mushrooms
I liked the “baked” potatoes, but may have tried for a rice based starch.

Another interesting side I’ve had before was a Cesar Salad using smoked Romaine lettuce.

Heck, This is one of the only challenges I’ve ever felt like I might have had a shot at winning. :)

Looking forward to tonight’s show.

[QUOTE=NoClu;12425677I liked the “baked” potatoes, but may have tried for a rice based starch.
[/QUOTE]

I like your menu. Instead of baked, I've got this great recipe for potatoes that are cooked with olive oil, garlic, sea salt, rosemary, and pepper. They get all roasted on the grill.

* Toby Young was at his brutal best. ^
* Michelle Bernstein lashing back at Toby about Spanish pronounciations was fantastic.
* The look on everyone's face when Robin won the Quickfire was priceless.
* Kevin's dish looked awesome.

First, Robin may be the luckiest cheftestant in the history of the show. I'd have to think about that a little longer to confirm my suspicions, but she should have been gone in about every episode this year and has simply been lucky. Part of luck is creating your own luck and it appears that is how she got through last nights episode again. I do not think that she will last much longer.

Ron has been hanging on by a thread on occasion as well and this time I think he just got confused and ran out of time. Again, a part of the game/contest. I enjoyed watching Ron, but there was never a doubt that he was not going to make it to the final eight chefs.

Michael V, Kevin and Bryan V are consistently creative and produce the best food.

Micheal I and Ely are less consistent but produce interesting meals.

The remainder are brilliant on occasion and middling on average. I suppose it will all depend on when they peak in their brilliance compared to the others.

That Lasagna last night looked great. I am not into Pot Roast, but it sounded amazing. Great work by the chefs.

If you are not reading the Blogs on Bravo TV, you might be missing a quarter of scoop behind a lot of the competition. Especially the look behind the judging table. This is well worth a gander once a week, or if you do not mind the trees, print it out and it makes for better reading than your Hemispheres. :D

Yes, the shrimp went bad. And she didn't taste it before she sent it out.

Robin is a friend of mine - I met her years ago in Seattle, before she opened Crave. She is such a genuinely good person and a brilliant chef, I'm hoping she wins!

But I really think she hasn't gotten much attention on the show. I've been specifically watching out for her and it seems like they do the little cutaway interviews with everyone but her (they have never done one). Twice they have completely skipped her dish. I haven't noticed that happen to anyone else.

So, I wonder what is up. She of course can't say anything about the results but from some interviews and Facebook posts I think she may have gone pretty far.

As for the others, I like(d) Matin, I like Jessie though I wish she was turning out better food, I'm already tired of the twins and their invented rivalry, and I wish Mike the d-bag would just get sent packing already. Aside from Robin the one I want most to win is the fat bearded guy. I like his plates and I like his personality.

Interesting, as it seems to me that Robin gets more face time than just about anybody but Mike. Now that everyone seems to dislike her (her non-stop chatter seems to be getting to a couple of the chefs), I would expect we'll be seeing even more of her.

I thought that more face time on reality shows meant you were going to be eliminated soon. While Robin seems to be outcooked by the other contestants, there seem to be a lot of poor sports out there. When they announced her quickfire win, the younger brother did not clap and I think Ely's comments were so base. She created the most compelling story and married it to the food she made -- that was the whole point of the challenge.

I see her and Ash going in the next couple of rounds, though I would not mind if Ely got bounced.

...and the fact Eli was using a damaged pressure cooker. That's real smart. :rolleyes:

...and the fact Eli was using a damaged pressure cooker. That's real smart. :rolleyes:

There must be more to the pressure cooker story. Supposedly there are shelves of new pressure cookers available to the cheftestants in the kitchen.

No TC tonight, the 30th???? Bummer. I guess they have to spread 10 weeks out over the TV season.

Interesting comment from Tom Colicchio which covers some of the topics we have brought up again in this thread.

"We shoot a season in 20 days, two days per episode. During that time, we judges are not allowed to interact with the contestants at all. So the whole “reality” aspect of the program? We don’t see it until you do. The “villains,” so to speak, the “nice guys,” the crowd favorites and least favorites … we don’t know the personalities. For example, we didn’t know that Mattin was lying at the Judges' Table about negging the asparagus in the volute in Episode Four. I learned about it the same way you did, by watching the edited episode. We have never made decisions about whom to send home based on who or what might be more interesting or “make better TV.” We couldn’t if we wanted to … which we don’t, anyway. We judge the food, plain and simple, and it’s the food that determines who will be packing his/her knives."

I just got around to watching last weeks episode about an hour ago. I wanted to get it before tonight's episode. Ashley! Wow, definitely one of the better chef's. The problem here is that the core groups of guys are just SO tough. I thought that Kevin was going to win the challenge as well and was a little surprised that Jennifer pulled it out for her sauce. Last week was Kevin's week. I am going to have to find his restaurant.

I just never bought the fact that Michael was in danger. The meal did not turn out correctly, but none of the judges said that it tasted bad as they had a couple of the other meals.

Ok, can't wait for tonight's. Aghh...just back from a trip and I do not think that there is any wine in the house. Negro Modelo will have to do. :)

Yes, Robin, there is a clique. It's called "everyone but you."

I just wished they did a triple elimination tonight. The bottom three can't hold a candle to the rest.

Yes, Robin, there is a clique. It's called "everyone but you."

I just wished they did a triple elimination tonight. The bottom three can't hold a candle to the rest.

I liked that line, "Big R, little obin." :)

I liked that line, "Big R, little obin." :)

Big R little obin is such a diva, but in the worst way. I really wonder if she talks that much or is it just edited like that.

If you have read Tom's blogs, they really do not know the contestants personalities the way it is filmed, so they really do not know the discord she is causing.

You know what? You don't know her. You don't get to call her names.

FYI, she doesn't talk "that much". She also happens to be one of the kindest people I've ever met. But hey, it's not good "reality" TV if they don't have someone to make into a villian.

Big R little obin is such a diva, but in the worst way. I really wonder if she talks that much or is it just edited like that.

If you have read Tom's blogs, they really do not know the contestants personalities the way it is filmed, so they really do not know the discord she is causing.

OTOH, the Voltaggio boys just happen to have worked (one for 10 years) for one of the guest judges last night. And guess who had two of the top four dishes in the elimination challenge? It may not be fishy, it just looks that way sometimes.

You know what? You don't know her. You don't get to call her names.

FYI, she doesn't talk "that much". She also happens to be one of the kindest people I've ever met. But hey, it's not good "reality" TV if they don't have someone to make into a villian.

First, It's an internet message board. Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers get called names, it's not that big a deal. She has a compelling story, is a cancer survivor, and is very likely a kind, gentle soul.

What I do know, at least from what I've seen, is that her cooking doesn't appear to be better than many of the other contestants.

You know what? You don't know her. You don't get to call her names.

FYI, she doesn't talk "that much". She also happens to be one of the kindest people I've ever met. But hey, it's not good "reality" TV if they don't have someone to make into a villian.

Ummm...I was not trying to insult Robin. I have NEVER claimed to know her, nor have I ever tasted her cooking. I also said up front that I have no idea how much is editing or how much is her personality. I was ONLY stating my opinion that she seems to annoy the heck out of the other cheftestants and certainly the viewers. Again, this could be editing.

Also, possibly a culprit of editing, she appears make food that places her squarely in the bottom three nearly every time. Robin's time is limited unless she really turns it on. Oh, and I am NOT under the illusion that she would not cook circles around me :)

I thought Ash was going to go, though if someone refers to your cooking as pet food, you probably are also close. Robin served too thin a slice and had a gritty sauce, so not sure it is of the level of boring Ash served up.

I find the Robin-hate on the show kinda sad. From what I have seen, she does not deserve the nastiness of her fellow cheftestants. It may be a generational thing, or the others may truly believe she does not belong there, but hey, if you have a beef with the fact that she is still there, blame the judges.

The younger Voltaggio brother is a prick, but everyone gets along with him (though he did flummox Ely, so ^). Still think the older brother, or Kevin will win (or Jen).

I thought Ash was going to go, though if someone refers to your cooking as pet food, you probably are also close. Robin served too thin a slice and had a gritty sauce, so not sure it is of the level of boring Ash served up.

I find the Robin-hate on the show kinda sad. From what I have seen, she does not deserve the nastiness of her fellow cheftestants. It may be a generational thing, or the others may truly believe she does not belong there, but hey, if you have a beef with the fact that she is still there, blame the judges.

The younger Voltaggio brother is a prick, but everyone gets along with him (though he did flummox Ely, so ^). Still think the older brother, or Kevin will win (or Jen).

I don't know how to tell them apart. Aren't they too young for Botox? The muscles in their faces do not move, ever.

I don't know how to tell them apart. Aren't they too young for Botox? The muscles in their faces do not move, ever.
The older one is more soft-spoken and his arm is not covered in tattoos. IIRC from the bio, the older one is in MD, and the younger one in LA.

Not sure anyone in their late 20s/early 30s needs botox.

If you read through the thread here, Robin was identified early on as on eof the 'weaker' chefs.

I think that the other cheftestants do not like the hen pecking they are subjected to. Again, this could all be editing.

I have seen lots of people whose muscles on their faces move similar to thos of the V Brothers. No Botox involved.

The Brothers, Kevin, Mike I and Jen are simply on a different playing field than the rest of the cheftestants. Eli, may be a dark horse with Jen perhaps.

If you read through the thread here, Robin was identified early on as on eof the 'weaker' chefs.

I think that the other cheftestants do not like the hen pecking they are subjected to. Again, this could all be editing.

I have seen lots of people whose muscles on their faces move similar to thos of the V Brothers. No Botox involved.


I was joking, but it just seems strange that they never change expression.

OTOH, the Voltaggio boys just happen to have worked (one for 10 years) for one of the guest judges last night. And guess who had two of the top four dishes in the elimination challenge? It may not be fishy, it just looks that way sometimes.

I disagree...it was not like Charlie Palmer was the only judge.

Every dish by the top 4 in the last EC looked better than what the bottom 3 had. I ate at Volt 2 weeks ago and Bryan was there...every dish I had looked better than the bottom 3's as well. :p

I disagree...it was not like Charlie Palmer was the only judge.

Every dish by the top 4 in the last EC looked better than what the bottom 3 had. I ate at Volt 2 weeks ago and Bryan was there...every dish I had looked better than the bottom 3's as well. :p

The Judges have always appeared to be true professionals. I do not see them throwing a competition based on a past colleague. Also, this is not the first time a judge has appeared on the show who has some way been connected to a contestant.

Aside from that, I would say that the top meals from last night certainly looked like they deserved to be on the top.

Once again, I said it may not be fishy, it just looks that way sometimes.

However, clearly one of the V-boys was worried that Palmer liked the other brother better.

I disagree...it was not like Charlie Palmer was the only judge.

Every dish by the top 4 in the last EC looked better than what the bottom 3 had. I ate at Volt 2 weeks ago and Bryan was there...every dish I had looked better than the bottom 3's as well. :p
Looking to do that in the next few months - I had wanted to visit when he first opened, but never got up there. His being on the show, just back the desire and this time will make it work.

Once again, I said it may not be fishy, it just looks that way sometimes.

However, clearly one of the V-boys was worried that Palmer liked the other brother better.

You should read Richard Blaise's blog on BraoTV.com. He talks about when he had to cook for his mentor on TC. Interesting comments.

http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/richard-blais/prodigal-sons
http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/richard-blais/prodigal-sons

And as we hear the brothers recount their relationship with Charlie, it reminded me of my experience cooking for Daniel Boulud during my season. Being a Daniel boy, I was both excited and slightly terrified at the challenge ahead. The pressure is palpable. Cooking for your mentor is a stress-filled honor. Cooking for your mentor, while competing in usually less than ideal situations, is a daunting mountain of a challenge.

The sniping at Robin is petty and disingenuous. I'm sure she has some annoying habits, but in my opinion, I find Mike I., Ely and Bryan V. also quite annoying oin some of their behaviors. And yes, they seem to be all better chefs than Robin, and they also can seem quite annoying.

The ganging up on Robin sinks this show to the depths of Hell's Kitchen. And while that may make for more drama, it does take away from the professionalism and class of the chefs on Top Chef, versus the lowlifes on Hell's Kitchen.

And FWIW, I think it'll come down to Kevin and Bryan V., with Kevin named as this season's Top Chef.

Does everybody here buy the hype that ALL of the judjes on the show are pitching about the quality of the cheftestants competing this season is SO much higher than any previous season?

Maybe on average I suppose, but whenever I think back, I think back to:
Season 1: Harold, Lee Anne
Season 2: Sam, Marcel
Season 3: Hung, Dale, Casey, Brian, CJ
Season 4: Richard, Spike, Dale
Season 5: Stefan, Jeff, Fabio

There are others that I know that I am missing, but the above group just seemed increadibly talented. Maybe one day there will be a TC Winners competition.

But do you really think that this group would be dusted off by the current TC Season 6 group?

I find the Robin-hate on the show kinda sad. From what I have seen, she does not deserve the nastiness of her fellow cheftestants. Yes. She does.

She was a complete tyrant in her restaurant in Seattle (now closed) which we thought was pretty decent in a few visits. Turned out our visits happened to occur when she wasn't in the house. Once we went back and she was there... buh bye.

The capper was when my wife and a business associate (both pretty mild professional women) were having coffee and dessert one evening, following a meal in which both entrees had to be returned for having been bad or cold, and in one case, wrong. Robin came up to their table with the bill, slammed it on the table, and barked, "You have to leave. We need your table," and marched away. (There were several empty tables, and nobody waiting in the rain outside.)

Other acquaintances who used to go there said they quit for similar reasons. There are too many other decent restaurants in Seattle, and no reason to frequent one operated by a whackdoodle.

She closed her restaurant when the building was converted into yuppie condos or something. As far as calling a woman you never met a tyrant and saying she deserves nastiness, well, I think you don't know what you're talking about.

She closed her restaurant when the building was converted into yuppie condos or something. As far as calling a woman you never met a tyrant and saying she deserves nastiness, well, I think you don't know what you're talking about.Never met? Says who? Were you at the next table?

Actually, "tyrant" wasn't the word I really wanted to use.

Deserving nastiness? No, probably an overstatement. Deserving sympathy? Nope.

The program is showbiz. 99% of the drama is created in the editing room. But her place had terrible service, snotty staff, and - believe me - the tone was set at the top.

BTW her space is being converted into a practice/performance area for a struggling not-for-profit dance company. It's not the best time to be building yuppie condos in Seattle. Actually, not the best neighborhood, either. I just don't think she could afford the (cheap) rent.

Restaurant wars tonight. I have always thought that this episode needed to be a special that was allowed an extra half hour or so. There is just too much going on to get an idea of what the cheftestants have individually contributed. There is also the restaurant wars curse of an otherwise front runner getting lopped off because of a poorly run restaurant. From reading the blogs, it sounds like this is the cheftestants most feared episode.

I suppose production costs make it impossible to get an extra half hour of footage for these complicated episodes. You would think that with Bravo's format of repeating everything every week, you could easily adjust the occasional episode to take a bit more or less time. Especially as the competition increases. Oh well.

Hey has anybody heard anything about any holiday specials this year with former cheftestants reurning to cook?

I am guessing that we will see Robin finally exit, or perhaps Laurine. I am not sure who the 'proprieters' are this week as I deliberately do not watch the 'coming next week' portion. How about pitting the two brothers against one another :)

Restaurant wars tonight. I have always thought that this episode needed to be a special that was allowed an extra half hour or so. There is just too much going on to get an idea of what the cheftestants have individually contributed. There is also the restaurant wars curse of an otherwise front runner getting lopped off because of a poorly run restaurant. From reading the blogs, it sounds like this is the cheftestants most feared episode.

I suppose production costs make it impossible to get an extra half hour of footage for these complicated episodes. You would think that with Bravo's format of repeating everything every week, you could easily adjust the occasional episode to take a bit more or less time. Especially as the competition increases. Oh well.

Hey has anybody heard anything about any holiday specials this year with former cheftestants reurning to cook?

I am guessing that we will see Robin finally exit, or perhaps Laurine. I am not sure who the 'proprieters' are this week as I deliberately do not watch the 'coming next week' portion. How about pitting the two brothers against one another :)

Acually, it's tomorrow night and it's 1:15.

Acually, it's tomorrow night and it's 1:15.

Aghhh....over excited. Last six weeks have all merged into one long Groundhogs day :) But thumbs up to the extra 15 minutes ^

Does everybody here buy the hype that ALL of the judjes on the show are pitching about the quality of the cheftestants competing this season is SO much higher than any previous season?

Maybe on average I suppose, but whenever I think back, I think back to:
Season 1: Harold, Lee Anne
Season 2: Sam, Marcel
Season 3: Hung, Dale, Casey, Brian, CJ
Season 4: Richard, Spike, Dale
Season 5: Stefan, Jeff, Fabio

There are others that I know that I am missing, but the above group just seemed increadibly talented. Maybe one day there will be a TC Winners competition.

But do you really think that this group would be dusted off by the current TC Season 6 group?

Some of the hype is true - the top 4 last week have been so impressive since the first episode that they could each be crowned TC in the previous seasons. These are all exec. chefs or have own restaurants, while the previous seasons I think were sous chefs or chefs of unknown restaurants.

Some of the food shown in the previous seasons (and I've watched every one of them) may be good but did not excite me as much as this season's. I visit NYC often and I was never inspired to go to any TC contestants' restaurant. I don't even know the TC this year but I pretty much took a day off to add on to a trip and drove from DC to MD to go to Bryan's restaurant, and it was well worth it.

Although Mike I. seemed like a jerk, I enjoyed Zaytinya...but that's really Jose Andres' credit. ;)

Some of the hype is true - the top 4 last week have been so impressive since the first episode that they could each be crowned TC in the previous seasons. These are all exec. chefs or have own restaurants, while the previous seasons I think were sous chefs or chefs of unknown restaurants.


Bring on the TC best of the best season, or some sort of two part holiday challenge where they pit the top four from each season agains one another or in teams and just let them cook. I really think that the chef's I named above could hang with the group the 'four' this year that seem exceptional within their season.

So any ideas about restaurant team leaders tonight. The brothers?

Restaurant wars are on!

Rick Moonen is the guest jusdge

Restaurant wars are on!

Rick Moonen is the guest jusdge

Take a deep breath. ;)

Take a deep breath. ;)

Nice. The teams are not responsible for decorating and the front office person has to cook a dish. Looks like TC has responded to the ne real weakness of this challenge. It used to be that somebody did not cook and they often times were eliminated without cooking.

Nice. The teams are not responsible for decorating and the front office person has to cook a dish. Looks like TC has responded to the ne real weakness of this challenge. It used to be that somebody did not cook and they often times were eliminated without cooking.
This is not twitter - consider iluvparis' advice. Bad enough for the folks on the West Coast that we'll all talk about the winners when its over.

This is not twitter - consider iluvparis' advice. Bad enough for the folks on the West Coast that we'll all talk about the winners when its over.

Noted as I sit here in San Clemente watching. Another piece of advice. Nobody is using in extremist measures forcing you to read the thread an hour or two before you chose to view.

Noted as I sit here in San Clemente watching. Another piece of advice. Nobody is using in extremist measures forcing you to read the thread an hour or two before you chose to view.
I've viewed - thanks, just don't want to have to read through a blow by blow :)

Good show!

Seems like Jen was saved by her past and her reputation. Everything she touched was a disaster and she stays.

It was a toss up. At least Jen had an okay fish dish. Laurine didn't do anything right tonight - especially not sending food back like she had told Tom that she'd do. The right person went home.

It was a toss up. At least Jen had an okay fish dish. Laurine didn't do anything right tonight - especially not sending food back like she had told Tom that she'd do. The right person went home.

I didn't hear anything to suggest that the fish dish was "ok." I like Jen and it seems she's one of the more talented chefs, but I still think what saved her last night is her past. I agree that the right person went home, but I'm not sure last night's performance was the reason.

It's looking more and more like Bryan, Michael and Kevin will be final three.

Seems like Jen was saved by her past and her reputation. Everything she touched was a disaster and she stays.

Seeing her in a bikini was also a bonus.

I didn't hear anything to suggest that the fish dish was "ok." I like Jen and it seems she's one of the more talented chefs, but I still think what saved her last night is her past. I agree that the right person went home, but I'm not sure last night's performance was the reason.

It's looking more and more like Bryan, Michael and Kevin will be final three.

Well, the judges said that they like the halibut except that the sauce was broken, and that the lamb dish was the worst of the night. That could be the justification on the blog, but there's so much editing that we don't see the whole judging on TV. Regardless, I still don't think that Laurine contributed to anything last night, and it was time for her to go.

Jen's too hard on herself and is falling apart...so at this point she's the blackhorse contending to be in the finale.

Well, the judges said that they like the halibut except that the sauce was broken

and the dish was a brown blob (or something like that). :)

I still think this HAS to be the last week for Robin. She keeps sneaking by with a very conservative dish that neither stands out or stinks. We're quickly reaching the point where she can't hide in the middle of the pack, and I think that several better chefs are already gone because they took a gamble and lost.

Wasn't it around this time last season that Carla went from consistently on the bottom 3/4 to consistently in the top 3?

Read this morning in the newspaper (synopsis of TV guide interview) that Laurine felt Jen should have left as her timing led to all the problems.

I still think this HAS to be the last week for Robin. She keeps sneaking by with a very conservative dish that neither stands out or stinks. We're quickly reaching the point where she can't hide in the middle of the pack, and I think that several better chefs are already gone because they took a gamble and lost.

Agree. But I can't help but wonder if she's getting some sympathy votes from the judges.

I know he's a better chef, but I wouldn't mind one bit if Mike I. went home next week.

Read this morning in the newspaper (synopsis of TV guide interview) that Laurine felt Jen should have left as her timing led to all the problems.

It's clear though that if you fail at the front of the house, you really fail. She had to be almost as bad as the Indian girl from last season. I knew the whole "I'm going to send it back" was never going to happen, and she shouldn't have said it. I think that was the judges main reason to send her home.

However it is true that both Jen's dishes were messed up. I really think that this is the judges bias showing a little bit through, since we all know that they say they don't consider past achievements, but I always feel like they do, and excuse as "future potential".

The lamb dish was not only bad, but unsafe. And a chef that does not know how tell medium rare??? 140 degrees. Simple. Jen was over her head, but that was a team organization problem as much as her own. Lauraine was just bad on too many points. The blog confirms this.

I liked the ending!!! But I'll wait for the West Coast and read comments in the morning.

I haven't been a fan of Mike I. since the beginning, but he did not deserve to go last night.

It's at times like this that this show pi$$es me off. They clobbered Jen's dish, and her lack of confidence, and said her dish looked like a garnish and yet she stays. IMHO, it's all about making sure there is at least one woman in the final three and I think that was the main criteria for not getting rid of Jen last night. I know Colicchio in his blog says that the rest of Mike's dish was terrible too, and not just the leeks, and he says that Mike depended too much on his belief that as long as Robin was there, he, Mike, was safe. Although I have to berate Mike for saying that he never watched Seinfeld! :eek:

And what the hell qualifications does Natalie Poretman have to sit in on Judge's Table? Why wasn't Bartolotta at judge's table instead of Portman?

I haven't been a fan of Mike I. since the beginning, but he did not deserve to go last night.

disagree, he was arrogant even more so last night (if that was even possible), to say to the judges, "whatever, whatever"???!!! Besides his attitude the dish sucked overall, not just the undercooked leeks. He stated he had over 20 dishes on his restaurant's menu that were vegetarian and a mother that was a vegan, so how he messed up so bad is a mystery, he should have nailed this challenge and he didn't even come close.

And what the hell qualifications does Natalie Poretman have to sit in on Judge's Table? Why wasn't Bartolotta at judge's table instead of Portman?

AGREED!

Portman said she was a vegan which is a person who excludes the use of animals for food, yet she ate Jen's dish with the butter sauce:confused:

As one can tell from my current taglines below, I am not a vegan :)

It looks like Kevin could put unheated Spagettios on a place and win at this point. Maybe he wouldn't even need to open the can. They could just all look at it and comment on his cleverness, while they applaud a little.

Glad Mike is gone, came across as an arrogant SOB, and he deserved to go for no other reason than he throught his dish would actually WIN! However, I agree that Jen probably should have gone based on her salad she tried to pass off as a main course.

What's up with the brothers' perpetual gloom and pouting - bad childhood?

And, amazinginly, Robin survives to cook another week. No sign of the "Carla Bump", she just manages to have second-worst every time.

I found it odd that more people did not use beans or some other legume in order to add protein. Mike talked about using the leeks as a protein substitute(ala Fabio's banana scallops last season), and was called out on the fact that leeks are not a source of protein.

No tofu, no beans, other than a few lentils on Eli's plate.

I was really quite happy to see Mike go home. Rather than focus on his own failings, he was all about Robin and how horrible he considers her to be.

I'm also getting tired of Michael V. Whiny and arrogant.

I would like to see a final three of Kevin, Jennifer, and Robin. Not because I like them so much, but because they are the least whiny and pissy(yes, Jennifer gets down on herself, and Robin can be a Chatty Cathy), and seem to be focusing on the food, and not the stardom.

I'm also getting tired of Michael V. Whiny and arrogant.


He was whiny and arrogant, but he was also right. Michael V's dish looked the most inspiring and creative. I've probably cooked a similar dish that Kevin's made before - glob of veggies + mushrooms. So it's looking like Kevin will win TC for making good safe food.

He was whiny and arrogant, but he was also right. Michael V's dish looked the most inspiring and creative. I've probably cooked a similar dish that Kevin's made before - glob of veggies + mushrooms. So it's looking like Kevin will win TC for making good safe food.

The question is not just whether it looked the most inspiring and creative but whether it tasted the best too. If the judges truly thought Kevin's flavors were that much better then he should get the win, no?

I liked Mike I and will miss his NJ/NY sense of humor.

Michael V has shown himself to be an arrogant, whiny prick. I know that editing plays a big factor in how someone is presented, but he has treated others, especially Robin, with an amazing amount of contempt. I have liked Kevin since day 1 but this last episode showed why. Every time someone needed something, whether it be bread or a lemon or whatever, he lent a hand. MV just pushes people out of the way like a bully. I hope for her sake that Robin buries the passive aggressiveness tendancies, grows a pair of balls, and goes after MV for the way he talks to her. She needs to get in his face, tell him to go eff himself, and keep in his face until he backs down. Just like dealing with a bully in the third grade.

I didn't think any of them really got the TV dinner thing. Robin drew Sesame Street. Wouldn't you make kid's food? None of the dishes, except maybe Gilligan's Island, had much connection with the show.

I
And what the hell qualifications does Natalie Poretman have to sit in on Judge's Table? Why wasn't Bartolotta at judge's table instead of Portman?

She's hot. I'm glad she got the extra TV time. :) Plus, contrary to Eli, her best role was in Beautiful Girls.


Portman said she was a vegan which is a person who excludes the use of animals for food, yet she ate Jen's dish with the butter sauce:confused:


I thought she said vegetarian. Nonetheless, I thought it was a fantastic twist to the challenge.

He was whiny and arrogant, but he was also right. Michael V's dish looked the most inspiring and creative. I've probably cooked a similar dish that Kevin's made before - glob of veggies + mushrooms. So it's looking like Kevin will win TC for making good safe food.

The question is not just whether it looked the most inspiring and creative but whether it tasted the best too. If the judges truly thought Kevin's flavors were that much better then he should get the win, no?

I guess in the eyes of the judges, if they were equal in taste and quality, a filling meal beat out a "whimsical" meal.

* Jen is definitely crashing.
* Mike's arrogance was probably the biggest reason he went home.
* I'm also surprised that no one did a pasta/ravioli or rice-based dish.

I didn't think any of them really got the TV dinner thing.

Brian, Kevin, and Eli got it right, IMO. The rest, not even close. Jen's initial idea (bone-in meat dish) would've fit, but she didn't go that route.

The question is not just whether it looked the most inspiring and creative but whether it tasted the best too. If the judges truly thought Kevin's flavors were that much better then he should get the win, no?

@:-)

As I alluded to last week, Jen has been coasting on her past laurels. Tom finally mentioned that her performance has been deteriorating for weeks. She probably should have been gone last week. But, I was glad to see Mike go. Two hours to cook and he served raw leeks and tried to pretend they were protein. :rolleyes:

@:-)

As I alluded to last week, Jen has been coasting on her past laurels. Tom finally mentioned that her performance has been deteriorating for weeks. She probably should have been gone last week. But, I was glad to see Mike go. Two hours to cook and he served raw leeks and tried to pretend they were protein. :rolleyes:

I don't know about anyone else, but I was starting to find Mike I's obsession with Robin kind of creepy. ;)

An all brothers final might lead to a recreation of the Cain and Abel story from Genesis! :eek:

Portman said she was a vegan which is a person who excludes the use of animals for food, yet she ate Jen's dish with the butter sauce:confused:


I watched it again last night with my wife, and she clearly said that she was a vegetarian, not a vegan.

Editing is very powerful in these type of reality tv shows. They "have" to edit the episode so that there seems to be another prime candidate for dismissal (and win) aside from Mike I (and Robin). Jen was the prime candidate in the most recent show. Mike V's dish got a lot of airtime with great positive reactions of the guests and judges. But no, Kevin's dish which looked like cowpie won.

If the editing doesn't keep you guessing or doesn't give surprises (to you) each episode, then there really would be no point watching the last 20 minutes of the show. So most of the over-the-top things we see each episode I process with a grain of salt.


...that being said, when I watched the episode as a fan, I really laughed at the "small prick on the tip of the tongue" segment. All the wine they're drinking during the meal sure ups the festivities.

Supposedly they couldn't use rice, pasta, or cheese, though that wasn't aired. I agree, Jen probably should have gone, but I'm happy she didn't. Still love her, still hope she wins.

I watched it again last night with my wife, and she clearly said that she was a vegetarian, not a vegan.

I believe she only recently became a vegan. At least according to Wikipedia she became a vegan in 2009 so it could have happened after the taping of top chef.

Is there no Top Chef episode tonight? There is some All-Star Dinner instead. Boo.

From Colicchio's blog...


I don’t care how many blowtorches it took to create the dish — Kevin’s food not only is consistently well executed but also tastes really incredibly good. Young chefs are often keen to use technological wizardry and forget how to just roast something and make it really delicious, and perhaps Michael would do well to use the “weekend technique” he’s disparaging in order to make his food soulful and flavorful. In general, when Kevin has won challenges, the Voltaggio brothers’ methods might have been more advanced and out there but were weaker on seasoning.

That said in response to Michael’s comments, I will also say that as regards this challenge, I was a huge fan of Michael’s dish and was talked out of my position by my fellow judges. ... Mike showed great foresight and took an enormous risk: the dish could have been utterly disgusting and could have gotten him sent home. And yet it was great.

As for the bottom three dishes, while Jennifer gave us what amounted to a side dish or an appetizer, it was very well crafted and an overall competent dish. In light of what her colleagues in the bottom three gave us, Jennifer wasn’t going to be sent home for that dish.

.......
From Colicchio's blog...

This season might be ending up to be a "cooking with soul" Casey versus "soulless" Hung finale.

Is there no Top Chef episode tonight? There is some All-Star Dinner instead. Boo.


Did anyone see the All Star dinner episode last night? I didn't see the entire episode, but saw most of it. And I wasn't watching Top Chef when Marcel was a cheftestant, but watching him last night, this guy may be a great chef, but he is a first class, A number one a$$hole! :td:

Did anyone see the All Star dinner episode last night? I didn't see the entire episode, but saw most of it. And I wasn't watching Top Chef when Marcel was a cheftestant, but watching him last night, this guy may be a great chef, but he is a first class, A number one a$$hole! :td:

I love him!! He's great.

Having said that, I think a lot of the reunion was "aided" by producers. :)

I love him!! He's great.

Having said that, I think a lot of the reunion was "aided" by producers. :)

Hmmmm..... I'm wondering why you love him and think he's so great. ;)

And yes, I'm sure the editing put him in an even worser light. I think that Top Chef is a reality show where editing can have a huge impact on how we view the participants. Other shows maybe not so much, but I would put Top Chef near the top, or even at the top, of shows where editing is a huge factor.

What I have a hard time understanding is why Marcel would come on the reunion show? He looked uncomfortable the whole time, and knew that they would bring up the taunting and head shaving. When they did, and he declined to talk about it, he came off looking like the whiner.

Granted, I would not want to talk about physical humiliation either, but if I was able to avoid a reunion show where I was reasonably certain it would come up as a topic, then it's my fault for showing up, no?

What I have a hard time understanding is why Marcel would come on the reunion show? He looked uncomfortable the whole time, and knew that they would bring up the taunting and head shaving. When they did, and he declined to talk about it, he came off looking like the whiner.


$$$$$$$

???????

New episode tonight? I was really bummed last week.

What I have a hard time understanding is why Marcel would come on the reunion show? He looked uncomfortable the whole time, and knew that they would bring up the taunting and head shaving. When they did, and he declined to talk about it, he came off looking like the whiner.

Granted, I would not want to talk about physical humiliation either, but if I was able to avoid a reunion show where I was reasonably certain it would come up as a topic, then it's my fault for showing up, no?

As douchie as Marcel came across on his season, no one deserves the treatment he got. Cliff was way out of line, and sorry, physical assault is just that. As for not wanting to talk about it, I would not want to either. Despite that, Marcel has been back on Top Chef and I think he is friends with some of the other cheftestants, like Hung, so why not come back. If I were him, I would have just told everyone that if they were accosted, he would respect their decision if they did not want to discuss the matter.

New episode tonight? I was really bummed last week.

Yes ^

I guess the show will really get serious now that Robin is out.... funny thing, I felt that she was not the weakest this week..... but do believe she is the weakest chef overall. I am sure it did not help that she acknowledged that she did not compare to anyone else there... and that she overreached in order to try and reach their level.... tough to keep someone when they tell you they are the worst there.

I think Eli's dish was gross looking... and probably agreed with the guest judge who said she had a hard time not spitting it back into the cup.

I guess the show will really get serious now that Robin is out.... funny thing, I felt that she was not the weakest this week..... but do believe she is the weakest chef overall.
agreed.

As for the winner of last night, how is it that a chicken wing dish is representative of NY NY:confused:

I guess the show will really get serious now that Robin is out.... funny thing, I felt that she was not the weakest this week..... but do believe she is the weakest chef overall. I am sure it did not help that she acknowledged that she did not compare to anyone else there... and that she overreached in order to try and reach their level.... tough to keep someone when they tell you they are the worst there.

I think Eli's dish was gross looking... and probably agreed with the guest judge who said she had a hard time not spitting it back into the cup.

While I think the departed Robin was the most likely to be departed, simply without the "repertoire" to compete, sadly, it's the other girl who can't seem to match skill, concept and results.

Of course, I blame the producers for what had to have been the most abysmal choice of concepts for this episode. Vegas casinos are Vegas casinos, not exactly stimuli of culinary creativity, and the chicken wings had the most to say. On actual results, Eli had to have been given credit for past performance, because what he showed was not even a sarcastic commentary on an impossible assignment. I'm surprised that the episode was not discarded and re-wriiten/scenarioed for a reshoot.

Bad idea which nobody in charge had the guts to sh*tcan.

I think that they should have eliminated Ely (for whatever circus tragedy he concocted) and Robin (general underperformance). If Robin had added the glazed sugar - even a bit of food coloring and texture would have improved her jello


I am still hoping that if there is a final three, its Kevin and the brothers. Jen has faded and fast. So many things went wrong with the Excalibur.

I think that they should have eliminated Ely (for whatever circus tragedy he concocted) and Robin (general underperformance). If Robin had added the glazed sugar - even a bit of food coloring and texture would have improved her jello

I couldn't agree more. Both could, perhaps should, have been eliminated.

When Ely said that CC didn't have food or a restaurant, I wanted to shout NO, they have one of the oldest most obscene "grand buffets" on the strip. Last time I ate there (about 8 years ago) they had hundreds of items and HUGE plates. I was also thinking of some sort of dish that could be garnished with a play on cotton candy...

I am still hoping that if there is a final three, its Kevin and the brothers. Jen has faded and fast. So many things went wrong with the Excalibur.
Jen is really falling apart.

I don't remember their budget for the meal, but couldn't she have done a squab, partridge or game hen to play on the roasted beast type of medieval dining? Toss in a flagon (shot glass) of stout beer and ta-da!

Padma and Nigella in bed. ^^^^^^^^^

Also interesting that the chefs are sharing the same bedroom now.

As much as I disliked Robin, Eli should've been eliminated this week. His dish looked gross and the least edible. Whatever, it's just a matter of time anyway...this week, next week...

Awesome challenge. Although I wished they had the option to award the cash prize and Boucous d'Or prize separately, because I don't think he will excel at all at it.

Nice to see the departed chef shed a few tears.

Finale preview: WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot is up with Padma's hair?!

Awesome challenge. Although I wished they had the option to award the cash prize and Boucous d'Or prize separately, because I don't think he will excel at all at it.

ITA! The most elementary dish won...gah.

Awesome challenge. Although I wished they had the option to award the cash prize and Boucous d'Or prize separately, because I don't think he will excel at all at it.

Nice to see the departed chef shed a few tears.

Finale preview: WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot is up with Padma's hair?!

+1. He is a very good chef doing what he does, creative simple things with great ingredients. The Boucous d'Or is all about showing how well you can toe the traditional line. Not his thing at all.