Top Chef Season 3
 

Who does everyone think will win?

Part of me thinks Hung is the most skilled chef, but his attitude & lack of assertiveness seem to be huge roadblocks. Right now, I'm pulling for Tre to win - he seems skilled, eager and a leader.

Ah, Top Chef - the one television series I'm addicted to.

My money's on Tre - though I think they'll keep Hung around until the very end on account of his divisive attitude.

So, my feeling is:
#1: Tre
#2: Hung
#3: Chris

-FlyerBeek

I watched both season one and two of top chef. Season 3 I am especially interested in because of Dale.

Dale was the original chef in my ex-boyfriend's first restaurant in Chicago. :D

He was eventually fired, but I'm still pulling for him!

i love trey. i hope he wins. Hung seems to produce beautiful food but has a serious attitude...i guess that's why he is good friends with Marcel from season 2!

Does anyone else think that this cast (with the exception of Hung) is a lot less annoying than the casts of previous seasons?

Anything would be a lot less annoying than Season 2.

I still like the cast from the first season best. What I do like about Season 3 is the high level of professionalism. From the beginning I wondered why a show called "Top Chef" would include contestants still in cooking school or that were self taught.

Now if you want to talk annoying, let's discuss Tom Colicchio....

Hungs attitude sucks and it is because of this I don't want him to win. He's so pompous, and sometimes just careless, not the qualities a top chef should possess. Tre seems composed, and totally focused. I like his style.

Anyone notice the disclaimer at the end of the show that says something to the effect that the judges decisions are made in conjunction with the producers of the show?

I would say that this and this alone is what kept Hung from being kicked off last week. He and Joey screwed up, but Hung's inability or unwillingness to push for the IQF idea with his partner is what cost them, not Joey's pigheadedness. In any other contest, Hung would go home. However, Hung makes for better TV and ratings than a shlub like Joey.

All that said, I'm pulling for Tre or CJ. Casey seems like she has a shot as well, but the fact that I like her means she's probably going home soon.

i find it really annoying that they don't take previous episodes into account. For example Sara M (the cheesemaker from Jamaica) has never contributed anything in any dishes- Howie highlighted this during last weeks episode, she has never won a challenge and is constantly in the bottom group (pineapple, chicken a la king, frozen meal...) she is really flying under the radar

I would like Howie to win as i think he is the most passionate about cooking but i think Brian will win.

I seem to remember seeing someone with another reality show saying something to the effect of the competition comes first, but if they're debating who to toss off during the middle-episodes, they'll keep the one with personality.

Did you see the episode where contestents from all three seasons were chatting about it? One of them - Sandy, I think - asked the same question and the judges said that they look at it separately because if someone goes into their restaurant and has a bad meal, they'll never come back.

But I agree with you. Very annoying.

I think Brian's inexperience with meat will eventually come back to haunt him. He's proven that he can cook fish better than anyone, but I'm not sure how accomplished he is with other proteins.

No kidding, I hear so many complaints about his restaurants in NYC. Maybe he should get back there and see what is going on.

I also like the cast from the first season the best!

I like Dale as well, but I don't think he will win. He just does not have it in him.

I cannot agree more. At the beginning of the episode it was Hung who took responsibility for the freezing while Joey did the bulk of the cooking. In the end, the cooking turned out average (no better or no worse) than most of the others - yet the freezing was seriously flawed. Then, in typical Hung fashion, he dodges all responsibility piling excuse onto excuse. Yet, in the end, it'll be the better TV rating potential that'll keep Hung around.

-FlyerBeek

Anyone watching tonight?

Sadly, yes. Tonight's episode is the perfect example of ratings-over-substance we've been talking about. In fact, they pretty much came out and said it when choosing between Sara N and Howie at the very end.

While Sara N wasn't the best of the evening, she clearly wasn't the worst. Her sliders appeared to be the most popular course of the entire evening (between both teams), they received no complaints from the public, and were even fairly well received by the judges (the only real complaints was the lack of salt and her poor milkshakes). Meanwhile, Howie (very unimpressive Cuban sandwiches and an atrocious team leader) passes the blame again and again. When are they going to stop rewarding folks like Howie and Hung who consistently pass the buck and weasel out of any accountability?

Overall, a very disappointing episode (and I' not even going to mention Hung's cauliflower ice cream mix in). :td:

-FlyerBeek

I agree with the comment about Brian's downside being his lack of meat experience. I've eaten at Oceanaire (the Orlando location but the San Diego one was one of their first) before ant it was FANTASTIC. :-)

My vote is for either him or Tre. I don't see Hung winning or getting much closer. He actually had quite a few negative comments this week (chicken and ice cream).

note to self: avoid checking this thread between 7 and 11 pm on Weds nights due to the time difference with the east coast ;)

Sorry! :eek:

Yes that irratates me! Howie and his attitude gets on my last nerve.

No worries! It's my own fault for looking - I'll be careful on Weds nights in the future :)

Missed last night's episode! Hopefully, it's being replayed on Bravo today...got so much free time today.

You're in luck http://www.bravotv.com/Schedule/ it's a Top Chef marathon.

By the way, did anyone else think that Rocco Dispirito looked kind of funky last week? It was driving me crazy and then I found this http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/archives/003958.html

oooh good - show just started!

Rocco has lost a lot of weight, I did not even recognize him! He is hot now!

Looks like Tre will win...didn't the judges mention something about the winner of the first episode is likely to become Top Chef (as in the previous seasons)?

Hung started off impressive, but just went down hill each episode.

Totally agree.

I was glad to see Dale win the quickfire challenge. The things he created at the ex's restaurant were amazing and extremely creative. I can't tell if he is being purposefully underestimated, or if he is not as charismaitc as some others so he can't possibly win.

Howie's a giant tool IMO.

I enjoyed watching Hung get slapped down for his ice-cream mixin. But he can't take criticism. His comeback was something along the lines of "i guess they were looking for something for the common people."

That sort of attitude is going to relegate him to making foams for people who have more money than good sense or taste. Trying to elevate your diners' experience is one thing, but to insult them when they don't rise to it is a whole different ballgame.

I'd kick him off in a heartbeat, and I wouldn't give him the opportunity for an exit interview, in case he does what Joey did last week. Let him fade quietly into the past.

curious if the scar on the woman's arm has ever been discussed, it is a HUGE one.

Back to topic, I don't know who I'm pulling for at this time.

==

I saw an interview w/ Padma once. Apparently she was in a car accident w/ her mom and she did the "soccer mom save" which saved her mom from serious injury but caused the scar.

Back OT-Howie is a tool.

Oops, did I say that already? :D

Always worth repeating :)

I know who the last two standing will be (has somewhat "spoiled" the season for me).

I'll be thrilled with either. ;)

I got hooked on this show during my recent trip to NY. I, too, found Hung to be very conceited. It was always the guest chef that did not understand the true meaning of the dish Hung was trying to create. If I remember correctly, Hung had some choice words for Alfred Portale...a celebrity chef for Singapore Airlines.

Exactly.. Same here; I find it interesting that Hung never seems to believe anything is wrong with his dish/es other than "you don't get what I'm trying to do," or "you just don't get what I'm trying to do" ... :rolleyes: I mean I understand u are an excellent chef and all but comeon'..

Well, the figures speak for Hung (whether he cares to agree or not): out of 7 episodes so far Hung has only won 1 quick-fire challenge and hasn't won a single elimination challenge.

-FlyerBeek

Hung gets on my nerves. "Common people"? No, they were looking for something that tastes good. Sure "anyone" can do berries, but there's a reason. You can make something wild and out there, but if it's nasty, it's nasty. That's really all there is to it.

How tall is CJ? He was towering over his entire team at the panel!

I miss Lia. I thought her departure was too premature.

Not asking who the two finalist are, but care to share how it is you know the outcome?


Which makes it pretty obvious Hung is being kept around just for ratings. That isn't unique to Top Chef though. Remember Santino from season two of Project Runway?

I think he said once that he is 6'5"