f13.net

If this is already a thread, I couldn't find it.

Culinary Boner is hilare, also love Dale and his sexah lil' Napoleon complex, hate the fauxhawk fetal alcohol syndrome guy with pink skin. God, what is his annoying nickname? He looks like a fucking burn victim.

It's gonna be Dale, Andrew and FAS in the top three though.

Is Andrew the spazzy one who appears to be on coke? The one who is basically Tweak from South Park made flesh?

Antonia could make it far, she's done really well.

Edit: Fixed numerous errors.

Yes.

Nah Antonia is too "nice" to be in the top. She seems like a competent cook but meh, she isn't professional enough or seems to have enough of an edge.


Richard - I like Blais, he's going to make it.

Dale - Dick, but really great skills.

And I'm kind of caught between Andrew and Stephanie. Stephanie is like a little old woman that will kick your ass if you come too close but Andrew is a doof. But he's got skills.


And Andrew is the one that kind of looks like Shaggy from Scooby Doo.


(http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/15259/10_2008/andrew.jpg) |  (http://www.pandapassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/shaggy-scooby-doo.gif)

Dale is not a dick. He's a fucking Chef.

And Blaise happens to have some skills to back up his masturbatory bullshit.

They're the only 2 that deserve to be in the finals, and Blaise will probably fuck up.

Everyone else is a hack and I don't want a repeat of Season 2 with that Elan bullshit.

In conclusion, he doesn't look like Shaggy.

I refuse to call him "Blaze". He can cook, make no mistake, but he still looks like he literally bathes in hot duck fat. And not in a good way.

Andrew's tapioca caviar is tired, but the dude is a laugh a minute. Quality TV.

No no, Dale's a dick. There is no question about that. Anyone who punches a locker cause they hate losing gets put in the bottom of that category. When he rolled his eyes about Nikki the talentless hack not being able to make mayo by hand, THAT was him being a chef.

I do kinda agree about those two being the only two that really belong up there, though Andrew does have some skills and so does Stephanie, she's been in the top repeatedly.

Andrew is a shaky yutz who needs to stay on til the semi-finals for comedic value. Stephanie isn't even as good as that redhead who lost BADLY in season 1.

I can't hate Blaise too much. He seems like a genuinely good, if douchey and annoying, guy.

Every time I see Andrew, I think of Haemish.

Maybe there's some sort of counseling for that?

I think I like Andrew the best.  Dale is a dick.  Pointy head man will probably win.

Unfortunately, you are correct, sir. I look a good bit like that fucker, and everytime he opens his gob I want to punch him directly in the junk. He makes me hate myself. I may even talk with the same frenetic pace with him. I really really hate him.

I think the final 4 will come down to Dale, Andrew, Stephanie and Blaze, with Blaze and Dale being the finalists. I long for the day when they jettison "Funny Hat Cockmouth" or FHC Spike. That fucker is just begging to get slapped.

I'm going with Dale and Richard in the finals.  I think Dale has the skills and Richard has the creativity.  They may just keep Lisa around because her attitude makes for good television.  Her and Dale in the finals would be drama +++

Drama is what left us with Season 2 The Shit Season instead of Top Chef.

I swear to god,  I caught myself thinking "wow, how did Haemish have time to post while he was doing this?" a couple of times while watching Top Chef.

My locks for final four:

Richard Blaise is probably the guy to beat.  How many eliminations has he won now?  He's competant/knowledgable,  and is willing to put a new twist on whatever he does.  Everyone else has phoned it in a couple times at least.

Andrew seems to be pretty solid.  He has repeated a couple dishes/tricks (the crispy chicken, the faux-caviar), though, but he hasn't sank the depths of mediocrity some of the others have.  I give him credit for never being whiny or back-talking.

The other two slots go to some combination of:

Stephanie has done some good work.  I'd rate her higher if not for the fact that she constantly seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Antonia has some skills.  I'm not sure if it's just the editing,  but she comes off poorly as a person some times.

Dale seems to be pretty solid,  but I'm pegging him for some kind of glorious meltdown.


Spike just needs to go away.  And he isn't that talented.

Lisa has done some good stuff,  but she has some kind of anti-charisma that is very off-putting.

Dale will be on the far side of tomorrow soon, I think.

And poor Stephanie, she really does look crazy sometimes.. something about "Mr. Speed Artichoke Man" just kind of sat wrong with me.


On a side note, I think Andrew and Antonia have a "thing".

You're just saying that because Antonia is Italian/Mediterranean like you and Andrew looks like your husband.

I joined a convent very recently. I am married to Jesus.  :evil:


Oh, and NIX and I are running away together.

We are gonna pick up Signe on the way.

Nix! That two-timing good for nothing sunnuva...

woo hoo!

Andrew is completely full of crap but you don't get to be Sous Chef at Le Cirque being a slouch in the kitchen. He seems like he isn't taking the show very seriously though. I love the description of Lisa as "charisma free zone." If I had to work in her kitchen I would kill myself. She's like one of those Warner Brothers cartoon characters that has a permanent rain cloud over their head.  Spike is worthless but at least he called Dale out on his shit this last episode. Dale can cook but is a complete bonehead. I think the final 3 will come down to Richard, Stephanie and Dale/Antonia depending on who has a meltdown in the penultimate show. I think the order of who gets the boot from here on out to set up a three way showdown will be:

Spike
Lisa
Andrew
Antonia/Dale

I kind of like Lisa and her attitude. Maybe because she reminds me of someone.

I need to stop sleeping. All the important stuff seems to happen then and now I'm in trouble. :ye_gods:

Spike has made it as far as he has by throwing other people under the bus. He seems to be the weakest chef on there.

See, I think Dale IS a dick, but he's a dick with cause most of the time, in the "I don't suffer fools lightly" kind of way. And now that I think about it, Andrew for as mouthy as he is, has probably been one of the most respectful when it comes to talking to the judges.

Okay that's it. I call bullshit.

I am miffed.

 :pedobear: :drill: :pedobear:

Well my predictions were their usual level of accuracy.  :oh_i_see:

Lisa did bother me with her behavior. But Andrew let his ego get the better of him. Too many people are just "I do what I do yo!" even when what they do isn't related to what they're supposed to be doing at all.

But Spike is a moron. I wanna slap those damn hats off of his head.

I am glad he moved briefly to a pink bandana.

Lisa is such a bitch.  Honestly.  Can't cook rice, can't cook shrimp?  Get the fuck out!

I'm gonna miss Haemish Andrew.

Hell, I would have loved to have seen them eliminate Spike AND Lisa.  Dumbass chicken salad with a tomato, lettuce, and piece of fucking bread on the side just to dick over everyone else.

Good thing I'm already gay, so I don't have to feel bad about getting worked up over this show ~evil grin~

Spike played the rules perfectly and stayed middle of the pack perfectly. That's all you have to do until the final 4.

Andrew had been fucking up a lot. Yea, he's funny, but he had to go.

Seeing Dale win was great as he makes everyone except Blaise look like amateur hour.

Lisa is barely fucking skating by. People just keep fucking up more than her. I do want to punch her right in the babymaker though.

I'm still calling Blaise and Dale in the finals unless the judges really feel the need to give women a pity vote. Neither of them are even in the same realm as those two. On that note, I'd really like to see a woman who can compete.

Nice to see my boy Sam again.

Was it just me, or did it look like Sam has lost weight?

Blaze is starting to wear on me a little.  I'd rather see Dale VS Antonia.

I think, after tonight I gotta go with Dale and Richard being in the final two. Lisa is going to fuck herself up and Antonia - meh, still think she isn't good enough.

I can't *wait* for Stephanie to self destruct. It's so coming. Very eerily..she reminds me of Rachel Ray..

The only reason Dale vs Antonia would EVER happen would be because Blaise forgot to clean a fish again or too many women complained that the show favors men. The former might happen. All depends on Restaurant Wars next week. I couldn't tell from the preview, but if Dale and Richard are on the same team, one of the girls are probably gone.

I'm gonna assume it's guys vs girls though because they seem to have evened it up on purpose.

-

And no, he got a haircut and shaved a bit nicer is all. (Sam, that is).

I see.

Cause Korean TV is showing season 2 right now on the "gay" channel (not it's real name).

and Sam was looking much hotter in this episode compared to back then

I know Blaze flaming out isn't likely, but I can hope.  Oddly, I really liked him at the beginning.  He just got too annoying.  I don't have any complaints about his cooking ability, I'm being totally shallow here.

It's on the "gay" channel in the US, too.

Anyone else feel like this is the wrong time for Restaurant Wars?  Down to six left,  don't think any of them particularly like each other, add in some pressure....  should get some melt-downs.


Lisa signed her death warrant at Judge's Table.  They had to get rid of Andrew, because he didn't follow the rules of the competition and produced a sub-par dish, but I think the judge's have a good idea who they want to knock off before each elimination really starts,  and who they want to hang around.

Last season with Dale felt like Tom really had to work to keep him in the show when he goofed one of the dishes towards the end of that season....   I just remember Tom harping on the "which is worse,  failure of execution or failure in conception" bit.


I think a final four of Andrew, Antonia, Dale and Stephanie would be pretty solid.

If it's guys vs girls, it's a great time for restaurant wars. Also, what the hell is up with people liking Stephanie? She's not even on the same level as Andrew or Antonia let alone Dale.

Have you even been watching the show to date? Stephanie has been up on the winner's block more than anyone else. The girl's got skills. She even got a winner to share his win with her. How the hell do you manage that? It's a competition.

I was sort of sorry to see Psuedo Haemish leave, but he deserved it.  Well, so did Lisa.  Spike, too!  Anyway, I sort of liked Dale's attitude during this show, although I suspect he might have buggered up Lisa's rice and I think he "tripped" accidentally on purpose.  I also like Antonia.  Her food is okay, but mostly because I suspect she's a sweet person. 


If Xerapis comes to visit, I'll be serving:

(http://www.byrequest.co.uk/Private/Contents/chef.jpg)

Next week it's Lisa or Spike.

God why can't it be both.

There's 13 episodes a season right?

6 people left. They could very well kick off one guy on the girls team and one on the guys team.

Too bad it can't be Lisa and Stefanie or whatever her name is.


Blaise isn't a winner, he's a goober. And likes to kiss major ass. However, he happens to be (probably) the best chef on the show, and giving that win away means nada to him.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Signe?   :drill:

And yeah, I would love to see them eliminate two people next week.  Preferably Lisa and Spike.

Stephanie needs to get kicked out all by her lonesome so they can spend more show time on her complete and utter meltdown.

I..so agree. I wanna see her do some kind of huge and mental flip out. It would bring great joy to my little life.


And Schild:

I think the best chef kind of hovers between he and Dale. Blais is a goober, and he is kinda creepy actually.. reminds me of a piece of oiled salmon. Still think it was nice of him to do that even though it is a competition and he needs to buck up.

He's like.. the ANTI Marcel.

I think the best chef is Dale, flat out. But people (even the judges) seem impressed by Blaise's party tricks. He fancies himself a chemist. Whatever, that's fine and it'll take him a long way on Top Chef. Good for him. All I know is Ookii and I called Blaise and Dale in the first episode, and we want to see them go all the way, so it's only good tv for us. HOWEVER, if one of them fuck up and get kicked off, I want the other one to BEAT THE EVER LOVING SHIT out of whoever they're against. I do NOT want another Elan situation.

Totally agreed.

I think Dicky Dale might end up being my new favourite.  I loved how he was mocked for only doing Asian and then he kicked everyone's ass and won.  I totally approve!

Plus he's the closest thing to good-looking we got this season!

Blaise has actually not been doing much molecular gastronomy on this show. Even though he is into it, he has been mostly cooking straight up.

Amen. He is a cutie, especially when he gets all pouty.

And Abagadro:

He seemed to start off kind of strong with it and then tapered off.

He wrote the gastronomy until he fucked up fish in the circulator. By then he knew to give it up.

I finally got to watch this week's episode. As much as I wanted to gobsmack Andrew every time he opened his mouth, he shouldn't have gone home with what those other two pulled. Lisa is a perfect cuntmouth and needs to go back to sucking dick in the bus station for quarters. She's not anywhere near the level of chef needed to win this thing. She can piss and moan about the goddamn burners all she wants, but they video the whole fucking thing. SOME camera would have caught somebody turning up her burners. I think she fucked it up herself because she's just not that good.

And Spike... twat. At least he didn't throw anyone under the bus at judge's table like he normally does. But that whole strategy of denying the other chefs ingredients was lame, especially when he did fuckall with it. I love that he questioned Tom's pallette after producing the lazy ass shit he's produced all season. I'm thinking he'll be out for Restaurant Wars. That seems to be the challenge that separates the lazies from the workers.

Yeah, I called Blaise and Dale pretty early on as well. They are just three levels above anyone else on the show.

I like the trend of calling out the judges.  THAT'S gonna help you!

Y-E-S!

People have really gone after the judges this season, which is funny.  It gives Chef Tom a chance to say some classic, cold-blooded line.

I like it when contestants fuck with other people for no other reason than to fuck with them. Especially when they produce something shitty and coast. It means he "gets" the game.  That's to say nothing about his cooking that episode though. Which was shitty.

Didn't he say something to Andrew like "Unfortunately for you, my opinion matters"

I was laughing at that one.  Tom is my hero.

I can't wait to watch Tony Bourdain this week.  Ah, the carnage.

Tom did say that and he's had to say it a couple of times this season.  I like when people fuck with other people, too, if it's for no reason.  I think one of the things you need for a job as a head chef is a tough skin.  I don't mean that in a pervy way.  It sounds pervy though.  Sorry.

I hope Anthony Bourdain rips into the remaining contestants. I mean absolutely, horribly, without a doubt just screws them all up. I want the ebilness I know is within him to shine right through and maybe even strike and kill Spike. You shouldn't be allowed to wear as many hats and bandanas and head cover ups as he does and live to tell the tale.. a tale..any tale..


I'm stabby over this last judge's table.

P.S. Tom has mentioned like three times this season that it was his opinion that it was his/the chopping block's table that mattered. I <3 Tom.

I hate it when the contestants will do something to fuck over the others like Spike did, mainly because they generally don't think about what they want to do with it, just how it'll fuck someone else. Concentrate on making your shit tight and leave everyone else the fuck alone. Oh, and make sure to talk shit about them on the interview cam.

I think Spike has the biggest fuck over so far on Top Chef.  I can't remember anyone else doing something, simply to screw them over.  If he would have actually used the ingredients, that would have been one thing... but having it just be on the side was prickish.  I was really hoping he'd get kicked off for that, but Andrew got what he deserved.

Bourdain loves asian food. I can really see him rip into that bitchy girl for making fake asian when Dale cooks up something real. In fact I would pay to see that.

Unfortunately, since it's restaurant wars, someone will fuck over Dale and he won't get to make Asian food.

I'm stoked for Bourdain to be back. I've really missed his blog of the show this year.  One of my favorite TC moments of all time was when he said after tasting a lobster dish that it was like eating a Barbie's head.

Yea, Bourdain not having a blog is a crime. Casey, however, has turned out to be a total fucking airhead and shouldn't be allowed on the internet. She writes like a 12 year old in a yearbook. Man, she's lucky she's super hot.

I'd hit it.   :drill:

Asian food is godlike. They should leave him be. Or..if they know anything at all about Bourdain..let him lead.

Yea, if Dale doesn't lead his team, things will end.... badly.

At least Spike is subtle and competent about being a prick.  Lisa blurting out what she did was just off the wall, and basically set her up to go down later.

Didn't Lisa fuck up a challenge where she didn't follow the rules? (I think it was the stupid improv comedy episode) She didn't go home for that. I think Andrew went home because his dish was too small and didn't taste good. They never call people out completely on a technicality.

She didn't go home for that, but didn't her teammate? ^_^

She fucked up with her partner when they didn't use Polish Sausage in a dish for the improv thing. Only I heard later they did use it, only mixed with chorizo. I think her partner, the cuter of the lesbian couple, went home. (Zoe, the Greek one)

No, Zoe went home because she was on Spike and Antonia's team and Spike wanted to make butternut squash soup and Antonia didn't. So Zoe didn't season her mushrooms well enough and it was bye-bye Argentina.

I've been rooting for Dale the entire season.  He's a total dick, but he doesn't try to hide that he's a dick, rather like Haemish, he flaunts it (and has the skills to back it up).

Spike, on the other hand, can't seem to smell the shit he's vomiting from his eyeballs.

Yeah you're right. Now that I think about it it was Lisa and Antonia that fucked up and didn't use Polish Sausage in the improv thing. They were in the bottom two but didn't actually lose, the losing team was Stephanie and the other half of the lesbian couple who did the asparagus / cheese / bread "erotic" dish.

EXACTLY. Lisa is a callin'-the-kettle-black doucheguzzler.

I've gotta kind of admit, I like the term "doucheguzzler". I think that will be my new word.

On a sidenote I just saw the full promo for Top Chef featuring the amazing and great Anthony Bourdain.

Sigh.. I'm a happy girl..he's so going to burn them at that stake.


*Does a small jig of glee*

Well shit.

Dale and Andrew gone,  so one of Spike or Lisa will make it through?  Or BOTH???

Dale had a bad day,  and it was a good cut for that episode.  The problem is I just don't think either Lisa or Spike can hang with the other three so you have a gimme elimination in the final four.

At this rate, though,  I'm going to say somehow Richard gets cut next episode to create a completely bizarro situation.

Well final three should be Richard, Stephanie, and Antonia, unless there's another big cut like with Dale. 

Lisa and Spike really shouldn't be there anymore.  If they make it to the final 3, I think I'll cry.

It happened to Sam, so I wouldn't put it past them.

It wouldn't shock me either. They may try to rig it to finally get a woman Top Chef. Knock off Richard and you can basically guarantee that either Stephanie or Antonia win it.

Just watched it.

I am not a happy monkey. This was the totally wrong person to get chopped, oi!  :drill: :drill:

The fact that Dale's main entree was terrible probably did him in, and although Lisa fucked up everything making Mango sticky rice without actually having sticky rice was a bonehead group decision.

If your team loses and your own dishes aren't very good you're probably going home as the leader, regardless of how the rest of your team did.

I am so fucking pissed.

On the other hand, butterscotch scallops just SOUNDS disgusting.

And yeah, they ALL should have known better than to try to make sticky rice WITHOUT STICKY RICE.  Dumbass move.

Lisa is such a bitch...even in the preview for next week you can hear "bitch" just in her tone of voice.  I hate her so much.

... and Stephanie's chances just keep getting better and better.

What sucks about working where I work is that I already know who wins this season. Or at least, I know who doesn't win -- and it's one of my personal favorites.

Fuck this show. Blaise has no competition though. SEASON FIN.

We're looking at Season 2 Part 2 here, folks.

Antonia has a shot. She's taken a couple by now.

I still think pointy head boy might get it.  He might do something brilliant and win.  Everyone seems to like him.  He has been flying under the radar, however.

  Only slightly on topic, Tom Colicchio just opened a new restaurant near me, "Craftsteak" at the new MGM Grand Hotel/Casino at Foxwoods, and of course I got dragged there by some woman who is a "huge fan" of this guy.  I've never seen the show, I just like to eat good steak.  Needless to say, she made sure everyone and their third cousin knew how much she was a "huge fan", and he actually came out to say hello to us, he was a really nice guy, even gave her a signed menu from the restaurant.  Apparently he's going to be in the kitchen there for the rest of this month.

  Nonetheless, $170 dinner for two later, and it was WAY TOO SALTY.  I'm a fan of salt, really, but I'd like to taste the FOOD that I paid for at least a little bit.  Three of my friends have been since, and the same complaint came from all of them, so fuck that guy, it's back to Peter Luger's for me!

Since this is somewhat the food porn thread, I wanted to say that I had probably the best meal of my life recently at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon when I was down in Vegas a few weeks ago. Absolutely incredible and that isn't even his best restaurant in that casino (I've promised myself a trip to that place, Joel Robuchon, the only 4 star Michelin restaurant in Vegas, when I get my PhD awarded).  Had the tasting menu which had some amazing dishes but the absolute highlight was of all things a fried egg with smoked salmon and sweet onion cream. The "fried egg" was actually a complete egg lightly breaded and fried yet with a soft yolk. I had to ask how it was done because I couldn't figure it out and was told they soft-boil the egg, peel it, bread it, then fry it. They said about 1 in 10  work. The smoked salmon looked like salmon roe and the cream was to die for. Unbelievable dish and there were many others that approached it. It's a funky place too as you actually sit at a counter like in a very upscale diner watching an open kitchen. You sit next to strangers which is fun because you can both talk to them and see what amazing thing they ordered.  I highly recommend it although it is expensive as hell.

10% success rate for deliciousness?

(http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7448/hedonismbot800bis4hp.jpg)

Yep. And what's really worrying is that I can totally see Blaise getting shitcanned on a mediocre day because one of these cuntwhistles sabotages him too.

Yeah, Dale produced a bad dish, and yes, he was the leader. But look at his teammates in that one and what they did. Spike did fuckall but nonce around in the front of the house, buying froo-froo. He didn't cook a fucking thing, and it's a fucking cooking show. But at least he didn't fuck up the service. Meanwhile, BOTH of Lisa's dishes that she was completely responsible for sucked ass and yet it's Dale's fault because he didn't dickslap the stupid twat into doing her fucking job. Then at judge's table, both her and Spike threw him right under the bus, basically blaming everything on him. I have never wanted to hit a woman more than I wanted to slug Lisa right in the babymaker.

The only fucking reason Spike is still there is because he's been able to deflect problems onto other people. He seems to be the one of the weakest "chefs" they've ever brought on that show. If he gets in the final 4, that's a fucking travesty, and I only say that because I know that Lisa is a better cook.

Is she?  I'd say that they're both equally bad.  Lisa has fucked up dishes on what, the last three shows?  Spike is nothing more than Teflon at this point.  He's still around because one person always manages to fuck up more than he did.  If Lisa is indeed better than Spike, that's still not saying much. 

I like Blaise and Stephanie in the finals.  Blaise is the best chef, but his risk taking may get the better of him.  Stephanie does nothing flashy, but she seems to produce consistent food.  If Blaise has a good day, he'll destroy her... but he seems to be his own worst enemy at this point. 

Oh, Lisa definitely isn't a great chef by any stretch of the imagination. She's produced SOME good dishes. Spike has just produced NOTHING. His dishes have been thoroughly mediocre and when they've sucked, he's been able to put the blame on someone else.

Spike made winning butternut squash soup. And he's the closest thing to good-looking we have left (he cleans up real nice, s'all I'm saying).

The saddest part about Dale going first is that I wanted to see the squee all over his face when Lisa got canned. And when he cried I wanted to reach through the tv and give him snugs.  :cry:

Stephanie vs Richard at the end with Richard coming out on top.

I think the same, I thought it would be Richard over Dale in the final, but now I'm thinking Richard over Steph. Richard is competent, skilled, and calm. He can lead well by suggestion rather than anger. All he needs is a real haircut. Leave the fauxhawks to the dykes please.

I've thought from the second or third episode that it was Richard without significant competition and I still think so. Dale came out and I think he had the potential, but the one rule in restaurant wars is that if you are the "executive chef" you're going to get blamed. I'm surprised they don't have them all drawing lots like prisoners deciding who will be executed.

Lisa's gone next ep or one after. I don't think she's any worse than Dale for being a jerk. There's a lot of sexism going on there I think. It's not expected in a woman. And her pussface at judging is particularly hideous on camera. Maybe I'm prejudiced because she's a dyke, but I don't think she's getting a fair shake. Even though I don't think she's at all "final" material and not as good as Dale. But she's just not all that bad.

Dude, she's failed to cook freaking RICE two challenges in a row.  Rice.  You put it in water and cook it. Rice.

I thought Richard was gay..  :uhrr:

Just recently found out he has a wife and kids lol.


I think it'll be a toss up between Steph and Richard.. they seem to be the most competent of the ones left.  Although Steph may not have as much ingenuity with her dishes as Richard, she is good at a wider variety or cooking abilities it seems.  An example would be her wedding cake.  I don't think any of the other chefs could have pulled off such a great one.

Really?! I thought the same thing.

Richard is not only a chef, but also a culinary designer, working all over the east coast. He and his wife reside in Atlanta, Georgia with their two weimaraners and are expecting their first child in the spring. He is known for his innovative and personal take on classical cuisine and has studied under luminaries such as Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Ferran Adria. Richard believes cooking is an art and a craft and food is meant to stimulate on many levels. He incorporates global ingredients, modern cooking methods, wit and a sense of humor to all his food. He says if he were a food he would be an artichoke. "It's tough, difficult to work with, even dangerous at its core; but when you come down to it, it's simple, beautiful and delicious."


that's taken from his bio on bravotv.com lol

You are right, both Dale and her were being obstinate jerks in that challenge. It was quite obvious from a few weeks ago they just didn't like each other. The difference for me has always been that Dale's a much better cook and it shows. She THINKS she's a better cook than she is, and that bit of arrogance turned me off from the get go. Nothing to do with her being a woman so much as being a pretender like Spike who blames other people when her shit goes wrong. Dale, for as arrogant as he is, could not only walk the walk, he stood up for his dishes. He didn't whine about "SABOTAGE!" or blame getting the wrong rice. The store doesn't have the right rice... pick another fucking dish.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to fuck up rice.  lol.

It's funny, but I watch that Bobby Flay Throwdown show from time to time, and he's had two shows where he fucked up cooking his rice.  One was a Paella challenge and the other was a Jambalaya one.

Personally, if I didn't have a rice cooker... I'd probably fuck up rice all the time on the stove.  That would be like a sin to my filipino heritage.  haha.

Well looks like there is a 75% chance of a female winner.. well maybe 50% chance.. one doesn't need to be there.

Haven't watched it yet, but I kind of assumed this would be the year of the female.

In which case, it's rigged. No offense to female chefs, but there's yet to be one as good as the guy chef on the show. In any season.

Well, it's not a game of chance....

Antonia has taken the Best-Looking spot. Things are only gonna get uglier from here on out.

I predict Stephanie.

That would be my prediction too.  She just keeps on putting out good dishes and winning.  Richard just keeps slipping.

Don't forget in the last episode Richard and Stephanie will get to make anything they want.  I think Richard will prevail.

I would have eliminated both. I'm obviously a pushover for Lisa, but no, she's not in the same class as the other three.

Except.

O M G that new haircut from the previews is DYKE O RIFIC HOT!

I thought it would take a miracle for Richard to lose, but after the last two eps, I think any of the three can take it.

I thought her new do completely changed her looks.  I wasn't sure who it even was when I first saw the preview and had to flip back. It absolutely suits her. 

Jen and Zoi are doing some kind of cooking demo at Boston Pride!  I'm all excited.

Is Jen DOING IT FOR ZOI!

Jennifer was one of my favourites from the beginning.  I was sad when she left.

Bourdain on his ep as guest judge (http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/2008/05/post.html)

Another tidbit buried in there which explains why he hasn't had a regular blog on bravotv.com about Top Chef is that they wanted it to be sponsored by Michelob and he told them to stick it.  Dude rocks.

Yea, well, too bad he managed to fuck up the whole series by kicking off Dale. At that point I was firmly convinced it was rigged so a chick would win.

Read what he says about it and he makes a pretty good case as to why he was tossed off.

I did. Still not good enough. They've kept other people on because they were better overall. My theory is that they needed Dale off, and got Bourdain to do it since Collichio didn't have the heart. Can't have another asian win before a woman wins. Vaginas everywhere will be butthurt.

Are you like anti-women or something Schild?

Heaven forbid a female can have the ability to cook as well as a male. 

Dale fucked up and he got kicked off, there was no conspiracy.

I think Bourdain pretty much gave us the reason it happened, unless of course you like butterscotch on your scallops.

Stephanie and Antonia have been good all season. They deserve to be in the final 4.

No, I'm anti-Lisa.

Also, the fact Spike made it further than Dale was political. Unfortunately, it's top chef. I've always hated how one member (the front of the house) always got a bye on Restaurant Wars.

It's either going to be Stephanie or Richard. I don't think Antonia has enough chops to win. We KNOW Lisa isn't going to do it, because she sucks.

EDIT: What is it about lesbians liking that dyke cut Lisa got? I've never seen how that's an attractive look for a woman.

As for Dale's getting kicked off, it happened during last season's restaurant wars too. Cliff got kicked off when he was CLEARLY a better chef than most that stayed. But he took the executive chef role just like Dale, and when the food wasn't as good, he got shitcanned just like Dale. If you don't win restaurant wars as executive chef, your ass is going home. And yes, front of house guy ALWAYS gets a free fucking pass.

Because it segues perfectly into a mullet. All they hafta do is keep getting the sides trimmed!

Well, you're not a dyke are you?

i don't get the stuff about Dale and women. I don't care how many women there are. I'll be utterly shocked if Richard doesn't win. He hasn't shone in the past few challenges becuase they haven't been his forte, but he's excellent and in the final he'll have a chance to do what he wants.

I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body.  :grin:

And bitch-face survives again.

She really has the worst attitude - expects everyone to be nice to her while she is a total ass.

I almost hope she wins though. That would be awesome.

GODDAMNIT. Lisa is such an unlikeable twat-face. I've hated contestants in the past (Hung, Marcel) but at least those two were you know, good chefs. She has TOTALLY coasted, is a shit chef in comparison to at least half the other contestants on the show, and continues to prove just how odious one person can be. The "you could have congratulated me" shit... seriously, WHAT THE FUCK? Congratulated you on BEING 3RD FUCKING PLACE AND NOT COCKING UP AS BAD AS THE OTHER ONE? Jesus, shut the fuck up already. You smell funny and nobody likes you because you are a cunt. You don't deserve to be there. You have coasted worse than any contestant on the show ever. Did you ever even win ONE FUCKING CHALLENGE? EVER?

If that bitch wins, I'm not sure I'll be able to stomach another season. I probably will because I'm a whiny bitch, but still. She should never have gotten past like episode 4.

She can't possibly win.  CAN'T.  POSSIBLY. 

The awesome part about last night's show:

Lisa had almost managed to change my opinion of her,  before the spiel at the end. 

The haircut suits her, and presentation wise she looked more relaxed and presentable.  Most of the season she was tense and overly defensive.

She got along with Andrew pretty well, despite past incidents.

At Judge's table she was gracious, positive, and complimented the winners' dishes while supporting her own,  rather than attacking the judges or lashing out at other contestants.


Antonia definitely appeared to be the one who deserved to go home.  She was a mess,  and I really don't think Nikki was a very good support for her.  If Antonia had gotten someone like Jenn (who should have been around longer than she was),  she might have been able to pull it together.

Both Richard and Stephanie pulled classic stunts for them. 

Richard had some inspired cooking,  and presented the dishes well mixing his own take with the challenge.

Stephanie had a major foul up,  and did some inspired improv.  For as tense as she can appear,  she can really pull great things together.  Dale is a good chef, but the dude is just scatterbrained.

when he's not working on his own stuff.

He really works best alone, I think. When he's working on team challenges, he gets too involved in fixing what other people do on top of his own work.

I don't even care about this season anymore, but I just want to point out he won both times he teamed up with Blaise. They were unstoppable. No one even compared. That's why we wanted to see them 1v1.

Yes, you are correct. I guess when you team up with the top chef, you really don't have to worry about what he's doing.

And Blaise will win!

(Antonio sucks and was never ever going to win)

She's really good at being a bitch, but I don't think anyone was more surprised than Lisa that she wasn't out.

Nice challenge, I approve.

Lisa is officially the Hillary of Top Chef.

Yea, but unlike Hillary, I want Lisa to cry like a 7 year old girl.

Hmm...I'm actually not surprised.

I wasn't all that surprised, either.  I like Stephanie.  I though Richard was going to win up until the last episode.  Stephanie just seemed to outshine him.  I was sorry to see him feel so bitter.  I bet bacon ice cream brought cheers from the F13 crowd!  I wonder what the Ben and Jerry's bacon ice cream will be called?  I bet they're working on one.

The entire season was a failure of the "What have you done for me TODAY?" style of judging.

Schild right now thinks Blaise won, let's see what he says after he finds out it was Stephanie!

Lisa just wasn't good enough. Richard choked. Reasonable result. I suspect we'll see Richard back in future seasons despite being more or less "third."

God, Lisa and the other woman were hot together.

I agree about the "today" comments, but the worst example of that continues to be Sam.

No, I didn't. You didn'tyell when the episode was over. So I assumed one of the women took it. It couldn't be Lisa because she's just a terrible human being. As such, it had to be Stephanie. Having seen all the final meals, Dale would've rocked their ass and I know for a fact Hung is sitting at home holding his head in shame.

Every other season of this show is doomed to be like Season 2. Elan, Stephanie. Get the fuck outta here.

Also, in any other season, undercooking leeks and delivering a shit dessert would've gotten you kicked to the curb.

Oh, and Lisa is Serek Dmart. Thinks the world of her shit and yet every single episode every other contestant and viewer thought she was just a psycho bitch.

Heh, that is so true that it is frightening that I hadn't thought of it before you said it.

I only saw portions of season two, but....

This entire season has been fucked over by good chefs getting nailed on occasional failures while folks like Spike, Lisa, and Nikki cruised along on a wave of mediocre or second-to-last dishes.

I would have liked to see Andrew, Dale, and Jenn hang around longer than they did.  Having two chefs in the finals choke hard when they were much better chefs than that usually (Antonia and Richard) didn't help.

I think Jenn was really fucked over by putting Zoi on the show,  adding additional pressure to her.

I agree that too many mediocre chefs skated by for too long this season, but I still enjoyed the season.  Did it have the best chef win it like when Hung took it last year? Probably not, but the point of the show is proclaim a "Top Chef" based on the construct of the TV show, not pick who the most talented chef or chef with the most potential.  The strategy for the show is simple, don't ever have the biggest fuck up of the week and progress to the final where you can pretty much cook on your terms.  As much as I like Dale and thought he was the best overall chef, he made a massive strategic error during restaurant wars, choosing to be captain with a group of teammates he hated, then pulling a Tre and serving a horrid dish to seal his fate (Anthony Bourdain proclaimed those butterscotch scallops the worst dish he's ever tasted on the show - I still don't get how folks are upset that worst dish ever + captaining the losing side on restaurant wars = elimination).  This isn't the first season, I have no sympathy if even the best chef doesn't understand how to strategically compete by now.

The "what have you done for me lately" judging style certainly isn't perfect or unbiased, but if the show was based on taking all of the previous challenges into account, would there really be any dramatic tension or a reason to watch the show?  Four or five shows in it was obvious that Dale, Richard, and Stephanie were a class above the rest - the fun of the show is knowing that one fuck up and they still could be toast.

Based on the final show, Stephanie winning was the only way it could end. I was so worried that Lisa would win. She did not deserve to even get past the fourth or fifth fucking show, but she came close to winning simply because Blaise choked like a big dog. I knew after the first course that Blaise just wasn't going to pull it off. Stephanie winning I can accept, though I really think she was 3rd best all season. The fact that the judges DIDN'T take Lisa's craptacular performance all season long as an indicator she should be there is shit. But at least she didn't win.

Blaise cooked better under good competition. Had it been Blaise, Dale and Stephanie, I think all 3 of them would have made dishes that would have marveled viewers. Instead we got a pedestrian, shitty finale.

Like I said, Season 2 redux. Leaving Lisa on was purely for drama. They'll get their shit together for the next season and then fuck up again a year later. Meh, same as it ever was.

Just saw the advert for Top Chef New York - Season 5!

Can't wait for the ass-kicking.

You guys should move this over to TV.

Good idea.

Can't wait for Season 5. When does it start?


I just finished watching Season 4, actually. Caught it three or four months after the fact on the Canadian Food Network. As far as I can tell, they actually skipped over the finale and went straight to the reunion show. Really pissed me off.

I'm thinking October or March

What the fuck. Blaise did banana scallops for a THIRD time?

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/about/index.php

Is Aaron the first STUDENT they've had on the show?

That's pretty awesome. Oh, above link is cast btw.

Guessing October.

Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Chef:_Masters

AWESOME.

Oh and this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Chef_Junior

Oh man, the reward had BETTER be to compete on Top Chef the year following that one. >_> For shits and giggles, I suppose.

But seriously, Masters? Really? Fuck. Yes.

I wanna see Bourdain cook on Top Chef: Masters. 

Did you guys watch Iron Chef last week Trey(sp?) from Top Chef was the sous chef for the two brothers who challenged Bobby Flay.
I didn't watch the whole episode was flipping back and forth during commericals of another show.

I saw an Iron Chef with Blaise.

I think I realized I had seen it a long time ago. Before he was on Top Chef, I'm pretty sure.

Top Chef: Masters sounds cool. Top Chef: Junior? Well, we'll see. Maybe.

This might be why he looked familiar:

(http://www.downicreations.com/images/corky-med.jpg)

Blaise had a fruitful career in the 80s as Corky on Life Goes On.

Next week Bourdain is hosting a new show on Travel Channel called "Around The Table with Anthony Bourdain"

or something like that.


I can't wait since I'm a total whore for Bourdain. <3

Voodoolily, if I knew you were so mean I'm not sure I'd have voted for your pizza.

lol

So it's getting late in October and where the fuck is my Top Chef.

Update for Top Chef freaks:

There's no Top Chef listed on Bravo schedules during October. However, I did run across an article speaking about a certain episode that will air in December.

Of course, I have no idea if that's an early or late episode. Or if it's in early or late December. But it seems safe to say Top Chef 5 will begin in Nov/Dec.

It's highly possible that I'm the only one who cares, though.

This thread is five pages long.  We've had discussions about Top Chef in other threads.  Why would you think you're the only one who cares?  They've announced the new cast and it looks like the show starts November 12.  Ted Allen won't be back but Toby Young, the guy who wrote "How to lose friends and alienate people" is taking his place.  I guess my search syntax is better than yours! 

(http://www.democraticwarrior.com/forum/images/styles/desert_sand/smilies/o045.gif)

Indeed!

Unhappy about Ted Allen not coming back, though.

But he has a crappy show on Food Network though now.

I don't know how Toby Young will work out, either.  I've never heard him talk about anything other than himself.  I mean, that's what he's founded his entire career on, really. 

(http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/08/tobyyoung250.jpg)

I needed to post that pic!  I'm imagining your groans!  HA!

Just saw a commercial tonight November 12th Top Chef: New York.

Showed clip with some of new chefs, no clue who any are, not that I would anyway since I'm not in that world of cooking.
Just enjoy watching the program and meeting the new kids.


After watching this show now for a few years. I really want to see more of Tom Collicho(sp?) Insert other stupid comment about seeing another side or just more of him. Perhaps I want him to challenge an Iron Chef on their program. Or I want a Tom cooking episode on Top Chef. Or I just want to see Tom star next to Kiefer and save the world from cooking terrorists in a manner that only Tom C. can do. Cuz he looks like a tough guy who puts out a don't mess attitude. Or maybe Tom C. and Chuck Norris can do a new Texas Ranger episode. Or maybe Tom C. can take over Dinner Impossible, cuz I miss the big Brit and don't go for biker guy Michael, but then I 'm not sure Tom C. has enough personality for Dinner Impossible on those really short quick challenges.

I really wish they'd replace the women on the show. One is getting bloated and the other one (Rushdie's wife) really needs to hit up AA. Neither are entertaining (which I think is the more important thing).

ALSO, NOV 12TH, YAY

I don't think anyone actually reads my posts.  I think you all just look at the pictures!

Pretty sure everyone read your quote, just not sure anyone cares about Ted Allen.

I don't care about Ted Allen, either.  I said November 12th, too.   

(http://www.democraticwarrior.com/forum/images/smilies/37840bouncyblondegirlnk9.gif)

Go on.  Tell me what you remember about this post!

The Magical Drop girl never did much for me. I think it's played out.

How about Alf?  You like the Alf?  (http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/alfdance.gif)

Padma Lakshmi and Salmon Rushdie got a divorce.

The kind of divorce God himself approves of, surely.

One million cooking nerds just found optimism. 

I know, I agree with VL and Signe and think Rushdie is quite the catch.  Gotta love the Satanic Verses.

I tend to look for viciously scarred alcoholics when I'm on the prowl.

Yeah, but you're not a cooking nerd.

I dunno there was one episode last season where Gail Simmons is that her name the Food and Wine chick, whom I think Schild is calling bloated. She had some green shoulder dress I think on and man her breasts had me falling on the floor. :P Those beautiful curves. :P

She was pregnant then, IIRC.

She wasn't preggers, I don't think. She just wore bad outfits or got chubby.


Editing to say I'm f*cking pissed I didn't choose the name AngryGumball. Damnit.

(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7120/gailsimmonslg8.jpg)

I hung out for a bit with Ilan from Season 2 last night. He's actually very nice in real life, and totally forgave me for making fun of him on my blog. Which he knew about before I introduced myself.

I'm surprised to hear he is nice, actually - he comes across as such an asshole most times.

Then again.. *I'm* really a nice person and a total bitch all at the same time so.. yeah that doesn't say much.

Glad you had fun.

I was a much bigger fan of Sam and Elia.  I remember being bummed that one of them didn't win. 

Still... pretty neat that you got to chat with Ilan.  Be interesting to hear what the making of that show is like.

You are not a TOTAL bitch!  You are -just- bitchy enough.  You maintain a good balance!  If we didn't have our edge, we might as well be Pentecostal or something.

I don't understand why anyone would assume Ilan wasn't nice. He seemed like a nice guy, just not good enough to win Top Chef.

He has an epic neckbeard.

And he's a hipster douchebag. But that doesn't mean he isn't nice!

HIs new restaurant in LA is Scottish-Jewish (like him). He's gonna have bacon-wrapped matzo balls as an appie.

Oooo.  I don't usually like matzah much but with bacon wrapped around it, how can you go wrong? 

Did he sprinkle you with saffron?

while i'll admit I sided with Marcel....I don't understand how you seemed to have forgotten how punk he was on the show and how he treated Marcel.


I liked Sam, but not Elia.

Marcel was like king douche.

Matzah balls, not matzah itself!

Ball:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2240149067_fb5851cdbc.jpg)
Regular Moses-Variety form:

(http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2729/5014972if7.jpg)

Man I used to eat Egg & Onion Matzos all the time as a kid. I'm going to have to find me some today.

Reality TV brings out the douche in everyone, but it was Marcel who rapped, let's not forget.

I present:

Marcel's Rap


“These People”

For all the haters out there

As soon as I came to this spot,
You started trying to make me
Out to be something I’m not.
It’s taken every ounce that I got
Not to pop you in the face.
And you have no grounds to base
Your accusations off of,
‘Cause your building’s built on quicksand.
You say my food lacks fundamentals
Like salt and pepper.
And I’m, like, “Yo, man, whatever.”
I don’t even get stressed,
Because I know, at the end of the day,
My food is fucking soigné.

I wish my name was Soigné instead of Signé.  I would even bother to brush my hair now and then if it was. 

Props for Marcel for using the word soigné in a rap. 

I learned a new word today. 

Was it eukaryote?

His rhyme should've ended "cuz my rappin' is so ghey"

Rapping does not make you "cool"   :uhrr:

I was using that as an example of why being mean to him was warranted.

I'll necro this--I don't think we need a separate thread for each season of the show.

I like this season so far better than the Texas season. I actually kind of like Stefan--even his douche moments are amusing and vaguely self-aware. Josie has to go soon, though, she's unbearable.

Looking good for a female winner, also.

Side note: my family got me Kevin Gillespie's cookbook for Christmas--there's some good shit in it.

I think Josie actually is on something.

Even in his worst douchey moments, Stefan is just entertaining to watch. Josie is annoying but I get more annoyed by the "most hated chef in Dallas" asshole. HE bugs the fuck out of me.

I sort of rate each season in part by the personalities, in part by the number of times I see something that I'd like to try cooking myself. So far so good on both counts. Some genuinely talented people this time unlike the Texas and Washington DC seasons. Some fun assholes. I would be happy to see Josie, Mr. Hated Dallas Chef, and Mr. Ridiculous Mustache Who Can't Cook Pork Despite Running a Pork Restaurant all gone soon. Micah in there somewhere too, he only rarely seems up to the challenge.

This season has been alright so far.  I'm actually rooting for CJ or Kristin to win.  The only people I really can't stand are Josie and "the most hated chef in Dallas".

100% done with this show after this week's episode. That was just horrific. And stupid. They let a subpar stoner deliberately fuck up a legitimate contender, had all the evidence in front of them and didn't get it. The stupidest thing I've seen on the show ever, and there's no way to read the edits that saves them from that conclusion.

Normally I'm all about team rainbow, but Jesus F on a Popsicle stick I loathe that obnoxious bitch. Why in hell is she still there?

Arise!

The basic thing I still like about this show is that they (mostly) avoid stupid reality show cliches in their worst form--they don't always cast someone who is going to get a villain edit, so it feels a bit that when someone does get one, they actually did something to deserve it. The standard of professionalism is pretty high because the show is actually a pretty major part of how younger chefs move up the food chain in fine dining. Colicchio is a class act and Padma is pretty much as well. (I'm reading her memoir: she's actually a more interesting person with more skill in preparing food than the show lets her show, most of the time).  Some seasons don't have that much drama because of it all, but that's ok.

But this week's episode did showcase one thing that I don't like, which is when there's a serious equipment failure or insufficiency that has some kind of impact on the chefs. I'm fine when there's some modestly challenging conditions--cooking at altitude, cooking over wood fire, doing an all-night cook like brisket, but when the contestants are told to cook a ton of quality food in teeny kitchens where they have to decide who gets the oven, or when they're working on equipment that fails or breaks, it's like, hey, just stop the competition for that episode and do it over.