Top Chef

[stark]

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.

[Margalis]

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.

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.

[voodoolily]

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.

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.

[SuperPopTart]

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*

[Johny Cee]

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.

[Evildrider]

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.

[voodoolily]

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

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

[Abagadro]

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.

[SuperPopTart]

Just watched it.

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

[Margalis]

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.

[Xerapis]

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.

[Nebu]

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

[CmdrSlack]

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.

[schild]

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

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

[voodoolily]

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

[Signe]

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.

[Ralence]

  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!

[Abagadro]

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.

[Johny Cee]

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?

[HaemishM]

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

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.

[Nebu]

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. 

[HaemishM]

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.

[voodoolily]

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. 

[Ookii]

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

[Numtini]

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.

[Abagadro]

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

[Evildrider]

I thought Richard was gay.. 

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.

[Numtini]

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

Really?! I thought the same thing.

[Evildrider]

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

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

[HaemishM]

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.

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.

[Evildrider]

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

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.

[Evildrider]

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

[schild]

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.

[voodoolily]

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

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.

[Evildrider]

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

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.