381 replies to this topic

[David Ross]

I went into the finale with a pre-conceived notion that I wasn't going to like the format. But I often surprise myself and I actually liked the format of the Chefs cooking in a more challenging situation than previous finales when the Chefs knew ahead of time that they'd be cooking a full menu in their culinary style. I sort of see it as the challenge of working in a kitchen preparing tasting menus on the fly. And Kristen really redeemed her poor leadership skills in restaurant wars by coming back and strongly yet confidently leading her team.

[David Ross]

I wasn't overly impressed by the gushing at the table of former Top Chef winners and I'd agree that some displayed larger egos than others. I could care less if you cook for the King of Siam. Resumes don't impress me as much as tasting your food. Yet I was pleased that Padma did mini bios of the winners and we could see their success and the inspiration that Top Chef has given young Chefs coming up through the ranks.

I think Kristen's final dish appeared to have more focus and purity of flavor than Brooke's. And I would probably agree with Gail on the cut of the leeks in Kristen's dish--if they are cut too long they get stringy.

As we progressed through the season I kept thinking Brooke was heading to a direction that could prove her undoing. Dishes that are overly descriptive on a written menu but entice the diner. Yet when you taste the elements on the plate they compete with one another and are over-worked. Pomegranate seeds are the popular garnish of the day, let's pair pork cheef with red snapper, how about a sorrel sauce, on and on and on. Not having tasted either Chefs food, my constructive criticism for both is to work on the details and putting more focus on each element of a dish.

[Jaymes]

I went into the finale with a pre-conceived notion that I wasn't going to like the format. But I often surprise myself and I actually liked the format of the Chefs cooking in a more challenging situation than previous finales when the Chefs knew ahead of time that they'd be cooking a full menu in their culinary style. I sort of see it as the challenge of working in a kitchen preparing tasting menus on the fly. And Kristen really redeemed her poor leadership skills in restaurant wars by coming back and strongly yet confidently leading her team.

 

Yep.  I think there's no doubt that Kristen learned from her mistakes at managing a team. 

 

And, while I liked the format in so far as the "audience" went, I still wish that they had prepared all of their dishes for everyone to sample.

 

And I'll bet that the "audience" did, too.

[et alors]

So, looking at that table of past winners: is it time yet for a season of all TC winners?

[gfweb]

If I had won, and things were going well, I wouldn't have the time or the risk tolerance for a second go-around.

[annabelle]

I really don't care to see a Top Chef Winners challenge.  Harold (season 1) is still my favorite, just for breaking the trail for all the rest to follow and I don't think he'd participate some ten years on.

[David Ross]

I don't think I'd be interested in a Top Chef Winners series, but after this season, Kristen solidified my Top Chef dream team; Harold, Hung, Paul and Kristen.

[Jaymes]

Well, like I said, I just want to go to Korea with Kristen.

[et alors]

ten years later, you should be a master... if you've got it. It'd be the classic age and treachery against youth and skill*. I'd be particularly interested in michael voltaggio, hung, kristen and blais going toe to toe.My bet would be on a voltaggio/kristen showdown at the end. 

 

 

*old saying, don't take it too seriously. 

[annabelle]

Are master chefs going to be willing to play to all the shenanigans that Bravo loves to throw into the challenges? 

 

"Today, chefs, we want to you to prepare a meal of protein X and starch Y over an open campfire on the beach in the middle of a hurricane warning!  Your time. Starts. NOW!"

 

To hell with that. 

[Shalmanese]

Are master chefs going to be willing to play to all the shenanigans that Bravo loves to throw into the challenges? 
 
"Today, chefs, we want to you to prepare a meal of protein X and starch Y over an open campfire on the beach in the middle of a hurricane warning!  Your time. Starts. NOW!"
 
To hell with that.

Have you not been watching Top Chef: Masters?

[annabelle]

Is it on again?  I've watched it in the past, in fact I had mentioned a couple of pages back that the last one I watched was when Jonathan Waxman had had enough.

[et alors]

The last top chef masters finale is worth watching. It was a battle of ideas in food. * Highly recommend.*

[David Ross]

I'm sure well start a new topic about this season's Top Chef Masters once it airs.  In the end, I think this was probably my favorite season of Top Chef.

[gfweb]

I'm sure well start a new topic about this season's Top Chef Masters once it airs.  In the end, I think this was probably my favorite season of Top Chef.

 

Yes. This one or the one with Fabio et al.

[David Ross]

After watching the finale for a third time I have an even greater appreciation for Kristen and her talents and style of cuisine.  I can't wait to try that snapper dish in my own kitchen.

[Big Joe the Pro]

I'm sure well start a new topic about this season's Top Chef Masters once it airs.  In the end, I think this was probably my favorite season of Top Chef.

 

Really, why?  I just rewatched it in it's entirety and it might be my least.  It's too touchy-feely for me.  It reminded me of Oprah (or at least what I imagine Oprah was, I'd never seen it) or **gasp** a reality show.

 

Give me some interesting competitions (without going over the top), some food knowledge, a stew room brawl or two, some nice shots of Padma and a beer and I'm a happy camper.

 

Sorry but I really don't care about the chef's personal lives and starting from the first episode with Jeffery and his lover, well, it just seemed to go downhill from there.  If he had made it to the final I might have been interested but not before then.

 

Regarding Richard being arrogant; I just rewatched a few episodes of season eight and I can see how some could perceive him as arrogant but I guess I just like the guy so I personally never noticed it enough to let it bother me.  Also, Jen Carroll was so blatantly arrogant and cocky in what little screen time she had that everyone else seemed to be on their best behaviour.

[David Ross]

I can see how you might think it was more touchy-feely this year. Brooke's multiple phobias-flying in a helicopter for one, I could have done without. But I liked this season the most because they didn't have a bunch of bullies shaving a contestant's head and the Chefs weren't forced into making a cheetos casserole. I thought they did a decent job of spotlighting Pacific Northwest ingredients and focused more on cooking this season. Does Top Chef rise to the level of some of the all-time best food programming on television? No.

[Werdna]

Not a bad season, but not great. Still suffers from the broken game system of sending the worst home every time, which inevitably sends home good chefs.

My idea of the day: A running scoreboard (with increasing scores every episode as a catchup mechanic). Good chefs could get points to prevent them from being eliminated for a single mistake. Can still send home the lowest scorer every week.

Still, it was a pretty epic ending and I enjoyed it. The kitchen stadium thing could have been great, but it sure felt like we saw nothing of the cooking.

[trueLife]

 

 

 

 

Yes the ending has been the highlight, pretty unique though! This is what people look for…. Always something new. She has brought up a decent revolution. Lol.

[David Ross]

The finale was a bit hokey, but it really demonstrated the ability of a Chef to work under extreme circumstances. When you can be creative and technically spot-on under those conditions, you're certainly talented.

[jharkins]

Not a bad season, but not great. Still suffers from the broken game system of sending the worst home every time, which inevitably sends home good chefs.

My idea of the day: A running scoreboard (with increasing scores every episode as a catchup mechanic). Good chefs could get points to prevent them from being eliminated for a single mistake. Can still send home the lowest scorer every week.

Still, it was a pretty epic ending and I enjoyed it. The kitchen stadium thing could have been great, but it sure felt like we saw nothing of the cooking.

 

That's a very interesting idea! I would love to see that happen. It seems like a lot of people had trouble with the format: http://www.thebraise...troversy-today/