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CtznCane

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  1. I liked this weeks episode much more than I did week 1's. I fall into the group that doesn't care for the gas station or vending machine quickfires. I do like seeing them have to do things with ingredients that are available to the masses. Be it TC or TCM or other cooking shows, I've never cared much for ones in which the ingredients are either so exoorbitantly expensive or so hard to find that one cannot realistically find them. This is the other extreme. I wish they could find some middle ground. Speaking of that middle ground, I thought week 2's quickfire is the kind of challenge I'd like to see on a regular basis. Twists on something we all fix. Let's hope we see more of this kind of challenge! I thought both of the elimination challenges so far were fine, though I don't know that I cared for the win as a team lose as a team format. Since we are having (it seems) 2 shows with 6 and 2 shows with 5, I'm wondering if we will see the team concept again next week? What I liked best on week 1 was Govind Armstrong's complaining about the concept and worrying about what his partner was doing and then seeing him put out (what I perceived) as being the worst dish. One twist that I like is that it appears all of the retreads appear to be competing next week. I don't think that the repeat chefs are in it for the publicity, I think they are back because of their egos primariy and to a lesser extent for their charities. I enjoyed all of week 2's chefs. I was especially glad to see Carmen Gonzalez win. It's nice to see someone recover from a blunder and win. I think Bravo tried to create a villain of sorts in Marcus who was the only one (it seemed as they tried to make it sound) who wouldn't help with her yucca. All in all I'd hoped the second chef to go on would have been Monica but I think Marcus will be enjoyable to see in the finals.
  2. Honestly, I think the skills of Kevin, Bryan, and Michael are close enough that any of them could have won, without it being an injustice. Given the rule that challenges are judged in isolation, it is theoretically possible that the best chef makes one error, and therefore loses, but I can't say that happened here. If you can honestly say that one of them is clearly better than the other two, then you're seeing something I can't. Had I taken the time to edit it, it would have read 'but not NECESSARILY the best cook'. Certainly all three of the finalists, and the top four for that matter don't have a lot to separate them. Style I do believe comes into play, as it does for all of us in what foods we like and the same for the judges. If all 3 had nailed the finals I think Kevin would have won because I think his style of food is the style that appealed most to Tom C. As to the benefit of being on Top Chef, I think it is clearly a big boost for the final 3. Also a good sized boost for Jennifer and Eli. Beyond that I think it is a mixed bag. Jen Z, Preeti, Jesse,and Eve all seemed in over their heads. I don't think it will hurt their careers but I don't think it will help them much either. I liked Ron but he clearly didn't have the diversity to go very far but what a great story. I think Ashley and Ash will both benefit, and Robin. Laurine, too, being a caterer should benefit even though she mailed it in at the end. The 3 that I think stand the most to lose are Hektor, Mattin, and Mike I. I think Hektor was/is a lot better than what we saw and more than anyone else was a victim of having a style ill suited to this type of competition. Mattin's arrogance and lack of doing poorly in areas he was expected to do well with could well have a negative effect. I don't have much empathy for him as he just didn't seem to take things seriously. Mike I on the other hand I think is very talented. Talented enough that perhaps he could have made it to the finals even if he were focused. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I were to be a restaurant owner, watching TC, the way Mike I just tried to skate on by just doesn't come across as a quality I'd want to have in an employee.
  3. I strongly disagree with Robert's "the best cook won." Yes, the best cook on that night won but not the best cook. Yes, it is television and I guess that means we have to put up with the b.s. Does it have to be piled that deep though? Us foodies are a small, even minute portion of the viewers and I guess they need this crap to some extent to keep jane and joe couch potato tuned in. I like some of the drama myself and yes, they even get us to buy in (at least in small part) to the hype. I didn't care for Mike V regardless but they blew things way out of proportion to make him the villain for tv's sake. So be it. I can't believe the misfortune of Kevin having to go try to compete in the finals, tense enough on their own, but having just split from his wife. His cooking and flavors are just so deep and soulful that there had to be a reason part of that was missing and we know the answer to why. One of the most interesting points of all I feel is that the cooking of all 3 of the finalists seemed throughout to mirror their personalities so well. Mike V's personality was brash, bold, a bit contemptuous and out on a limb and his cooking was the same way. Bryan's personality was the most subdued, almost rigid, stoic, and just very planned. For him too his food followed his personality. Kevin's personality is playful, loyal to his roots, upbeat, with lots of conviction and depth. His food mirrored perfectly his personality. In the previous seasons, we haven't seen the high level of competiton we did here, nor did we see this mirroring of food and personality like we did either. It is just such a shame that the show itself sold out so much this year. Maybe the show needs to learn something from the food. If the food is high quality you don't need gimmicks.
  4. As if yesterday couldn't have gotten worse after losing one of our dogs, Mike V wins. ARGHH! Okay, Mike V was probably made out to be the villain and taken out of context when in frustration, still I didn't care for him. That aside, I thought from what happened that Bryan probably was going to win. Regardless of the winner, I thought last nights show was the worst TC finale. What they gained in quality of cheftestants they butchered in the end. Two points I had big problems with. I know they had it planned and did it for the tv drama effect but with Kevin not winning, dismissing him first like being in third I thought was tacky. (Yeah, I'm a Kevin fan and probably wouldn't have minded.) While the show just wasn't that good overall (regardless of who won) I didn't like their knive draw on the sous chefs. I don't recall seeing Mike I there, but certainly having a quickfire for choice order would have been good or any kind of choice. Ceertainly Jen, Mike I, and Eli would have been the first 3. As far as its effect goes, I think Kevin was profoundly effected and got the short end of the stick by far though it appeared Ash did a fine job. Preeti however didn't belong there. While I don't think Kevin recovered mentally, I think on the other extreme that Bryan was dealt a big advantage and blew it. Mike V did do the best job in terms of sous chefs not only in treating it positive but when Eli over filled the cake molds he didn't say anyhing, he just handled it. Bravo Mike V in that regard. From watching it seemed that Bryan made the fewest mistakes but other than his Venison failed to wow. Like his seaoning he was bland. I guess Michaels adventurous nature overcame his errors so perhaps the right choice for the night was MV. Kevin seemed uninspired beyond the first dish for his Mom. I think in part that was from his sous chef worries. Kevin should have known though that he was going to have to do a desert if he made the finale and while I think it is great he used bacon in it, I think he should have had his desert thought out weeks ago. The pork belly? Well, maybe a new southernism he Blaised it. Let's hope next season the show and cheftestants are high quality.
  5. Here is the question I propose and would/will suggest to Bravo to read this thread if it materializes. Here is the question. Gail Simmons in her blog says that typically the judges table goes on for up to 6 hours. How many of you would be willing to buy a lightly edited dvd of the judges table? If we could get Bravo to put out a set of DVd's of the judges table for say the last 4 episodes of each season who would be willing to purchase it? I know I for one would love to hear that true hard core discussion of the dishes and would gladly buy a set. so mark me down for 1 would buy
  6. I'm curious just how tough Kevin's beef was. Were it not for his vegetable dish and Jen's salt issues he could have gone home. Conversely, if his beef had been even passable I think he would have won the challenge. It's hard to tell from the teasers, but it sounds like somebody pooched it on one of their dishes, but who? Sounded like a seasoning issue. Kevin is the only one (I think but could be wrong) that hasn't been criticized at some point over seasoning to date. I could well be wrong on that. If all 3 were to nail it in the finale who would win? The extremes are Kevin with less is more but great flavors and Mike V with going over the top the other way in terms of trying to be too creative. Bryan seems to be a grown up version of Mike in terms of being creative but not too over the top, yet with more a sense of nailing the flavors more on the lines of Kevin so perhaps, if all 3 nail it he may have the best shot. I wonder if the V boys watched TCM together since he chose the short ribs which were what Chiarello cooked in the TCM finale. I'm guilty of falling into what the tv producers like most, someone with strong likes and dislikes about the cheftestants. I hope Kevin wins. I do think he stands to be the chef least likely to screw it up as well as long as he doesn't pull a Blais in the finale. I wouldn't feel burned if Bryan wins, he certainly is worthy. While he may be worthy, I'll really be ticked if Mike V wins, his head is already big enough.
  7. I'd suggest for this past episode that people also read Gail Simmons blog on Bravo. She makes the point that while no one made major errors, that it was (my take) immediately clear which won was leaving and more over who would win in terms of the difficulty of the judges decision. The results dismiss the subplot that the producers might try to influence the outcome. I think this years results (who has left when) have been pretty much spot on. I think Ashley could have gone farther than she did and Robin went farther than she should have. With the strength of chefs, the only ones I can imagine possibly having slipped into the finals (via having the ability vs a fluke) are Eli, Mike I, and Ashley. The finals are (sad to say since I totally dislike Mike V) as they should be. The only drawback is I wish we could have a 2-3 hour final episode. As for this episode I thought Mike V was very sharp in the quickfire. He commented about having watched Chiarello on TCM. I think he remembered the wafting of smoking grape vines and thus used the branches as a skewer as well as the leaf based on who he was serving. For all that I dislike about him, I think that was an extremely smart way to go. The only dish in the final elimination portion that drew no negative comment was Kevin's vegetable dish. I loved the fact the judges emphasized the simplicity aspect in conjunction with the bold flavors.
  8. Being new to the south we've been trying all the bbq places we can. Fortunately we have the best nearby. Prince Pit BBQ in Bardwell, Ky. Can find many other good ones along the way. Prince Pit was featured by Alton Brown too in his feasting on asphalt book and on the show. The Rendezvous is good in Memphis though next time there we plan to hit Interstate BBQ. Memphis Q and StLouis/Kansas City too, but Ky Q is hard to beat.
  9. I think this is the final 4 most of us expected. Now the tension really gets kicked up. We are at a point when we could see 4 solid presentations and then who would go? I liked Eli, he did well, and he went as far as he should of gone. Finishing 5th is quite admirable considering who is still left. David Ross makes a good point of how difficult (to be polite) a time Robin would have had with this last challenge. Since Eli was close to going last time, perhaps the judges refelction on who had the better chance in this last challenge factored into Robin's dismissal. I liked Padma's "welcome back" remark to Jen after she went back to using seafood. The fact that she didn't shake when saucing might mean that she has got her equilibrium back. I'd certainly like to see her best in the next challenge. Once again Mike V continues to dis Kevin's food. Kevin is probably my favorite chef on any of the Top Chef seasons, for several reasons which I'm sure makes me even more livid over MV's comments. One of our first impressions of Kevin that they emphasized was his cutting up in the pool. His child-like playfulness and cutting up sort of conjured up an image of someone who might not be such a serious competitor. I admit having that initial thought myself. I think what we've seen though is a person who is not only an excellent chef but a well balanced personality and someone who is just plain passionate about everything he does. I think it was on Bravo but there was a question and answer with Kevin and he was asked about MV's comments and he said they'd talked things out. Kevin has given everyone there due respect and then just goes on about putting down good food and staying true to his values. Every week we see more and more of not just his skills but his passion and focus. Kudos to Bryan. Kevin asked for his help and he stepped right up to the plate. The way he handled and handles himself is so different than his brother. I think we're in for a treat in the upcoming weeks.
  10. I agree with all so far in that this is far from a must see. Closer to a must avoid. It is sort of like Baseball meets top chef meets survivor. Three strikes and your out. Who is this chef/instructor? As mentioned his wow demo of his desert was not really wow, more like why. I admit that I like an hour or so of mindless tv after work before calling it a night but I don't know if this will cut it (recorded.) As disappoingting as the first episode was that may prove to be the highlight. Well, we can only hope it will improve,
  11. Don't know what key I accidentally hit, but to continue on, was Robin a good choice for the show? We don't know what criteria they used, but, she did, for whatever reason outlast many others and she did win one quickfire. There are many people who have the qualifications to get onto a show that will fold under pressure or not respond as they did in getting onto the show. Certainly others, such as Ash showed that they were intimidated by the skills of the other chefs around them. Don't misunderstand, I am not a Robin fan, I just don't dislike her and I do admire her guts. She was the heavy favorite to be going home as she isn't in the same league with the 5 remaining chefs though I thought for sure Eli was going to go (and I really wnated to see him stay around. If there was a time when I think the producers influence might have been used up to now this would be the time. I'm sure they much prefer Eli remaining rather than Robin (and I do too.) Early on I felt Kevin and Jen were the top 2, followed by The V boys, then below them Mike I and Eli. Laurine and Mike I both succombed to the competition I think and just mailed it in. Laurine didn't want it, Mike just thought he could be lazy about it. Jen now though seems to have totally had her spirit broken. She is showing no inspiration, no determination, and just taking a fatalistic approach at every turn. At her best she is capable of making it to the finals, but she isn't a shadow of the chef we saw early on. She had to struggle when she was sick and perhaps that just took too much out of her. I'd be very surprised if she is around after last week. While it looks like a Kevin vs the V's final, Eli is the joker in the deck. Eli has shown flashes, but with a few stumbles along the way but he does have the talent to sneak into the finals. Is it more about the food or the personalities for everyone here? There are a certain amount of people here who don't care about the drama and interactions, but I would guess that the majority of those here have bought into the personalities and have their own favorites. Certainly for the non-foodies the personalities ARE the driving force. Personality wise I've liked Kevin the best from early on. Objectively I think Kevin is also the best of the chefs. As for Nigella, I can't take that woman. Unlike some others, her looks aren't enough to even begin to overcome her personality. As far as a personality pairing, I'd like to see them pair Mike V with Marcel. Then again, perhaps they are made for each other.
  12. I don't understand, that with the strongest array of chefs to date that you are so critical fo the shows selectors. To think that the non-cooking viewers is just plain wrong. The non-cooking viewers are interested in the action/interactions and not the food. To an extent these are the more important viewers as well since they are most likely the viewers who will be more impacted by the commercials which, as with any good captialistic venture, is truly the bottom line. Regardless of whom they have on the show, there will always be the same approximate time spent on substance as there will be on the personalities, that will not change regardless of who is on the the show.
  13. I like Fabio a lot, but I can see why Tom would want to skip that show. Was food ever an item? Every single reason I could give for not watching Top Chef was paraded across the screen, from deceptive cut scenes to focus on drama instead of food. Where was the food? I wanted to see that Hung \'s salt crusted fish, I wanted to see whatever the hell was in those shot glasses. I think Marcel is a good chef and that he was provoked because, well, they know he will react and make for extra drama, much like the schoolyard bully knows which kid to pick on. This is -not- the direction Top Chef should go in, there is enough stupid on tv as it is. While we may be interested in the food and the technique, TC would last about 2 episodes and be off the air. Let us not forget the real reason for any show, enough attraction to get the advertising dollar. The drama and the personalities are what sells, not the food. Granted, some, perhaps much is overdone, but the personalities and the drama even draws us into its grasp to varying degrees. Let's just feel lucky that even with the parts we don't like that its a pretty darn good show. Enough so to have us bantering and reading about it. A question too, speaking of advertising, that I'll toss out is, other than Glad products, what advertisers do you remember from say the last 2 or 3 episodes? We get GE monogram and Whole Foods drilled into us from the show itself, but who remembers any of the other advertisers?
  14. Perhaps a bad choice since her 'rilette' didn't taste good, the heart of my complaint though is that at varying times in the past there are some dishes that when presented they take exception to for what they are called, while with others they just shine it on. Same with Robin and the beet carpaccio, carpaccio is meat. Perhaps it is that they accept the absurd as playful, but if something is similar to what they are calling a dish but is not precisely that dish they seem to take offense. Laurine's rilette was a bad choice since she was apparently trying to make a rilette and also it was bad, but I do think that had it tasted good and had she chose to simply call it that as a play on the dish, that they still would have taken offense.
  15. It appears Toby took a great deal of offense to his pronunciation of paella. My link How come they get on Laurine for her 'rilette' not being a rilette, but condoning or overlooking a slice of raw tomato being sashimi? I just find it odd what is and isn't okay with them. Toby is right however about the snobbery.
  16. I hate to think they would steer things that direction but perhaps they will. If she regains her composure her skills seem to give her a good shot at the finals. I think, while he hasn't won as many as his brother, that MikeV has been the stronger of the two the past few weeks. Bryan seems to be more exisiting recently as opposed to being in the forefront. Perhaps Robin will have an inspired week next week but likely not then when it is down to 5 the real excitement will come. Certainly anyone can blow it, and in that regard, outside of Robin, Perhaps Mike V takes enough chances to have that happen to him. Sadly I missed the last season since we couldn't get bravo till we switched to dish here, but certainly there has been nowhere close to the strength of competition as there is this season. Outside of Robin, any one of the other 5 would have been a strong finalist in seasons past.
  17. Thankfully, a few glimpses of brilliance emerged. Eli’s smoky eggplant and perfectly firm, flavorful lentils did show a significant amount of skill. And although it took some getting used to, I will never forget the playful sweetness and creamy, bold texture of Michael’s banana polenta. As I write this I am still in awe that he chose to make it—and that we all could not get enough. But it was Kevin’s Duo of Mushrooms, Smoked Kale, Candied Garlic & Turnip Puree that saved us. As much as Michael would like to believe it was thrown together in an amateur way, this dish was far from simple. The bright taste and integrity of each individual vegetable was apparent with each bite. What’s more, they all made perfect sense when eaten as one harmonious creation. Cooking vegetables this way is no easy task. It was decadent and robust, and exactly as Kevin had promised in his description. I don't know how to link things here but this is from Gail Simmons blog. It's like they say, conceit affects everyone but the one who has it. When I think Mike V can't get any worse he does. Yes, I'm partial to Kevin because I too am a huge pork fan, I like his attitude, and while a native Californian I now live in the South (by choice.) Kevin, by aa good margin, has been at the top more than anybody thusfar. You'd think maybe Mike V would get the clue, hint, hint, Kevin's food tastes better! I'm impressed by Mike V's techniques and combinations as well as the stunning presentations, but to me his personality just sours everything. Granted it's about taste not personalities, but fact is Kevin's food has tasted better than the V boys. Like TC said, Mike V's is not as soulful and soul, which Kevin has, shows and is magnified in Kevin's flavors. I think Robin's charmed run is about to come to an end. How I'd love though to see Mike V screw up and go home. I doubt that will happen though they tried to plant that seed of doubt in the promo for next week. I must say, from early on I thought the final 3 would be Kevin, Mike V, and Jen. Now it seems Jen is folding. In the beginning she showed a great deal of confidence and ability to handle the pressure, now more than anything it is the pressure she just can't seem to handle. In earlier episodes it was just saying she was behind but perhaps that was a harbinger of what we're seeing now. Now it seems like Kevin, Mike V and either Eli or Brian. For all that she lacks skill wise Robin at least doesn't seem to be/get panicked, scattered, but not panicked. Mike I drew most peoples ire for his attitude from early on yet he had shown skills. It did seem like the last couple of shows he just mailed it in, and like TC said, felt he was safe as long as Robin was around. It won't happen but I'd sure love to see Mike V get in Kevin's face, he may be jolly but I think he could put MV in his place.
  18. The finale, when it arrives should be interesting. If it comes down to creativity, Kevin and the V Bros are the ones thusfar who've shown the most creativity I think. While they, along with Jen, comprise my top 4 I think Jen has been slightly behind the other 3 on the creativity side. Beyond them yes, there is a bar (and a good sized one) down to Mike I and Eli, and another bar down to Robin. It's accepted and necessary to have a pretty strong ego for any chef and certainly at this level in this type of competition. That aside, you can have the passion and ego, even some of the arrogance yet not be a total a--. Bottom line is I don't find Mike V to be very respectful. He's certainly shown he likes to push his brothers buttons and to steamroll others. He made a comment (which I can't exactly remember) that he isn't arrogant in response to how he comes across. Sorry Mike V you are arrogant. I liked the fact that Robin got on him about her desert. Yes, she is (based on what we've seen) not on the same level as Mike as a chef yet let us not forget she has (for whatever reason) made it this far and they are equals taking the field at this point. I don't like the condescending attitude many have shown towards Robin and she's taken' all the crap rather gracefully up till now. She knows (I think) that she isn't going to be in the finals but she's at least, to some degree, not going to let people step on her till she leaves. If this next weeks competition does turn out to be vegan how does that bode for the top 4? Yes, Robin is the weakest but perhaps a veggie week might keep her around for another week.
  19. Kevin takes far too much pride in the food he puts out to even think of doing something like that. Additionally they had let the 10 K from the quickfire ride which would be insanity of anyone even remotely had a thought of sabotage. Kevin's anger was at himself for screwing up. As to not talking about it, remember that Brian was the one who got all pissy and wouldn't say anything when Kevin asked about Mike V's dish when he was up for elimination. I thought it was rather petty and somewhat asked just to piss Kevin off anyhow. Of course the producers want thier to be stron emotions from the viewers about the personalities as that only improves the ratings, but the brothers V to me have surpassed Mike I in terms of being total --- well, jerks to put it politely. Mike V is the worst but his brother isn't too far behind. As to Jen, she just got lucky. Laurine didn't even take the hint the first time about explaining the dishes. As mentioned before here, Jen did do the halibut right, Laurine on the other hand didn't have any positive to grab onto.
  20. [ I find it interesting that the brothers never see Kevin as a danger. They've talked openly about who they're worried about, and my favorite gnome never makes the list. My guess is that they think he lacks the technical skills that they possess. No doubt true, but it seems (hard to tell from a TV show) that he has amazing instincts for putting flavors together. That's no small talent.
  21. I for one thought it was tacky wearing the red bandanas thinking Mattin should still be there. As such I loved it when Robin won the quickfire. No, Robin will not be around in the end but other than talking a good game Mattin didn't show much. In no particular order it does seem likely that Robin, Ash, and Laurine are the 3 weakest links left. Given the time constraints on the quickfires I don't find the amount of scallop dishes out of line. While the V boys go over the top a bit, I think in the end that will eventually do them in. Let's face it, most good chefs have pretty strong egos, I'm just starting to find their aloofness to be greater than their abilities. All the while Kevin just keeps moving along, getting it done, and not being quite the egomaniac some of the others are. Ashley too seems to have settled in and is showing she can't be counted out. I guess with the V boys, more than anything I find their dishes getting a little more pretentious all the time.
  22. You'd think with having seen so many ceviche's already that the chef's would choose something else so as to not be going up against other ceviche's. Either that or they're thinking their ceviche only has to be better than one of the others. Notice too that Jen once again went with fish when left on her own. I look forward to seeing something different out of her. While the V boys have been up at the top, I still consider Kevin to be at least on a par with them if not my favorite to take it all. Remember, possibly the only reason he didn't win last week's is because he won the quickfire so wasn't competing. I was glad to see Mattin go. Thought his throwing Ashley under the bus last week was tacky and while he's tried to be smiling and outgoing to me he came across as being arrogant in a French sort of obnoxious way with far too much a laisez faire attitude about his dishes being good.
  23. If there are any to be found there I'm sure Berkeley Bowl would have them. I use to live there and if anything was available fresh they'd have it. You might try Monterey Market as well but BB is the best shot.
  24. This past weekend I fixed purple hull peas for the first time. I'd found them the week before at the farmers market in Mayfield. I wasn't quite sure so I started by rendering some bacon pieces and then sweating a chopped onion. I added garlic and a touch of pepper flakes, then added the peas and covered them with about 50-50 chicken stock and water. I also added a couple of minced jalapeno's from the garden and s&p. I just cooked them till I thought they were done, on a low simmer for a bit over an hour. They turned out great. I'm hoping I can find some more this weekend. Being new to this part of the country I wasn't familiar with purple hulls before coming here and wonder what other varieties are similar and what their normal availability is. I have the hunch I may not still find them, or at least not for much longer.
  25. Peanut oil has many pluses, but like many perhaps, I find the price difference to make it prohibitive for using too often. The other drawback is if I'm having guests over I don't want to risk someone having a peanut allergy and always having to remember to ask people about food allergies. I too am one who has never cared for canola oil I am however quite pleased with just using Wesson Vegetable (soybean) oil. I've always had real good results and its price is usually about that of canola.
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