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GwennP

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Posts posted by GwennP

  1. Any SHRED of respect for Mehta I had evaporated last night, along with any desire to see him as an Iron Chef when Chef Mullin asked him if he had any sugar and Mehta said no, even though the camera clearly showed him with a hotel pan full of I'd say about 5 pounds of it, of which Mehta was using maybe the top 1/2 inch. OK, I'll give him the top inch.

    I could understand this attitude if Chef Mullin had said, "hey, can I have some of that truffle/cavier/uni" or some other exotic, hard to source ingredient.

    BUT SUGAR????

    What a pr*ck.

    Pure and simple, cut and dried. An asshat. Total.

    I will not watch ICA if he wins.

    And I liked him in the first couple of rounds. He may be talented (although I also thought his presentation in last night's episode was an affront to the theme of "integrity") but he's a total jerk.

    Again, as has been stated up-thread, compare his behavior to that shown on "Top Chef Master". No class, whatsoever.

    Ditto.

    He's an awful person.

    And what about the way he left the ice cream machine - knowing Chef Mullen needed it. I felt bad to see him go. It should have been him!

  2. Thanks Fat Guy. We are planning a trip to Napa Valley in May and I'd love to go for our anniversary - if he's there. It is such a special experience.

    There is really no way to plan with any certainty that he will be in the restaurant. But Keller doesn't really cook anyway, so it doesn't really make that much difference. There is probably no major chef that has done a better job of developing talent under him. His restaurants don't miss a beat in his absence.

    Yes, but the experience when he is there is better - he always invites guests down to the kitchen after their meal to meet him - it is a really special touch. Actually, I am now referring to the French Laundry. The one time we went there and he was not there it was a totally different experience.

  3. Speaking of Andres, the "tomato sashimi" element of Mike's plate looked very familiar.

    Yeah, no lie ! I've seen him do that on "Made in Spain" on PBS here in the States, as well as on other shows he's guested on.

    Michael V. took the new title of "Current Ass Hat" with his snarky comments about Kevin's dish. Get over yourself, already Michael. You got schooled.

    My money's on Kevin taking it all. He's strong, and building strength as he goes. My heart just breaks for Jen, though. I hope she can pull it together.

    I cheered when Mike I. got the boot ! He was just a pig. And speaking of that...

    Was anyone else as offended as I was by Bartelotta's consistent reference to Jen and Robin as "the girls"? Ewwww. Women. The term is *women*.

    Don't forget his remark about Bryan's part of the dish that didn't get on the plate - it was oily anyway!

  4. 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.

    I can't see Eli in the top 3. My bet is Kevin, Mike and Bryan

  5. Side note-I was generally not too excited with this cast, even though I am an Appleman fan. If some of them would have been on ICA and won it would be different. Instead it is giving me the impression of the bar being lowered. At least for now.

    Please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Garces beat Bobby Flay on ICA?

    How hard is that?

  6. Kevin does not need to rely on sabatoge to win a competition. I find him to be one of the most above board they have ever had on the show. He is also confident enough in his own skils that he chose the $$ over immunity when he won that high stakes quickfire. I would not be surprised or disappointed if he took the title.

  7. Looks like the Jerk Torch was passed from Appleman to Chef Crazy Eyes last night.

    Hoarding grape leaves for your presentation when you know someone has to make dolma is a jackass move even if it is a competition. And he looked so pleased with himself. I'm glad the judges didn't like it.

    I think Garces and Appleman will be in the finals. Not sure who else. The women are underwhelming me.

    That was so juvenile - like Spike on TC. No one on TC Masters would have done that - they actually helped each other.

  8. This has been a fantastic season. Tom said that no other season could've executed that meal at that point, and I think he is right. It seems as through Bravo listened to the complaints, and really went out there and found some of the next best chefs.

    Of course, the lesser chefs are falling by the wayside, but there is a clear division between the contenders, almost-contenders, and nice-to-know-yous. Can you imagine Spike doing well in that challenge? Hector was the first one that I felt badly for, because I think a challenge such as that truly favors the professionally-trained chef. Still, a tenderloin needs to be cooked correctly, and it was really a no-brainer.

    And I love that they are focusing on things such as snails, or the classics, or modern techniques -- things that really intrigue me as a home cook that I want to learn more about.

    I think some of the middle of the roaders this season may have been on top in past seasons - especially last year!

  9. Is it just me or has Jennifer not shown very much range in what she has cooked. Pretty much all of her dishes have been lightly cooked/ceviche fish dishes. I know she has worked with Ripert for a long time, but even he has some meat dishes as additions to the LeB menu. She could be a great fish chef but isn't this the equivalent of Top Scallop from last season?

    Yes, this is totally true. And,although I think she is talented, you can't win TC by cooking fish alone!

  10. I was going through the channel guide and saw something about economical cooking with "Sandra".  Knowing it could not be Sandra Lee, I clicked on the channel to check it out.  Imagine my surprise when there was Ms. Lee staring back at me from tv-land. :huh:   She was showing people how to cook good-tasting food economically.  Huh? :huh:

    It seems that the staff had determined how much everything cost per serving, and then she made the less expensive version.  For example, they determined that a premade piecrust was less expensive to make than one made from scratch, so she used the premade crust.  Then (and make sure you are sitting down for this), they determined that homemade whipped cream was less expensive than the frozen topping stuff, and (get this) Ms. Lee actually used a mixer and made homemade whipped cream. :raz:  Granted, it wasn't very pretty -- but hats off to the women -- because she at least had the foresight to toast some coconut to hide the cream.   :cool:  :laugh:

    Hell must be freezing over right now, but maybe, just maybe, the woman wants to improve her cooking.  I'm thinking this might be a good thing. 

    Rhonda

    Watching her is like hearing someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard.

  11. Now, what's up with Jesse and all the studs on her lip and in her mouth.  I wouldn't mind so much if she wasnt' constantly playing with them. There is something very off-putting about it!

    When I was much younger I thought it would be a good idea to get my tongue pierced. In hindsight, it probably wasn't such a good idea and it's been removed for many years now. It fell out in the middle of a class 4 rapid while kayaking and I wasn't in a particularly safe place to mess with it so I spit it into the river and never replaced it. Anyway, the thing about that type of piercing is that you never completely get used to it being there. There's always something in your mouth that's not supposed to be and it's virtually impossible not to mess with it unless you make a conscious effort not too. That's why many people with tongue piercings end up with tooth problems, because you constantly move it around and clack it against the back of your teeth and stuff. It's pretty much automatic and you often don't even realize you're doing it until you notice people looking at you because they can hear it clicking against your teeth. I think maybe it's the body's way of saying "I'm not happy that's there so I'm going to constantly remind you that it's annoying". I'm not saying that makes it less off-putting, I just kinda understand why she does it.

    Thanks - I figured that was the case, but it is off-putting - especially on someone handling food. This stuff usually doesn't bother me.

  12. While I'm not so bothered by the "this bachelor/ette party challenge sucks" whining, I'm shocked and dismayed that there were so few complaints about the obviously idiotic challenge. Pairing food with wine or cocktails is one thing. Pairing food with shots? Everyone should have been outraged at the immorality of that.

    IIRC, the list was an unnamed tequila (no product placement opportunities, strangely enough), a "Moscow Mule" with grapefruit (?), and a "Golden Delicious," which is apparently Goldschlager and sparkling cider. (Two of those sound like highballs to me, but what do I know.) How does one eat food with shots? Bite of food and shot to wash it down in a hurry? Shot then food to temper the shot?

    After the high quality of the challenges and food in the TCM season, it looks like we're settling back into standard-issue buffoonery in TC6 -- or, rather, cheap, Las Vegas style buffoonery, including full-body pans of bikini-clad bachelorettes, undrinkable beverages, and, as Nina Garcia might say, lots of challenges that raise "the question of taste," in every sense of the phrase.

    I thought one of the brothers V held up a bottle of Patron?

  13. Yeah, no surprises this week, I don't think my estimation of any of the chefs really changed. I still think this is the strongest group yet, but we'll need a couple more weeks to eliminate the lower tier regardless. After that, I think things will heat up...

    I lso think this season has the strongest contestants. The brothers are great and it is exciting to watch. The top chefs so far have really shown themselves. Now, what's up with Jesse and all the studs on her lip and in her mouth. I wouldn't mind so much if she wasnt' constantly playing with them. There is something very off-putting about it!

  14. I just watched my recording of the show and wow, I was surprised by Chiarello. I thought up until now he came across as a nice guy. But say what you will about his attitude, the man can cook. (I think)

    I was sad to see Anita Lo go. Bayless came across as a true southern gentlemen and Keller is just a pro. Right now I am on the fence for who am rooting for to win.

    Well, I still like Michael, but I think Keller should win. His dishes are truly elegant and not a one trick pony.

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