GwennP
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Posts posted by GwennP
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Sooo...did anyone watch the new show?
I did. It's a little bit of an odd, "Gourmet Cooking For Under $10" show. Surprising number of references to her life in France, for a network that in the past has looked down on that type of stuff. She made an interesting potato/bacon/gruyere/cream gratin encased in pastry that looked delicious but had a zillion calories, plus salad and an applesauce granita. Also threw out a lot of tips that I think most people would find useful.
She seemed very nervous.
I would call it an OK start.
I thought it was ok - the tart looked good, but since when is her culinary pov under $10? I thought she was about the terrific home cook who could balance the kids and the great cooking.
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After the teaser, I cannot wait for the Michael/Dale machismo contest next week.
I was happy to see Anita squeak by, I hope she goes back to her kooky brilliant self. Overall a good show, once that posed real challenges for the masters for a change. And the camaraderie continues to hearten. I supposed that's why they are bringing in some top chef contestants-- to bring back some sniping, jabbing and whining into a show that runs a bit too smoothly.
I have completely forgiven Rick for his Chili's commercials after this show; the boy can cook.
I loved this episode. Good challenges and stuff that would have knocked lesser chefs for a loop. I was so glad that Michael won, and Art lost. Art didn't cook anything but the brittle. I too have a new respect for Rick, but I would still like to see Michael take it. His quinoa pasta looked great - and he had to pull the strands apart. That must have been a royal pain!! I can't wait for next week. Although I did like Dale in the end, he has a temper and to mouth off to Michael - should be interesting!
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I liked Jeffrey's pilot episode best. But, he's not a perky blonde....
Oh well, this competition is pretty pointless. The committee of judges chooses someone to fit their pre-existing mold, it's a formula for blandness.
Judging from several challenges over the years, it's clear that the winners are simply destined to be presenters of material created for them in the FN kitchens. They are not being looked to as a source of unique recipes or techniques. They are simply there to lull the viewer into accepting more non-challenging pap.
Melissa's show Ten Dollar Dinners begins airing on Sunday at 12:30pm. (I notice that she wastes money on plastic bags for her breading station.)
I was surprised to see that Scripps has started another food website called Food2. They are currently featuring Kelsey from Season 4 along with Spike from Top Chef.
Good grief - Kelsey? Even worse then Food Network 1. Although, I do like Spike!
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I watched the most recent episode via DVR - I've missed a lot of the inbetween episodes but have vivid memories of Debbie's many stretches of truth - I particularly thought she threw one of the guys under the bus with the dessert thing so I am glad that Debbie is finally off and surprized she lasted that long.
What got to me was Melissa's introduction during her dinner presentation. She spoke well, from the heart and to my mind, sincerely. I would probably watch a show she was in.
The other guy, not so much. He's nice and likeable enough; just not as compelling. Maybe because the last time I watched I heard him say the same thing about his daughter and cooking on Saturdays - for all I know he's told other stories on all the episodes I haven't watched! It's like when you watch a TV show that you are never around to see when the originals air, but you catch the same stupid re-run any time you DO get to watch it!
You know, Melissa has something I like. Her story moved me and she seems very real. She must have some cooking chops because Francois Payard loved her pastries.
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They are better this season, and they finally got rid of that liar!!!
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I am between Chiarello and Keller. And I prefer the regular Top Chef, warts and all!!
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Was is me or was this week's episode a total snooze fest?
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And now that we're waxing on the finale, who's your pick to win this gig?
Theresa
I think Hubert Keller can take it, but I'd love Michael to.
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Ok, so I'm not Jewish, but there are plenty of Jews in my family - all of them eat Chinese food voraciously. My Uncle Harvey used to sit down with my Dad and eat ribs almost non-stop. The contest ended when the first one got indigestion.
But every other Sunday, after church at Saint Brigid's, we would head to New Garden Chinese Restaurant, on Avenue B, somewhere between 8th street and 3rd. I just remember it was on our way home. My grandmother knew the owner, servers, and chefs, all by first name, and they all knew ours.
Alternately, on the off Sundays, we would head down Houston street to Katz's, for corned beef on club bread. We preferred the club to rye, because the rye would turn to mush from the steam emanating off the meat.
I have to admit, our palates had it good when we lived there. I'm in PA now, and you can't get good Chinese food here since Joe died (the owner of my former fave Chinese restaurant, NYC quality), and the Jewish foods, well, since 7th Street Deli closed, the local idea of hot corned beef is to heat it on the flattop until it is crispy. It tasted like jerky gone wild, so I send it back, and never returned to that restaurant again.
It's a good thing I taught myself how to cook a corned beef in the New York City style. Now, if I could only find club bread here....
Theresa
I always chose club rolls for the same reason. Not too many good kosher delis around anymore!
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We watched two in a row, because we missed last week. In the first show, we were rooting for Besh. Always loved him and admired his cooking, attitude and his work in NOLA after Katrina. Plus he's a MARINE (daughter and I love uniforms)!! He screwed up the eggs, but I don't honestly think he'd have won even if they had worked - Lo's eggs were just MUCH more interesting.
I'm glad that Michael Chiarello won last night, but I just loved Moonen! His food looked fantastic and his spirit was wonderful. I agree that if he'd just thrown those delicious sounding shrimp corndogs on some plates (they looked done in the fry basket), he would have won. Jeez, folks, GET IT ON THE PLATE! Let the judges bitch and moan all they want about missing sides, messy edges, but let them taste your food. I have to admit that I always found Chiarello a little smarmy on his FoodTV show, but last night I thought he was genuine and charming.
I am still loving the camaraderie of this show as compared to Top Chef. Just so much more professional.
I am really glad Michael won. He is the only one so far that is hungry for it, feeling he needs to prove himself since he's was away from the restaurant for a while. Rick's food looked good, and maybe he would have won, but he didn't get it on the plate - Michael did. I really like him!
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As I have been keeping count, I can say with confidence that, today, I said for the one thousandth time in my life, "No, thanks, really. I'll bag." Sometimes I say it in a friendly, "let me do that for you way," but sometimes I'm just nasty about it. Frankly, one thousand times is one thousand times too often.
Bagging groceries is a lost art. Poor arrangement, no accounting for fragility, and fear of lawsuit from overloaded bags are my three biggest pet peeves. Anyone with me, or am I just a grocery bag dinosaur?
I am that way, too. I hate when anyone bags my groceries - they throw things in the bag, they put soft food on the bottom - it makes no sense. Bagging is a totally lost art. I try to go to the same cashier where I usually shop and she knows I prefer to bag, but sometimes someone is helping. I say no thanks, I'll bag my own. But sometimes when they start doing it I get angry and start unpacking what they have already done and tell them I'll do it myself. One yelled at me!
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I was rooting for Anita or John, and was glad to see Anita, a hometown girl, triumph. But I was really hurtin' to see Besh, one of my favorite chefs, crash and burn so badly. The eggs? Oy!
I felt the same about John Besh - one of my favorites and he really blew it. I'm not sure what it is with Top Chef Masters, but, as much as I love seeing what these chefs do with the challenges, the show is missing something. Maybe we need to see more cooking, more real judges' deliberation? I am not sure, but I will keep watching. Michael Chiarello next week!
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Vita-mix. It's what you'll find in most professional kitchens. But they are not cheap. They will last a long time, though. I just bought a used one on ebay for $220. Depending on what you plan on doing with it, the vita-mix might be over-kill. But it's definitely one of the best blenders (if not the best) around.
What is the best for soups? I prefer blender to cuisinart....... just got a new cuisinart from WS with the 3 bowls and was very disapointed on the way it pureed my carrot soup. My old cuisinart blender has just died. Help! Thanks!
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Good to know that it was real, although you could tell. Nice guy.
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Loved that she did simple duck confit. Now, if I could get my hand on some duck lugs.
The time slot is OK for me. I TiVo all of my cooking shows on FoodTV and PBS and watch them whenver is convenient.
When is it on? Thanks!
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Hmm, I boil off marinade all the time, why not? Though I use it for glazing rather than saucing.
I was looking for bigger fireworks between Debbie and Eddie. Both have done some bad things, based on what we have seen. Remember, she bought the angel food cake and made others use it for a dessert and claimed it was a group decision. This time, she foisted off the pudding and kept herself out of the dessert failure. I'm sure topping it with pine nuts would have done the trick! I don't trust either of them. I want to see her forced to make dessert - I think it is her achilles heel.
I couldn't believe she was going on about her partner's integrity....geesh! I also don't see what is wrong with boiling a marinade and using it, especially if it's not poultry - that I can see more. I still don't know the contestant's names!
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Words and phrases I never thought I'd hear on FN:
"Crap" I forget the reference.
And yesterdays "Thunder Thighs" when referring to duck legs!
Why is a show this good stuck in a Saturday AM slot?
I can never find it. I'll have to do a search and DVR. She's great.
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Is anyone watching this season?
I am but it's been pretty bland and boring so far. Most of the contestants are pretty mainstream. No one is outrageous, even the requisite gay guy is entertainingly cliche. And this batch seems to have better cooking ability.
Gotta agree with gfron1, very disappointed that they kept the woman who screwed up her team leadership role and then lied about it. Very not cool, and the selection committee keeps saying how wonderful this woman is....NOT.
The oldest competitor is a very charming, cool cucumber who can actually cook. Think he's got a decent chance of making the final if not winning the thing.
So far it's been kind of a snore.
Well, I think at least this year the quality of the contestants its a bit better. I like the competitor you are referring to,the older one. They did let that one liar get away with it, but last week the guy that tried to throw the housewife under the bus got sent home. All he did was help her plate and made it sound like he cooked the food for her. Also, being judged by Bobby Flay and Giada.........good grief. But I find it entertaining. Certainly not the caliber of top chef!!! (Of course, notice I don't know any of their names!)
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Is anyone watching this season?
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I caught a replay of the first episode last night. I'm glad Chef Keller did so well-he's a heck of a nice guy in person in addition to being a great Chef. He tends to get less press than some of his contemporaries, but he's every bit as talented as any Chef in America today. His show on PBS is very good.
I wasn't at all bothered with his trip to the shower to wash the macaroni. For a moment I flinched, but then I thought, "what a great solution." I suppose on the regular "Top Chef" show he would have been marked down for not technically doing all the cooking in the actual dorm room. But I think for "Top Chef Masters," given the light personality of the show and the fact that they are working toward charitable donations, I think the rules will be a little looser.
He is a total "class act." I am rooting for him to go all the way (having eaten at Fleur de Lys in SF - one of my most memorable meals). But, I love Michale C too!
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Liked the show-would have preferred a professional chef or a foodie -like Alton Brown adds to Iron Chef-rather than a car show model.
Doesn't she host a NY restaurant review show or something?
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What I liked about this show was the same things that I enjoyed about The Next Iron Chef - real professionals, doing smart, good food and respecting one another. Also NO drama - loved that. I have never understood the draw of watching people behaving badly. What I didn't like was Gael Greene. She has always given me a major case of the creeps.
I so agree - I especially liked when Keller gave his mixer to the guy who's mixer didn't work. I also loved his ingenuity to use the shower to stop the pasta from cooking. He never even broke a sweat. Also liked the way Tim was able to change gears after he froze his veges.
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the mushrooms looked great on the show. I haven't made them yet. Bottega looks great too. Can't wait to go.
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I'm really looking forward to this one. I had a chance to meet Michael Chiarello at his restaurant the other week, so I'll be pulling for him. I'll even open one of his bottles that we brought back...
I am a huge Michael Chiarello fan. He's one of those chefs on tv that I have learned several things from. Going out to Napa Valley next spring and can't wait to try his new restaurant. I'm pulling for him, too!
Top Chef: Masters
in Food Media & Arts
Posted · Edited by GwennP (log)
Michael had 2 minutes - if that much - to decide who would be on his team. Would you hire someone just because they had a favorite dish in your repertoire without testing their cooking skiils? Have you ever gotten a job in a kitchen where they did not eat your food or test your skils before you got hired? Michael was trying to test that. And if he threw out questions that seemed inane, maybe he was just trying to see if they could think on their feet. Dale and Spike were out of line. And it was clear that they were trying to make this episode more like Top Chef with all the drama, and Michael got the short end of that editing stick.