John McNeilly

Hi thanks, this sounds like an interesting technique. Question: when you say sit another 30 mins in the oven did you mean with the temperature turned off? thanks!

I agree Aaron, I found the book worse than light, I couldn't finish it. It got off to a great start, and was consistent with the chef memoir of tracing the evolution of the child to master cook route. A great read and generally good pacing. But then, inexplicably, the book pops in Kokonas' lame observations (which are mostly fawning of Achetz and recounting his own boring past as a financial playah) and worse, lame emails and copies of the investor packs sent out for Alinea. It also, inexcusably, has awful B&W photos that are useless. Why include those? All of this brought the book to a screeching halt for me and I just couldn't find the interest or energy to finish it (though, I still might, because I do want to learn more about Achetz's recovery from stage-four cancer). I also find his good to be gimmicky and over-thought. And it ain't cheap. I'm not impressed. Sorry Grant.

Ramsey is dickish, to be sure. But he's also a fine chef. It's a shame he's morphed himself into an angry clown. No mention of Grant Achatz here? I just read his mediocre-to-lame book and I came away seriously unimpressed. His food sounds interesting and innovative (if way too expensive), but I was immediately turned off when I got half way through the book only to find emails, investor kits and shitty black and white photos inserted into the middle of the book. I stopped reading. Just something about him that bugs me...

Thanks Rob. I supposed I should have looked myself for that! I told my wife last night I suspected he turned it down. He seemed to be burning out at the end of last season and I've heard the taping schedule is insane (a month?!). I'm still a little surprised, though.

Does anyone know or have any information of why last season's Kevin was excluded from the show? I thought he was one of the best chefs on any of the seasons let alone last year's stellar group. I think this format is great for a freshness injection for the show, particularly after this year's mediocre class. I'm also pleased that Richard will have a chance to redeem himself after clearly blowing it in the finale. Should be fun but I suspect, like others have noted, that the diva factor is going to run high.