From the Department of I'll Never Understand How Women Know These Things, back when we were watching the first episode of TC Las Vegas, and half way through, my wife says Padma looks different, can't put her finger on it, pauses a moment more then says, I think Padma's pregnant. Now me, I'm thinking this can't be true because Padma only has eyes for me and I know I haven't had sex with Padma, so how could she possibly be pregnant? Also, she just doesn't look pregnant. I just read an announcement in the news today that Padma is pregnant.

Would only note that Top Chef Las Vegas started filming at the end of April. Not sure how many months along she is now, but based on a photo of her at the recent Emmys, not so many that she would have been pregnant back then.

It's that time again.

Not a lot of surprise as far as who went home in this episode, except that a couple of the weaker competitors got lucky in their pairings. Ash really cemented himself as a "Top Sous Chef" (come on, you can't offer any input into the dish?), and Mike I. continues to be, well, himself. I'm predicting Michael V and Jen in the finals, with Jen taking it by a long, blonde hair.

Looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts.

They should have sent Ash home for invoking the Nuremberg Defense: "I vas chust followink orders!" Ashley went home the wrong week, if you ask me.

Lamest. Challenge. Ever. Sorry, "we're going to make you cook in a tiny kitchen" is not exactly thrilling TV.

On the other hand, the editors redeemed many sins with the "Robin bores Mike shitless" montage. By now, I don't trust that any reaction shot on Top Chef actually happened in the same decade as what it's reacting to, but it was certainly put together amusingly.

For some reason I really dont like Jen, and her cooking really does not do much for me.

Other than Robin who shouldnt even be on the show, they had the bottom 2 correct this time imho. Ash, or Ashely..., either could have gone home, and the one that didn't is soon to follow.

Other than Brian V, Kevin seems the most solid week to week. I also still like Mike V's creativity, this weeks elimination dish being the exception.

Mike G wrote:Lamest. Challenge. Ever. Sorry, "we're going to make you cook in a tiny kitchen" is not exactly thrilling TV.

On the other hand, the dorm room cooking challenge (hot pot, microwave, toaster oven) in TC Masters was pretty cool.

geno55 wrote:I'm predicting Michael V and Jen in the finals, with Jen taking it by a long, blonde hair.

...found in Michael V's ceviche.

Actually, I think Kevin's got a good shot at the finals, assuming he doesn't get burned by limited cuisine experience. Yes, he coped with Asian this week, but I think he stretched the boundaries to Nepal with the yogurt.

Chicago Expat wrote:From the Department of I'll Never Understand How Women Know These Things, back when we were watching the first episode of TC Las Vegas, and half way through, my wife says Padma looks different, can't put her finger on it, pauses a moment more then says, I think Padma's pregnant. Now me, I'm thinking this can't be true because Padma only has eyes for me and I know I haven't had sex with Padma, so how could she possibly be pregnant? Also, she just doesn't look pregnant. I just read an announcement in the news today that Padma is pregnant.

Hey, a woman knows.

[FWIW, years ago, I called it that Letterman was sleeping with the intern, Stephanie. A momentary glint in her eye, a meeting of their eyes on camera - it was enough. I called it.]

On the other hand, the dorm room cooking challenge (hot pot, microwave, toaster oven) in TC Masters was pretty cool.

I agree. That actually worked because it was SO limited and required such ingenuity it was fun. This was just frustrating-looking, hot pots balanced on chairs.

Even when he's totally out of his comfort zone, Kevin scores with a good dish. If you're looking anywhere other than him for a likely winner, you're forgetting that he's been on the top in Quickfires and Eliminations the most (4 times) and is now the only one who's never been on the bottom. What more does he have to do?

Mike, agree completely about Kevin. Moreover, he's unasuming and resembles James Vibert, Sculptor.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/27962

What?

BTW, after seeing that portrait at the A.I.C. recently, had a lovely cheese plate and a Goose Island Matilda at The Gage. Then drinks and a snack at Violet Hour. Then tacos at Asada. All of which I think Kevin and/or James Vibert would have enjoyed too, by the looks of them.

Dunno, I always see Kevin as having more of a lawn gnome's physiognomy. But boy, that gnome can cook.

JoelF wrote:Dunno, I always see Kevin as having more of a lawn gnome's physiognomy. But boy, that gnome can cook.

Seconded.

I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

Jen is such a Debbie Downer, it's getting really hard to look at her sourpuss. She is so negative and speaks in a monotone. I was surprised that she actually cracked a sort of smile at the end-and now I don't remember why she did.
I am also getting sick of the cracks about Robin being old. For God's sake, she's what-42?

Chicago Expat wrote:I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

That's too bad. What show is she on?

Anyway...
For those who thought this was a season without drama, well the editors woke up with this week's episode. I can only imagine that they are trying to inject some oomph into a series where the top 4 chefs were the top 4 in the elimination, blowing nobody's mind.

I"m very tired of the Robin angle. Let's see some cooking instead.

I was a bit surprised that they sent Ash home. I won't defend what seemed like a punchless dish, but when you hear this about someone's dish: catfood, disaster, that's not how you make _____, you tend to think they're going home. If this was an editor's cheat, it was a lame one.

Kevin is showing up bigtime. He said it best himself: when you serve 3 ingredients, they'd better be great. Seems like he knows how to deliver great.

Diane wrote:I am also getting sick of the cracks about Robin being old. For God's sake, she's what-42?

If she really is '43', she's the most haggard looking 43 I've seen in a long time. She looks at least 55.

gastro gnome wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

That's too bad. What show is she on?

Every season of TC, as far as I can remember.

gastro gnome wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

That's too bad. What show is she on?

OP needs a dvr:

gleam wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

That's too bad. What show is she on?

OP needs a dvr:

Wow. I can see that getting old. Fast.

Thanks for the reminder about Erica. She's certainly high on my list of "Moms most likely to spawn a serial killer."

tem wrote:
If she really is '43', she's the most haggard looking 43 I've seen in a long time. She looks at least 55.

she is a rough looking 43..

I was guessing mid-50's as well.

"Apparently I forgot Flavor"

Best legit laugh I've gotten from TV in forever.

gleam wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:I hate Erica with every inch of my being. Whenever she comes on, I just begin swearing.

That's too bad. What show is she on?

OP needs a dvr:

People still watch commercials?

Nice episode, I thought Kevin really brought it, but as he said, this was his territory. I still don't have him winning it. Really funny to see the top 4 in the winners' circle, I was half-expecting a twist where they just kicked everyone else off to save us some time. The judges made the wrong choice here: Ash seemed like he learned from his mistake, and Laurine's dish, as gg said, couldn't have been more roundly rejected.

SHE HAD CANCER YOU HEARTLESS BASTARDS!!!!

Yeah, this season has a problem in that it's looking like every episode is going to have the obvious people on top, the obvious people on bottom, and the obvious people failing to get into either group. Only Mike Isabella seems to really ping pong between the two groups.

I thought Kevin really brought it, but as he said, this was his territory. I still don't have him winning it.

As opposed to last week when it was totally not his territory and he won anyway?

He has five wins, which I'm pretty sure is two more than anyone else, and he's never been on the bottom. Anything could happen, but it's hard to see where his screwup comes from-- he nails flavor, he doesn't freak out, he doesn't whine... he just wins.

geno55 wrote:The judges made the wrong choice here: Ash seemed like he learned from his mistake...

Yeah, but it seems he says that every week: "I'm going to stop listening to other people and cook my food now." This was a cumulative cut, I'm sure.

Laurine on the other hand, always seems to be a surprise... that she's a contestant. It's like, "Wait a minute, who's that? Has she been here all along?" You see her name in the opening credits along with the other discards, and for the life of me, I can't recall anything she's made... and she hasn't raised enough drama to have the editors focus on her for anything. Could she make it to the finals by being invisible? Unlikely, but she hasn't had a real flameout until last night.

I was delighted to see Chef Palmer call Laurine out on her (not) rillettes. If you're going to make something, especially something as traditional as rillettes, know how to make it. It was satisfying to see an instance where a contestant's blatant lack of fundamental knowledge caused her to be jettisoned. Now, if the same could only be true when the same thing happened in a restaurant, dining out would be even more of a joy than it already is.

=R=

Michael's first rule of watching Top Chef:

If, in the first half of the show, the chef says "I've never made this before, but...", that chef will wind up in the bottom group of the challenge.

Mike G wrote:SHE HAD CANCER YOU HEARTLESS BASTARDS!!!!

are you sure? I dont think I have heard that mentioned on any of the episodes.


Watched the show last night, I think Ash was the one to go, he has been on the block so many times before. Next should be Robin, and then Jen(she annoys me).

Kevin is really on a roll, and will be tough to beat .

jimswside wrote:Watched the show last night, I think Ash was the one to go, he has been on the block so many times before. Next should be Robin, and then Jen(she annoys me).

I will be thoroughly amused if they bring Jen to Judge's Table and say, "We really love your flavors and execution, but you really annoy Jim. Please pack your knives and go."

eatchicago wrote:
I will be thoroughly amused if they bring Jen to Judge's Table and say, "We really love your flavors and execution, but you really annoy Jim. Please pack your knives and go."

thats fair, and funny.

personality aside, I just have not been impressed by more than 1 or 2 of her dishes. Based on performance up to now I would have the contestants leave in this order: Robin, Jen, Laurine, Mike I. Beyond that I am not sure.

jimswside wrote:

eatchicago wrote:
I will be thoroughly amused if they bring Jen to Judge's Table and say, "We really love your flavors and execution, but you really annoy Jim. Please pack your knives and go."

thats fair, and funny.

personality aside, I just have not been impressed by more than 1 or 2 of her dishes. Based on performance up to now I would have the contestants leave in this order: Robin, Jen, Laurine, Mike I. Beyond that I am not sure.

Well, I was just going for funny, so thanks!

I do see where you're coming from on Jen's dishes, they don't usually seem to have the undefineable quality that makes you go "wow" just from a photo/description. But, based on judges reactions to her cooking I don't think she's suited for TV. She seems to shine best in technique/flavor/execution (things that you have to taste to appreciate) and not so much in flashiness/creativity/composition/plating (things you can see or hear to appreciate).

I think she's going to last a long time, especially since we're still at the point of the competition where good flavor and technique will equal safety (and her resume is probably the strongest on the show when it comes to experience with exacting technique). If/when she comes up against a challenge that demands eye-popping creativity, she might meet her end. I think she's easily "top 4" material if not higher.