So true, ronnie!

Matt wrote:However, I did have an issue with the fact that this was just subjectively judged by someone with no connection to the food industry, and the comments/critiques came across as super subjective and potentially subject to whim (as opposed to the informed personal preference of a professional in the industry). Would have worked better for me if it was an Eric Ripert or someone judging the plating/presentation. I guess Bravo's going to do what Bravo's going to do in terms of cross-promotion and product placement, but that was disappointing (if unsurprising).

I totally agree -- it's another instance of the cheftestants really needing to cook for the judges (whoever they are), not the diners they serve (when they serve some other crowd, like children or football fans).

This is why I was especially disappointed that Angelo's ... thing ... didn't fly, for I thought he totally grasped that his presentation needed to please a designer, not a diner. But alas, it did not suit the designer's sense of taste.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

i<3pizza wrote:I thought Mizrahi's comments were kind of snippy and snooty.

I never take food advice from a fashion designer and urge you to do the same.

=R=

Far too polite. I found him beyond annoying. After watching him, I'm now convinced that Zoolander was a documentary.

DML wrote:After watching him, I'm now convinced that Zoolander was a documentary.

LMAO!

=R=

This cookie monster/muppet quickfire is a little strange...

I'm sorry but any time to hang out with muppets has to be cool. Sharing the stage with Cookie Monster? I'm totally jealous.

I've been pretty shocked that the last two weeks two of the stronger contestants have been kicked off in Fabio and Angelo. Many of the remaining people are not very strong. I see it coming down to Dale and Richard in the finals.

This cookie monster/muppet quickfire is a little strange...

I was trying to figure out who was actually tasting the cookies.

I didn't like this episode. Way too much like a 60 minute commercial for Target, even including former contestants doing Target commercials in between the competitions.

Wow, tough crowd.

I've seen just about every episode of every season, and that Muppet Quickfire was one of the best things ever.

rickster wrote:I didn't like this episode. Way too much like a 60 minute commercial for Target, even including former contestants doing Target commercials in between the competitions.

You watch the commercials?

TomInSkokie wrote:I've seen just about every episode of every season, and that Muppet Quickfire was one of the best things ever.

Agreed. It brought some much-needed charm to the show.

As for the elimination challenge, I thought it was an ingenious piece of marketing by Target.

=R=

You watch the commercials?

When Eli and Kevin showed up on the screen, I took my finger off the FF button on my Tivo remote for a minute. Which of course, is why they were in the commercial.

It was clever marketing by Target, but it didn't mean I had to like it.

rickster wrote:It was clever marketing by Target, but it didn't mean I had to like it.

I thought it was the most compelling part of the episode but I can't say I "liked" it, either.

=R=

I thought the cookie challenge was very cute, but also kinda stupid. Cookies? I mean, this is Top Chef, not Top Coo.. um, not Top Bak..., uh, not Top Chef Just Desserts, right?

Also, it seemed to me that either Blais or Antonia deserved the win. As usual, I really wanted to eat what Blais prepared, and the judges should have rewarded Antonia and her eggs for the high degree of difficulty. Instead, the judges were reeled in by the gimmick of Dale's iron-pressed grilled cheese. This wasn't Hubert Keller getting creative with his pasta in a dorm shower. A typical Target store must have at least half dozen different panini presses and George Foreman grills. Dale won on schtick.

As for Angelo, it seemed pretty clear cut. He blew it and deserved to get PPYKAG'd this week. That said, it was nice to see what appeared to be a drastic change in him between the beginning of his first TC season and the end (for him) of this one. Even if it was primarily editing that painted him the villain in the first place, it seems clear that the TC experience let some air out of his previously giant ego. A little more humility should serve him well going forward in life.

For me, Top Chef All Stars has been good TV.

--Rich

No discussion of this weeks episode?

While I am surprised, I'm not necessarily disappointed that Dale got the PPYKAG. Yes, he's talented, but I also think he's a douche. As he commented on during his departure segment, he has come a long way since his season but there is something about him that bothers me. His head got too big and he totally buckled under pressure.

I wish they would have discussed (or shown) more in detail just how much of Richard's idea was stolen by Mike. Kind of a shady move on his part, but I'm not too sure how I feel about it overall.

As for the food....must try fried mayonnaise!

dales take on the episode http://www.tvguide.com/News/Top-Chef-Da ... 29810.aspx

Will someone please, PLEASE, explain to me why Tiffany (from Beaumont, Texas) is still there. Tiffany (she's from Beaumont, Texas, btw) is been in the bottom three in more challenges than anyone I've ever seen. She simply doesn't seem at the same level as the others and it seems it's only because someone else always manages to do something even more egregious than Tiffany (from Beaumont, Texas), that she's still there.

On another note, I couldn't stand Dale during his season on TC, but he's really grown up a lot and while I don't think he'd be my best friend, I'm sorry to see him go. As opposed to Tiffany (who's from Beaumont, Texas), he's clearly an extremely talented guy. And then there's Mike, who manages to seem more juvenile and more offensive with each episode.

I, too, don't understand why at least twice a show Tiffany has to publicize that she's from BEAUMONT TEXAS. (perhaps planted by the Chamber of Commerce?) I also agree, GB, that she is so much less than the others, I don't understand how she is still there. Earlier in the season when they had to break down a fish at Le Bernardin, she couldn't and
she works in a fish restaurant! Not a good omen.

The people who are gone Angelo, Dale, Jen, Casey were so much more talented...how is it that we are left with Mike I and Tiffany? I also feel that Carla is losing her mojo at this stage of the game.

The Lovely Donna wrote:I, too, don't understand why at least twice a show Tiffany has to publicize that she's from BEAUMONT TEXAS. (perhaps planted by the Chamber of Commerce?) I also agree, GB, that she is so much less than the others, I don't understand how she is still there. Earlier in the season when they had to break down a fish at Le Bernardin, she couldn't and
she works in a fish restaurant! Not a good omen.

The people who are gone Angelo, Dale, Jen, Casey were so much more talented...how is it that we are left with Mike I and Tiffany? I also feel that Carla is losing her mojo at this stage of the game.

Nor could Tiffany handle chicken and dumplings a couple of weeks back, which alone should've disqualified her from further participation, since, after all, she is from Beaumont, TX. Angelo, Dale, and Jen all had the tendency in their own seasons to self-destruct in the latter stages, and they seemed true to form here. Mike is very good at sailing straight down the middle, but might have a problem now that there's not much of a middle. Both Carla and Richard waited for the end before they finally blew up in their seasons, so that should make for an interesting finale should they revert to form.

I find myself enjoying the show more and more each week. Tiffany appeared to redeem herself and I saw the ending coming from a mile away. The preview to next week's episode looked awesome; it might benefit them ratings-wise to keep showing that Padma in a Bond Girl Bikini scene! Clever idea bringing back the winning Chef's from their season's to take them on. Stephanie has to go against both Richard and Antonia which should be interesting.

I loved Richard's reaction at Judge's Table when Padma tried to fake him out..."Why would you do that!?..You know how crazy I get..."

^ lol. that was funny moment though.

i hope the returning chefs would give it their best, although we know that they have their plans laid out for them, i just love how they do the process of cooking!

This week's results were a bit of a surprise -- still no spoilers here.
It's the first time, though, that I've seen pre-finale Judges' Table where nobody made a dish that at least one person hated.
Where did Tiffany get the food styling chops? I've never seen her food as "pretty" before, but hers was the most styled plate of the night.

Favorite line:
TC: "You used liquid nitrogen?"
Carla: "I know!!!"

This whole episode had a warm fuzzy feeling about probably because of the families being involved. Even Mike wound up being likable especially after he found out he was related to Antonina. Suddenly now they are friends? See if that lasts when the competition heats up near the end.

I thought that it was interesting that when given an adequate amount of time to prepare, less than hazardous conditions and lower stress levels (due to the visit from the family member and, probably more importantly, an actual night of sleep), we got to see them cook great food. I know it doesn't engender DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I enjoyed watching it so much more. I'd be happy to see the rest of the season play out this way and the real drama come from the judges having to make hard decisions amongst generally successful dishes!

JoelF wrote:Where did Tiffany get the food styling chops? I've never seen her food as "pretty" before, but hers was the most styled plate of the night.

I loved her idea of the marmalade, but I thought the styling looked pretty corny.

boudreaulicious wrote:I thought that it was interesting that when given an adequate amount of time to prepare...

I just realized that the only "drama" we saw on that ep was Carla panicking about time, biscuit quality, etc..
My guess is that that was Elvish manufacturing, and just Carla being Carla.

What's wrong with Richard Blais? I don't remember him being such a weirdo during his season. He was always a little emotional and self-absorbed, but now he's bordering on meglomaniacal (or at least he's being edited to appear that way). If he's the best, shouldn't he want to beat the best on even terms? His statement about putting doubt in Antonia's mind to get her to mess up was kind of ugly, plus he treated Stephanie with a modicum of disdain as well. He's losing me as a fan.

radiator wrote:What's wrong with Richard Blais?

Well, I think he defeated himself previously -- I think he's playing games to avoid psyching himself out.

This last week had a sad outcome, though. Tiffany and Mike in the finals? Two of my faves were on the bottom (not giving away the cut), while the coast-alongs suddenly are able to put out food good enough to possibly take it all home.

Gotta say I don't get it: Antonia overcooks all her shrimp, Carla undercooks one piece of pork. Antonia's error could not be fixed in-house; she'd have to plate a whole new order. Carla's could be returned to the kitchen. Ripert goes out of his way to note that his piece of pork was cooked perfectly.

Meanwhile, Beaumont TX screws up for the 937th time and yet the judges send Carla home. Go figure.

Gypsy Boy wrote:Gotta say I don't get it: Antonia overcooks all her shrimp, Carla undercooks one piece of pork. Antonia's error could not be fixed in-house; she'd have to plate a whole new order. Carla's could be returned to the kitchen. Ripert goes out of his way to note that his piece of pork was cooked perfectly.

Meanwhile, Beaumont TX screws up for the 937th time and yet the judges send Carla home. Go figure.

Yeah, this season of TC has felt more like herding cats to me than any of the others.

=R=

Well, Beaumont is gone. About six episodes later than she should have gone.

My sense, as someone said above, is that this is Blais's to lose. I think Mike has done well because, for whatever reason, he seems more in tune with the judges. Antonia is simply too uneven; whether it's confidence or jitters or something else, she can't manage to be as consistently good asI think she has the talent to be. And then there was Richard. I think he's the most talented one there. I also think he overthinks everything. So when he's on, he's unbeatable. I was absolutely thrilled to see that he confused the hell out of Colicchio, who didn't even realize that the "pasta" was sweet potato. Anything that takes Colicchio down a notch or three is great in my book. So, as I said, my sense is that it's Blais's to lose. But if all three are on their game, the finale out to be a doozy.