Ooooh...that's got me totally wondering where they're going to film it!!! They always end up using big restaurants with celebrated luminaries being the judges.

Alinea? Tru? Spiaggia???

aschie30 wrote:Maybe you guys already knew this but according to this report, Part 2 of this season's Finale will air in Chicago on Oct. 3.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying--it will air then, or it will be filmed in Chicago on that date? I thought the finale was going to be in Aspen.

Also, did anyone else notice how many times the LTH pet peeve words were used last night? "Spot-on," "cooked to perfection," etc.

GardenofEatin wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Maybe you guys already knew this but according to this report, Part 2 of this season's Finale will air in Chicago on Oct. 3.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying--it will air then, or it will be filmed in Chicago on that date? I thought the finale was going to be in Aspen.

Also, did anyone else notice how many times the LTH pet peeve words were used last night? "Spot-on," "cooked to perfection," etc.

Haha... THAT should have been the drinking game! "Drink whenever you hear an LTH pet peeve word!"

The finale airs live from Chicago on October 3.

The finale airs live from Chicago on October 3.

They're also currently filming Season 4 here, but I have no idea what locations they're using. Will they "introduce" us to the Season 4 contestants in the finale?

figmolly wrote:They're also currently filming Season 4 here, but I have no idea what locations they're using. Will they "introduce" us to the Season 4 contestants in the finale?

Ooh, are they already filming? I've been harboring a secret hope that I'd end up at some Top Chef event while they're here.

That "cooked to perfection" line sounds like something they would say in a TV spot for Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. So according to the LTH drinking game rules can we drink anytime we hear that phrase or only during Top Chef?

Kwe730 wrote:That "cooked to perfection" line sounds like something they would say in a TV spot for Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. So according to the LTH drinking game rules can we drink anytime we hear that phrase or only during Top Chef?

Drinking anytime you hear the phrase would probably cause you to not get much done ever, so during Top Chef should suffice.

Or do whatever it takes to make you happy.

sujormik wrote:

gleam wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:

gleam wrote:I think the shoot for this season was approximately 3 weeks. The final episode or two will probably be delayed and shot close to air, just like last season in Hawaii.

Not if Tre's quote from this week's episode was correct. He said that it was "going on five weeks now" and that it was starting to wear on people. They started with 16, correct? So that'd be nearly five weeks at the midway point? Maybe we're a little past the midway point because of the do-over week. But you're still talking about a nearly two month shoot.

Guess so, huh.

Except that all the blogs evidence that the do-over was conducted the very next day. So even if they give them a day or two between tasks, I don't see a 2 months shoot as a possibility. Way too expensive.

BTW... LeAnn's blog this week confirms that they were shooting in Miami for two months.

They must be filming in Chi-town because Marcel, Sandi (season 3), Josie and Tiffani (season 1) are all in Frontera Grill right now. With stage makeup on.

aschie30 wrote:They must be filming in Chi-town because Marcel, Sandi (season 3), Josie and Tiffani (season 1) are all in Frontera Grill right now. With stage makeup on.

Also confirmed in LeAnn's blog this week

They're just getting underway.

I love it! You're the LTH woman about town! Did you know they were going to be there....or were you just lucky with the scoop?

Keep up the good work!

No scoop at all . . . 100% random! I note that they waited just like everybody else in the bar for a table. By the time I left, they were still waiting. . . had to have been over an hour by that point. I guess Midwestern values eschew special treatment for a table at Frontera!

N.B. Marcel is growing some type of weird Abe Lincoln meets Hobbit-type beard.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food/567975,CST-FTR-chef21.article

And, in fact, Levitski does not know, nor will he prognosticate, who will win the $100,000 "Top Chef" prize. That decision will air live, a first for the show, from Chicago on Oct. 3.

If there's a studio audience, there's gotta be some way to get in on that.

According to The Stew, Eric Ripert was seen yesterday in Streeterville.

This is going to be a fun fall!!

So, the majority of people predict Hung or Casey to win, understandably. That is how the editors, for the most part, let you see it.

But does anyone, besides me, think Dale takes it all?

It makes perfect sense - he has been flying under the radar the whole season and is also starting a restaurant in the next year - which is a sign that maybe he won since the winner gets 100k to start a new restaurant.

Also, Ted Allen says to watch out for Dale - he could win.

Snark wrote:So, the majority of people predict Hung or Casey to win, understandably. That is how the editors, for the most part, let you see it.

But does anyone, besides me, think Dale takes it all?

It makes perfect sense - he has been flying under the radar the whole season and is also starting a restaurant in the next year - which is a sign that maybe he won since the winner gets 100k to start a new restaurant.

Also, Ted Allen says to watch out for Dale - he could win.

I have been thinking the same thing.

I think everyone can agree that Dale is not the Top Chef of this season, but that won't preclude him from winning. Does anyone really think that Ilan was the best from last season?

whiskeybent wrote:I think everyone can agree that Dale is not the Top Chef of this season, but that won't preclude him from winning. Does anyone really think that Ilan was the best from last season?

Poor Sam

whiskeybent wrote:I think everyone can agree that Dale is not the Top Chef of this season, but that won't preclude him from winning. Does anyone really think that Ilan was the best from last season?

Yes I also agree with this sentiment. For many weeks now I have found the complete lack of any critical comments about Casey's food a bit fishy. I mean the worst thing said about her food in weeks seems to have been"Well Coq au vin should eb made with a rooster". Real? Thats it? Having not tasted the food obviously I guess the response is "Who are you to say?" And thats correct, maybe she is just far and away that much better than anyone else left. I just find that hard to swallow.

I mean, look at it this way (typically I'm not one for conspiracy theories) she's young, talented, well spoken and very attractive. She's a marketing/branding DREAM! And producers do influence the choices made in each and every episode. They'd have to be crazy to NOT want her to win. I say all of this with some degree of qualification since I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years. Not that any of the others aren't marketable but Casey is far and away the most so.

My feeling is that it would take a mistake of catatrphic consequences for Casey to lose out here, but that is possible.
But this whole Chicago thing going on has me curious. Maybe Dale does pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Who knows, but it will be fun to watch.

JLenart wrote:

whiskeybent wrote:I think everyone can agree that Dale is not the Top Chef of this season, but that won't preclude him from winning. Does anyone really think that Ilan was the best from last season?

Yes I also agree with this sentiment. For many weeks now I have found the complete lack of any critical comments about Casey's food a bit fishy. I mean the worst thing said about her food in weeks seems to have been"Well Coq au vin should eb made with a rooster". Real? Thats it? Having not tasted the food obviously I guess the response is "Who are you to say?" And thats correct, maybe she is just far and away that much better than anyone else left. I just find that hard to swallow.

I mean, look at it this way (typically I'm not one for conspiracy theories) she's young, talented, well spoken and very attractive. She's a marketing/branding DREAM! And producers do influence the choices made in each and every episode. They'd have to be crazy to NOT want her to win. I say all of this with some degree of qualification since I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years. Not that any of the others aren't marketable but Casey is far and away the most so.

My feeling is that it would take a mistake of catatrphic consequences for Casey to lose out here, but that is possible.
But this whole Chicago thing going on has me curious. Maybe Dale does pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Who knows, but it will be fun to watch.

Most marketable to least:
Casey
Hung
Dale
Brian.

Is there any real debate on that order?

Dale may be slightly more marketable than Hung. Brian has potential but he sort of strikes me as that increbibly vanilla Tyler Florence type. With work he could break free of that.

JLenart wrote: I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years.

Local or national?

I say all of this with some degree of qualification since I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years.

Hey, you hiring?

Most marketable to least:
Casey
Hung
Dale
Brian.

Is there any real debate on that order?

Depends on who we're marketing to. For a Bravo/Project Runway/Queer Eye (even though that series is over) crowd, Dale might be the go-to guy. I think Hung might win to make up for not going with Marcel last season, or perhaps the cynic in me says Casey wins, based solely on mixing up the demographic of the winners.

whiskeybent wrote:

I say all of this with some degree of qualification since I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years.

Hey, you hiring?

Most marketable to least:
Casey
Hung
Dale
Brian.

Is there any real debate on that order?

Depends on who we're marketing to. For a Bravo/Project Runway/Queer Eye (even though that series is over) crowd, Dale might be the go-to guy. I think Hung might win to make up for not going with Marcel last season, or perhaps the cynic in me says Casey wins, based solely on mixing up the demographic of the winners.

That raises an interesting point. As a married guy, there is a definite sense that a lot on even Top Chef (much less the rest of that network) is not aimed at my demographic,.

Another interesting tidbit is that Bravo TV recently hired Dale to do some work/appearances for the upcoming season.

whiskeybent wrote:
Depends on who we're marketing to. For a Bravo/Project Runway/Queer Eye (even though that series is over) crowd, Dale might be the go-to guy. I think Hung might win to make up for not going with Marcel last season, or perhaps the cynic in me says Casey wins, based solely on mixing up the demographic of the winners.

I'm hoping Hung takes the win based on the fact that Las Vegas has made it to the finals the past two seasons (Tiffani and Marcel both Vegas chefs), yet snubbed both times. This is Vegas' year, baby!

Snark wrote:Another interesting tidbit is that Bravo TV recently hired Dale to do some work/appearances for the upcoming season.

But the also hired Lee Anne Wong from season 1, who didn't win.

mhill95149 wrote:

JLenart wrote: I am a multiple emmy award winning television producer for the past 16 years.

Local or national?

I do both local and national work.

Oy.

The early returns for hero (Tre) and villain (Howie), get booted midseason, and still the conspiracy theories persist.

This is clearly a damned if you do/don't scenario

Dmnkly wrote:Oy.

The early returns for hero (Tre) and villain (Howie), get booted midseason, and still the conspiracy theories persist.

This is clearly a damned if you do/don't scenario

Ha! Good point.

Seriously though I don't belive this is a conspiracy whatsoever. The producers do nothing to hide the fact that they do have some influence over choices made by the judges. To be honest I'm fine with that since it ultimately makes for better TV.

I guess it's just something I'm overly aware of when I watch Top Chef. Even so, this knowledge does nothing to make me enjoy this show any less. I love it!