riddlemay wrote:That WTF look on his face in response to Richard's mea culpa was extreme--at least in my perception. Am I the only one who saw it that way?

riddlemay wrote:That WTF look on his face in response to Richard's mea culpa was extreme--at least in my perception. Am I the only one who saw it that way?

sarcon wrote:

riddlemay wrote:That WTF look on his face in response to Richard's mea culpa was extreme--at least in my perception. Am I the only one who saw it that way?

What did strike me was Gail at Judge's Table asserting in no uncertain terms that Stephanie's poundcake SUCKED! This surprised me, because the reaction at the dining table seemed to be somewhat positive - the diners seemed to like the flavor, but thought the presentation was inelegant.

Ted Allen wrote:By the way, I *hated* the edit of the finale, and while I can't deny that I said Lisa's app was my favorite, I can't remember why on earth I would have said that, or what the context was. It was a nice version of a very common Vietnamese treat. Steph's was better. Note that of the other 13 seconds of screen time they gave me, 3 of them were spent quoting me about Lisa's potato chip garnish. That's the editors groping for something--anything--positive to say about a chef who otherwise doesn't appear to have much of a chance, in order to try to preserve suspense--and the sucker who gives them that moment (me) looks like an ass as a result. Similar motivations doubtless drove them to quote Gail saying Steph's cake "sucked," which it didn't. (See Andy Cohen's blog--moments after Gail made that loopy remark, she was asleep with her head on Judges Table). I'm sure Gail was thrilled with the edit, too...

Ted Allen wrote:Lisa did a great job at the finale, but she did not come in second place.

Unanimous: Steph, first. Richard, close second. Lisa, very much third.

I'l explain more on my TC blog about how judging and editing went ASAP, but I'm a little busy.

A final coda on The Blais, and that extraordinary moment at Judges' Table when he offered that that he had “choked.” There, when the chefs are given their last chance to (usually) puff out their chests and fight for their lives, or to “throw somebody over the bus,” as Joey Pickles once famously put it, Richard instead felt that he needed to use it to be honest about his performance. Because that is the kind of integrity he lives. You want to talk about stepping up? Leadership? Taking responsibility, wherever the chips might fall? For my money, this was the most emotional moment in the history of this show. And one of the most impressive of them all.

sarcon wrote:remember - editing - TC's facial expression may not have been made in the actual context of Richard's statement at all.

BRAVO'S "TOP CHEF: THE TOUR” EMBARKS ON 20-CITY PROMOTIONAL TOUR BEGINNING SAT., JUNE 21, 2008

Fans And Cable Affiliates From New York To Denver To San Francisco Enjoy The Ultimate Culinary Experience Through September

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – June 16, 2008 – NBC Universal (NBCU) today announced the first of 20-city stops for Bravo's "Top Chef: The Tour,” which kicks off in Jericho, NY on Long Island (Whole Foods Market, 429 North Broadway in the Birchwood Shopping Center) on Sat., June 21, 2008. The promotional tour will feature a customized traveling "Top Chef” 18-wheeler semi-truck and will offer Bravo's passionate fans and cable affiliate partners with the unique opportunity to experience the hit series in their hometowns. Watch what happens when "Top Chef: The Tour” pulls up to a farmers market or food festival in the following cities:

Boston, MA July 1
Philadelphia, PA July 4
Pittsburgh, PA July 9
Columbus, OH July 12
St. Louis, MO July 16
Denver, CO July 19
Phoenix, AZ July 26
San Diego, CA July 30
San Francisco, CA August 2, 3
Los Angeles, CA August 8
Des Moines, IA August 16
Detroit, MI August 23
Madison, WI August 27
Chicago, IL September 3, 4
Raleigh, NC September 13
Tampa, FL September 20
Orlando, FL September 24
Atlanta, GA September 27
New York, NY TBD

"We're excited to provide our cable affiliates and food enthusiasts with an interactive gourmet cooking experience from cable's number one food show,” said Brian Hunt, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales Strategy, TV Networks Distribution, NBC Universal. "This tour is a unique promotional opportunity designed to bring the hit series to life for fans throughout the country.”

In each city, select "Top Chef” chef'testants will host four live interactive shows, three for fans in attendance and one private show for cable affiliate partners over one or two days. Cooking demonstrations, gourmet tips, show secrets, and food tastings will be highlighted on the "Top Chef” truck, an impressive 48-foot self-sufficient moving vehicle equipped with power and water. The truck, which includes a state-of-the-art kitchen with the capacity to accommodate 38 guests per seating, also allows for addressing 300 people in an open-air setting. And, HD cameras will offer a live-feed of the chefs at work on 42” screens.

Cable affiliates will have the opportunity to partner with the number one food show on cable, and will receive:

· One cooking demonstration reserved for affiliates/select local advertiser
· Taggable spot promoting "Top Chef: The Tour”
· Logo placement inside the truck
· A sampling of cable affiliate products and services/advertising sampling available on site
· Promotional spots on plasma televisions inside the truck
· Inclusion in local marketing tactics
· Meet and greets with chef'testants
· Publicity efforts

To sign up for free admission and learn more about "Top Chef: The Tour” visit www.bravotv.com/thetour. For artwork please visit NBC Universal Media Village, www.nbcumv.com.

About Bravo
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com.

About NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution
NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's preeminent media companies, drives the company's cable strategic development and growth including video-on-demand, pay-per-view, HDTV, TV EST (electronic sell-through), TV Wireless distribution and retransmission consent, and oversees the cable distribution, marketing and local ad sales of fifteen properties (Bravo, Chiller, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Weather Plus, Oxygen, SCI FI Channel, ShopNBC, Sleuth, Telemundo, Universal HD, USA Network and the Olympics on cable).

Cathy2 wrote:A friend passed on this press release on the all star tour:

stevez wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:A friend passed on this press release on the all star tour:

What's next, a theme park ride at Universal City?

Interviewer: I saw a couple of the shows, and one show that I saw with you on it was the football game, which I thought was the most biased, ridiculous show that I could ever see. I mean you guys were just thrown in…

Nikki: What a jerk the Guest Judge was…

Camille: Who was it?

Nikki: I always forget his name, I mean that’s how much… (Ed. Note Paul Kahan) I respect the restaurant, I’ve actually been to Blackbird, but you know what, when you’re a Guest Judge, you’re that, a guest. You’re supposed to come in and we’re gonna take your critique as a professional and as one of our role models and as someone we look up to. We love the opportunity to cook for Daniel Boloud and Eric Ripert, and these guys that they get on, we may never cook for them in our whole careers and accept critiques from them. When you come on like that guy did, and act like a cocky asshole, you know what fatass, you come in my position for six weeks and I want to see what you can do.

aletheis wrote:1. Yay Stephanie!

2. While looking around for a certain article on Top Chef, i came across this interview with Nikki Cascone and Camille Becerra. i was shocked to find Nikki crassly insulting Paul Kahan:

Interviewer: I saw a couple of the shows, and one show that I saw with you on it was the football game, which I thought was the most biased, ridiculous show that I could ever see. I mean you guys were just thrown in…

Nikki: What a jerk the Guest Judge was…

Camille: Who was it?

Nikki: I always forget his name, I mean that’s how much… (Ed. Note Paul Kahan) I respect the restaurant, I’ve actually been to Blackbird, but you know what, when you’re a Guest Judge, you’re that, a guest. You’re supposed to come in and we’re gonna take your critique as a professional and as one of our role models and as someone we look up to. We love the opportunity to cook for Daniel Boloud and Eric Ripert, and these guys that they get on, we may never cook for them in our whole careers and accept critiques from them. When you come on like that guy did, and act like a cocky asshole, you know what fatass, you come in my position for six weeks and I want to see what you can do.

Very inappropriate, in my opinion. But then, i loathe juvenile attacks on someone's appearance.

brandon_w wrote:Lisa really has no sense of humor. When Tom said "I know who is not going to win" when they were talking about the fan favorite contest, she just looked pissed, as always.

brandon_w wrote:To me, calling someone out for the way they act, is much different then also throwing in cheap shots about someones appearance.

Nikki's meticulous attention to the serving size of her "real man food" backfires, as she's run out of peppers and onions by the time the judges show up to sample her sausage and peppers, grilled shrimp with hot sauce, and spiced cider. She tries to chalk it up to repeat customers and a preponderance of New Yorkers, but she's clearly screwed. "Italian sweet pork," she answers when Kahan asks her about the type of sausage, and reveals that "we didn't have enough time" when he wonders if she made it herself. She's worried about how her dish will come across without the peppers and onions, and Kahan confirms her fears: "If you don't save some peppers and onions for the judges, number one, that's a problem." Furthermore, he thinks she had plenty of time to make her own sausage. "She's definitely having a bad day," says Colicchio.

Curious about how the shrimp related to the overall dish, Kahan discovers that it didn't -- Nikki just wanted to have something else to serve. He suggests mixing the sausage and the shrimp together, which would have tasted good and offered "an interesting spin" on a classic. Just don't run out of shit, counsels Colicchio.

Left alone to confer, the judges revisit each of the low-scorers. Kahan, unimpressed that Nikki didn't make her own sausage, since it doesn't take long, is all, "she's a chef, she's not a purchaser at a supermarket." Uh, based on what I've been watching for the past hour, she's certainly not a chef. Gail was struck by the apparent lack of effort on Nikki's part, and Kahan, discussing the shrimp, says he understands "wanting to please the masses," but that it needs to be done thoughtfully.

whiskeybent wrote:And only slightly related: As we were leaving Midsommarfest in Andersonville this evening, we saw Dale Levitsky as he wandered in. I don't like to bother people in the public eye very much, so I didn't say anything, but even as he was entering from a side street people were already noticing and recognizing him. The kung-fu of Top Chef is strong. Good luck, Stephanie.