Top Chef Season 6: Las Vegas
Top Chef Season 6: Las Vegas
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post #241 - October 29th, 2009, 8:49 pmgeno55 wrote:Completely agree re: Kevin. This season has almost turned into a joke. No matter the challenge, Kevin just dominates the other competitors, and all while maintaining a calm, cool demeanor. It seems at this point Kevin can do no wrong, and we're just waiting it out. Has there ever been a season so one-sided?
At the end? No.
But with four or five episodes left? Actually, I'd say the last three seasons all looked at least this one-sided.
'Course, the "obvious" favorite only won one of those three seasons.
I agree, Kevin looks the strongest. But he has stiffer competition than previous unseated favorites had. I wouldn't make the mistake of calling this a foregone conclusion.
-
-
Post #242 - October 29th, 2009, 10:38 pmbnowell724 wrote:tem wrote:even I can make fresh pasta in about 15 minutes.
Can you make it on the spot, with no recipe, if it's not your specialty, to the standards of Chef Bartolotta? You've just eaten his pasta the night before, and there wouldn't be time to redo it if you messed up.
I still don't buy it. Any chef worth their salt can make a simple pasta. All you gotta do is put 4-5 cups of flour in a mixer and add eggs until it turns into a dough. Would Robin have been any more uncomfortable than trying not one, but two techniques she had never tried before ?
-
-
Post #243 - October 30th, 2009, 2:00 amtem wrote:bnowell724 wrote:tem wrote:even I can make fresh pasta in about 15 minutes.
Can you make it on the spot, with no recipe, if it's not your specialty, to the standards of Chef Bartolotta? You've just eaten his pasta the night before, and there wouldn't be time to redo it if you messed up.
I still don't buy it. Any chef worth their salt can make a simple pasta. All you gotta do is put 4-5 cups of flour in a mixer and add eggs until it turns into a dough. Would Robin have been any more uncomfortable than trying not one, but two techniques she had never tried before ?
Fresh pasta is so simple that it's easy to screw up, esp. if you dont have a lot of experience with it. I have eaten and made a lot of it, at home and professionally, and it's very easy to make average pasta. It takes skill and knowledge to make great pasta. My point was that the contestants probably weren't familiar enough with fresh pasta to feel confident they could do it as well or better than Chef Bartolotta, knowing it is a specialty of his. <--this, along with the vegetarian curveball given two hours before plate up and knowing any little mistake could send them home, is most likely why they played it safe.Logan: Come on, everybody, wang chung tonight! What? Everybody, wang chung tonight! Wang chung, or I'll kick your ass!
-
-
Post #244 - October 30th, 2009, 6:19 amI did get a chance to watch the episode before the WS last night.
Kevin, and the 2 brothers still are the strongest contenders imho. I like Eli as well. Any of the 3 on the bottom could have/ should have gone home last night, all had pretty bad dishes.
-
-
Post #245 - October 30th, 2009, 9:10 amI don't watch the show, but this episode was on and it grabbed my attention. Most of the dishes looked terrible; I like others, assumed they must have had a ridiculously narrow choice of ingredients, limited essentially to a few vegetables. Not one of the several accomplished chefs had the inspiration and skill to prepare a simple flat pasta, a dumpling, a tamal, spaetzle, a fritter, a knish, an omelette, a quiche, a frittata, or one of a 100 rice dishes? I think there must be some misinformation out there about what was available.
-
-
Post #246 - October 30th, 2009, 10:38 amThe best part of this whole episode was Padma waxing about the prick on the tip of her tongue.
-
-
Post #247 - October 30th, 2009, 10:44 amI think there must be some misinformation out there about what was available.
From Gail Simmon's blog, talking about Craft Las Vegas:His kitchen walk-ins were overflowing with every variety of produce one could imagine. And his pantry was stocked with more dry goods than could be used in a lifetime. So it should not have been an excruciating task for our remaining seven competitors to fulfill, right?
-
-
Post #248 - October 30th, 2009, 11:56 amBizarre.
-
-
Post #249 - October 30th, 2009, 12:26 pmI got a kick out of this piece by Heather Havrilesky at Salon regarding the Voltaggio brothers' relationship (and Mike V's cockiness).
Some choice bits:Heather Havrilesky wrote:Every time Bryan mumbles something condescending then averts Michael's gaze, I can almost see a 10-year-old Bryan making some snide, superior comment in passing that turns a 7-year-old Michael bug-eyed with rage and sends him flying across the room, hands aimed at Bryan's holier-than-thou neck, ready to choke the life out of the smug bastard.
...
It's no wonder he gets under older brother Bryan's skin. Bryan, who has appeared relatively peace-loving until last week's episode, nonetheless has a disconcerting tendency to blow up at anyone who tries to make polite chitchat with him in the Glad Torture Chamber. State an opinion about which dish sucked the most, ask Bryan what he thought about how another cheftestant performed, speculate about who might be going home, and Bryan will bite your head clean off. He doesn't want anyone gossiping about anyone else. His commitment to accuracy, to squelching the slightest whiff of gossip, is so complete, you'd think he was a highly decorated investigative reporter on a fact-checking mission, as opposed to, say, a reality show contestant. Sometimes, in fact, when Bryan says things like, "Did you taste that dish?" and "Were you there?" you almost want to say, Jesus, Bryan, give the postproduction editors a break, will you? What are they supposed to make a show out of? Shots of you, pursing your lips in silence? This is Bravo, dude.
But last week, after that little hotheaded pussy hound Michael won the elimination challenge plus $10,000, then uncharacteristically offered to share his money with his team, Bryan couldn't restrain himself. He sat in the Glad Rage Pantry in silence until Michael couldn't help commenting on his obvious anger. Then Bryan quietly informed Michael that he could keep his share of the prize money. I don't want your blood money, his eyes told Michael. It was like a scene out of "Jesus Christ Superstar," only with higher stakes.
...
In short, the "Top Chef" producers' decision to include siblings on the show who also happen to be celebrated professional chefs guaranteed to blow away the competition while fighting like enraged squirrels looks less like a crass manipulation and more like an act of sheer brilliance every day.
-
-
Post #250 - October 30th, 2009, 12:40 pmJen, who looked like an early leader, is barely hanging on by a thread. What happened to her cool and calm demeanor. She seems to be wilting under pressure. She has lost all confidence and if this is anything like a sporting match, it will be very difficult to find her mojo before bowing out. I felt with her Eric Ripert pedigree she was a solid choice for the final three but I'm not sure she will even outlast Robin."I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." Frank Sinatra
-
-
Post #251 - October 30th, 2009, 3:39 pmIt is now my mission for the next week to work the phrase "fighting like enraged squirrels" into every conversation I possibly can.
ITA w/the article- but it only works because both brothers are so talented. If they were both Robin-quality chefs, it would just be annoying.
-
-
Post #252 - October 31st, 2009, 7:30 amRevrendAndy wrote:Jen, who looked like an early leader, is barely hanging on by a thread. What happened to her cool and calm demeanor. She seems to be wilting under pressure. She has lost all confidence and if this is anything like a sporting match, it will be very difficult to find her mojo before bowing out. I felt with her Eric Ripert pedigree she was a solid choice for the final three but I'm not sure she will even outlast Robin.
Foreal; I'm still rooting hard for Jen to get it together and give Kevin a run for his money!
Although I'm pro-beard all the way.
pizza fun
-
-
Post #253 - November 1st, 2009, 10:18 pmI was sorry to see Mike go because... he was entertaining. Which you have to admit, is kind of lacking at this point.
As far as ingredients go, I can only think they were all spooked by the idea of making white beans soft enough in 2 hours. But that still doesn't explain why nobody cracked an egg.I agree, Kevin looks the strongest. But he has stiffer competition than previous unseated favorites had. I wouldn't make the mistake of calling this a foregone conclusion.
Like Stefan, Kevin doesn't screw up*, so he won't get knocked off. So he'll be in the last episode, but the last episode isn't about not screwing up, it's about excelling over two other excellent chefs... oh wait Kevin does that every week too.
* Okay, he kind of did in Restaurant Wars. So he is human, and not a magical cooking gnome.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #254 - November 1st, 2009, 10:50 pmMike G wrote:Like Stefan, Kevin doesn't screw up*, so he won't get knocked off. So he'll be in the last episode, but the last episode isn't about not screwing up, it's about excelling over two other excellent chefs... oh wait Kevin does that every week too.
Kevin's been more consistently awesome, as is evidenced by all of the wins, but I don't know that his peaks have been any higher than either of the Voltaggios'. Kevin's deconstructed mole, Bryan's guacamole macaroon, Mike V's dishes for Restaurant Wars... all three of those guys have reduced Tom to babbling awe. If you only took the best 2-3 dishes from each of them (which is, in theory, what the finale should produce), could you really still say that Kevin is such a heavy favorite? I agree that he's the least likely to exit early, given that he's been so consistently great. But if they all make it to the finale, and if they all bring their A game, I think it's much more of a toss-up than you seem to suggest.
-
-
Post #255 - November 1st, 2009, 11:05 pmI was being slightly facetious, and I think we're in agreement on the main point-- ever-competent, almost-never-freaked-out Kevin is a sure thing not to get knocked out before the finale, but that's not how you win the finale.
That said, he does seem to make people happy with his food every damn time, and to have amassed quite a streak of wins over exactly the guys (and still possibly a gal, though she seems to be fading fast) he has to beat. But yes, as Stefan demonstrated, being clearly in the strongest position to win and actually doing so are two different things.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #256 - November 2nd, 2009, 1:05 pms4shon wrote:DML wrote:Any Formula One fans here (I know, strange habits -- cooking and racing). In any case, Jen reminds me a lot of Kimi Raikonnen (currently of Ferrari).
F1 fan here! In fact, one of our cats is named Kimi (it's a good cat name, even if we're not rabid Raikkonen fans). I like your analogy, although I think Jen has more drive to win than Kimi right now! It will be pretty funny to imagine Jen's monologues in Kimi voice. "yessotheconditionswerechallengingtodaythecarwashandlingnotsowellbuttheteamputinagoodeffortandourresultswerewhatweexpected"
Looks like Kimi will not have a ride next year. What a shame. On the other hand, the Dubai circuit made for some great racing yesterday. The final few laps of Button chasing Weber were classic.
-
-
-
Post #257 - November 2nd, 2009, 3:12 pmJust caught up with the episode on the DVR. As I was watching it suddenly came to me that Kevin is the Stephanie Izard of this season; he wins consistantly, his personality is very even, doesn't have a big head, great flavor profiles, good, simple food. He's definately in the finals in my books.
I think Jennifer hasn't really come back since her illness, even though she did really well in the challenge when she was sick. I think she's coming back strong this week.
I was also very surprised for the lack of grains and legumes. Fresh pasta has been done in this season and it would be filling and homey.tem wrote:The best part of this whole episode was Padma waxing about the prick on the tip of her tongue.
LMAO on that one. Did you notice that all of the men were beet red and the woman were just cool as cucumbers. Too, too funny.Ms. Ingie
Life is too short, why skip dessert?
-
-
-
-
Post #258 - November 5th, 2009, 12:21 pmIs there any network that disrespects its viewers more than Bravo?
Again last night we were subjected another off week. I just don't understand what Bravo gains by constantly cutting up the narrative the way they do. Worse, though, than not airing a new episode, we were subjected to Fabio's Dinner Party, which was a complete waste of time and effort. Yes, it's fun to catch up with the few contestants we liked but of course, as a matter of pandering pot-stirring -- the SOP at Bravo -- we were also subjected to several assholes, about whom no viewers care whatsoever.
Marcel certainly 'stepped in it' by agreeing to appear because, of course, the head shaving incident that happened years ago was brought up yet again. Honestly, who the fuck still cares about this long-forgotten (by everyone except the brainiacs at Bravo) incident? That Marcel complained about it being brought up was laughable, too. I mean, if you're a reality show whore, you're going to be subjected to these kinds of things. Deal with it. I'm sure that he'll someday come to understand this (or maybe not). Was it merely the editing that made him appear to be a humorless, self-important prick? I'm sure that's what he would claim. During his season, I thought that perhaps he was picked on unfairly. Last night's 'special' removed any doubt about it. He may be a talented cook but he and the term 'well-adjusted' are unlikely to ever appear together unless accompanied by the word "not."
Bravo to Bravo, for aiming for the bottom of the barrel and hitting it directly, yet again.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
-
-
-
Post #259 - November 5th, 2009, 12:42 pmOkay, so that wasn't so great, but I'm really looking forward to the Top Chef Holiday Special: Santa's Reindeer Challenge.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #260 - November 5th, 2009, 1:39 pmI would have liked to have seen Stephanie Izard, but maybe she was the smart one by avoiding the show all together. It was a pretty lame show.The most dangerous food to eat is wedding cake.
Proverb
-
-
Post #261 - November 5th, 2009, 3:44 pmCan anyone tell me what the point of that program was (other than as a mindless eyewash to help me avoid watching the Phillies go down in flames 'gainst the hated Yankees)?"The fork with two prongs is in use in northern Europe. In England, they’re armed with a steel trident, a fork with three prongs. In France we have a fork with four prongs; it’s the height of civilization." Eugene Briffault (1846)
-
-
Post #262 - November 6th, 2009, 12:19 pmjbw wrote:Can anyone tell me what the point of that program was (other than as a mindless eyewash to help me avoid watching the Phillies go down in flames 'gainst the hated Yankees)?
I finally watched it. I didn't hate it as much as others. Marcel is still a social nitwit. Good to know. However, some of the interactions were interesting and watching these people cook for this show was interesting.
That being said, the show could have been a lot better. The trainwreck comment? I was not sure if that was a joke. If not, it would have been interesting to hear any follow up conversation about why the dish was that bad. But more importantly, it seemed that there was not as much "where are they now" as might have been good. These peope all aspired to be top chefs. So, where and what are they cooking now? There as a bit of it, but it seemed that more of the focus was on "I didn't like that guy back on the show."
-
-
-
Post #263 - November 6th, 2009, 12:30 pmDML wrote:jbw wrote:Can anyone tell me what the point of that program was (other than as a mindless eyewash to help me avoid watching the Phillies go down in flames 'gainst the hated Yankees)?
I finally watched it. I didn't hate it as much as others. Marcel is still a social nitwit. Good to know. However, some of the interactions were interesting and watching these people cook for this show was interesting.
That being said, the show could have been a lot better. The trainwreck comment? I was not sure if that was a joke. If not, it would have been interesting to hear any follow up conversation about why the dish was that bad. But more importantly, it seemed that there was not as much "where are they now" as might have been good. These peope all aspired to be top chefs. So, where and what are they cooking now? There as a bit of it, but it seemed that more of the focus was on "I didn't like that guy back on the show."
The top-level culinary universe is vast and deep and you really have to be spectacular to get noticed, rise to the top and stay there. For the most part, many of these contestants are ne'er-do-wells, whose notariety peaks with their appearance on the show. Iwo, they don't have many glory stories to share . . . at least not yet.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
-
-
-
Post #264 - November 6th, 2009, 12:48 pmronnie_suburban wrote:Iwo
What?
-
-
-
Post #265 - November 6th, 2009, 12:55 pmgeno55 wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:Iwo
What?
In other words . . . sorry
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
-
-
-
Post #266 - November 6th, 2009, 1:03 pmThe top-level culinary universe is vast and deep and you really have to be spectacular to get noticed, rise to the top and stay there. For the most part, many of these contestants are ne'er-do-wells, whose notariety peaks with their appearance on the show. Iwo, they don't have many glory stories to share . . . at least not yet.
It's also a fact that they're coming out of this show right into a recession that has hit fine dining hard. If someone like Dale Levitski could have the opportunities he had before Top Chef, surely his performance on Top Chef (which was strong if not flawless by any means) should have led to at least equal opportunities after— if the market were as good now as it was five or fifteen years ago. But it isn't; where they would have been floated as celebrity chefs a few years ago, now they're more likely to find a spot ornamenting an existing restaurant.
The real question, which Bravo certainly wouldn't want anyone to answer too loudly, is how it affects the people who bombed out early on. I wonder how bookings at Eve Aranoff's restaurant were after she went home the second week, for instance...Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #267 - November 6th, 2009, 1:06 pm
And here I was thinking I wasn't hip enough for your lingo.ronnie_suburban wrote:geno55 wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:Iwo
What?
In other words . . . sorry
=R=
-
-
-
Post #268 - November 14th, 2009, 11:20 amI'm not 100% certain but pretty sure that yet another unforewarned Top Chef spoiler was posted at GrubStreet this week (the first being when they disclosed the winner of Top Chef Masters without warning). There was definitely a Top Chef story and it mentioned something about an expected front-runner's ultimate fate on the show. That's when I turned away and closed the window. Again, I'm not entirely sure but if you happen to be browsing their site and you're a Top Chef watcher, you might want to be cautious.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
-
-
-
-
Post #269 - November 14th, 2009, 2:22 pmSo after an episode where both Padma and Nigella are in bed waiting to be served breakfast (a chef's wet dream*), no one has commented about this week's show? Is everyone just so relieved that Robin finally got sent home that there's simply nothing else to say? Personally, I'm happy at this week's outcome, though a bit surprised that Jennifer wasn't sent packing. That girl needs a confidence infusion if she's going to last much longer.
* Depending on proclivitySteve Z.
“Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
― Ludwig van Beethoven
-
-
-
-
Post #270 - November 14th, 2009, 3:07 pmstevez wrote:So after an episode where both Padma and Nigella are in bed waiting to be served breakfast (a chef's wet dream*), no one has commented about this week's show? Is everyone just so relieved that Robin finally got sent home that there's simply nothing else to say? Personally, I'm happy at this week's outcome, though a bit surprised that Jennifer wasn't sent packing. That girl needs a confidence infusion if she's going to last much longer.
* Depending on proclivity
I agree on all counts. The main thing being that is was a relief to see Robin go before the endgame begins. She didn't belong there. That said, from what we saw, it wouldn't have been out of line if Eli or Jen had been sent home this week.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
-
