Well, again life and work has gotten into the way of some quality blogging time. Unfortunately, I missed the live showing of the Top Chef season finale. I finally got around to catching a rerun of the final episode last week. Wow, I guess that I didn't miss much. I don't know about you, but I thought that was perhaps one of the most boring episodes of Top Chef that they've ever broadcast. It would have been a forgetable mid-season episode, but for a season-ender, it was a downright snoozer. I would have almost rather watched an episode of that train wreck on the Food Network. Almost.
If you missed the episode, I suggest that you check out David Dust's summary of the episode for a fictional but far more entertaining version of the finale. Despite the end of the season debacle, I'll still be tuning in for the next season of Top Chef which will be set in the Big Apple.
Showing posts with label Top Chef. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Chef. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Five Facts for Scott
Well, I'm in the middle of a five day off-site for work this week up in Napa Valley (I know, rough life), which unfortunately means that I will miss the live season finale of Top Chef. I hope that they upload the episode to Hulu tomorrow evening so I won't be kept in suspense for too long.
However, since I do have some time on my hands this evening, I thought that I would response to the meme for which I was tagged by Scott at One Food Guy.
So, without further ado, here are five facts about me, all food related of course:
So, Jo from Taking Over the World One Bite at a Time, Jen from Eatingplum, Chef John from Food Wishes, Biggie from Lunch in a Box, and Charlotte from her eponymous web, here is your mission, if you choose to undertake it:
However, since I do have some time on my hands this evening, I thought that I would response to the meme for which I was tagged by Scott at One Food Guy.
So, without further ado, here are five facts about me, all food related of course:
- For this off-site event, I took full responsibility for making all of the food selections. A few of my co-workers have joked that if the food sucks, they'll let me hear about it on my blog. So far, the feedback has been pretty good, but in case any of my colleagues are reading this, I'll be moderating my blog comments with extreme prejudice. Heh.
- While I will pretty much eat nearly any food, one things that I can't stand is cottage cheese. It's pretty much an issue with texture. About the only time that I didn't gag from eating cottage cheese was during a visit to the Cowgirl Creamery, mostly likely due to the fact that this particular sample of the vile cheese was mostly curds with very little whey.
- I eat a lot of frozen fruit directly from the freezer, mostly strawberries and blueberries from Trader Joe's.
- Like Homer, many of my favorite cuts of meat comes from a wonderful, magical animal.
- Karen is amused by the fact that I was happy to find out on our second date that she too enjoys eating that wonderful, magical animal.
So, Jo from Taking Over the World One Bite at a Time, Jen from Eatingplum, Chef John from Food Wishes, Biggie from Lunch in a Box, and Charlotte from her eponymous web, here is your mission, if you choose to undertake it:
- Link to your tagger (me in this case) and post these rules.
- Share 5 facts about yourself.
- Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names, linking to them.
- Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Didja Notice...
...that tonight's winner and loser had the strongest and weakest sous chefs, respectively? I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the whoever has the best assistant next week will be crowned Top Chef.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
The Final Four
Well, we're now down to the finals of this season's Top Chef. The venue for the last two episodes will move from the Windy City to the warmer climes of Puerto Rico. Had Lisa been eliminated instead of Dale, I believe that the top four of the original sixteen cheftestants would be vying for the title of Top Chef. Who will it be, early favorite Richard or five-time Elimination Challenge winner Stephanie? Or will it be one of the dark horses?
In any case, the Top Chef finale should prove to be some entertaining television, of higher quality than the train-wreck-that-I-can't-stop-watching, The Next Food Network Star. I hope that at the very least, they'll eliminate that chef from planet Vulcan before she drives me nuts with her "cooking education, community outreach, and culinary craft" blather.
In any case, the Top Chef finale should prove to be some entertaining television, of higher quality than the train-wreck-that-I-can't-stop-watching, The Next Food Network Star. I hope that at the very least, they'll eliminate that chef from planet Vulcan before she drives me nuts with her "cooking education, community outreach, and culinary craft" blather.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Six Left Standing
After ten weeks of Top Chef: Chicago, six cheftestants remain going into the Restaurant Wars episode.
With a half-dozen chefs remaining, I'm going to make a prediction for the rest of the season. I predict that the chefs will be eliminated in the following order:
Who do you think will be "Top Chef"? Let's hear your predictions!
With a half-dozen chefs remaining, I'm going to make a prediction for the rest of the season. I predict that the chefs will be eliminated in the following order:
- Spike
- Lisa
- Antonia
- Stephanie
- Dale
Who do you think will be "Top Chef"? Let's hear your predictions!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
0 Fer Four
Another week, another Top Cheftestant going home. Indeed, another Bay Area chef has been eliminated, which leaves us with the following numbers:
- Number of Bay Area chefs remaining out of the four who started the competition: zero
- Number of seasons in which a Bay Area cook has been named Top Chef: zero
Monday, April 21, 2008
A Couple of Quick Comments
Lots of work + loads of wedding planning = no time to post on my blog...
I just have enough time for a few quick comments about my current favorite TV show, Top Chef:
1. Is it just me or are the chefs this season weaker as a whole than in past seasons? Maybe it's just the San Francisco-based chefs who are sucking...
2. Is it just me or are the cheftestants quite a bit more snippy and aggressive than in past seasons? See how often they are dropping the F-bomb on the show? Even Tom commented on the noticeable increase in profanity this season.
3. If you are looking for some morning-after commentary on the week's show, check out David Dust's Top Chef episode summaries - they are simply hilarious.
I just have enough time for a few quick comments about my current favorite TV show, Top Chef:
1. Is it just me or are the chefs this season weaker as a whole than in past seasons? Maybe it's just the San Francisco-based chefs who are sucking...
2. Is it just me or are the cheftestants quite a bit more snippy and aggressive than in past seasons? See how often they are dropping the F-bomb on the show? Even Tom commented on the noticeable increase in profanity this season.
3. If you are looking for some morning-after commentary on the week's show, check out David Dust's Top Chef episode summaries - they are simply hilarious.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
From the Glad Family of Products....
Did any of you notice the conspicuous product placement in the Chicago Block Party episode of Top Chef? I suspect that most people may not be aware of the fact that Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce, and Kingsford Charcoal are all cousins to the Glad family of products, one of the major sponsors of the series.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Top Chef Chicago: The Block Party
Three weeks into the new season of Top Chef and the first San Francisco-based chef is gone. It was too bad to see Erik go - having eaten at his restaurant, I was hoping that he would stick around for a while. So much for those rumors.
It was interesting to see the SF contestents group themselves onto the same team, though given the political leanings of this area, it probably would have been more appropriate if they had been on the Blue Team.
It was interesting to see the SF contestents group themselves onto the same team, though given the political leanings of this area, it probably would have been more appropriate if they had been on the Blue Team.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Let the Flames Begin!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Top Chef will be kicking off Season 4 tonight. Karen is a bit surprised at how much I've been looking forward to this new season of Top Chef, and I guess that I'm a bit surprised myself, especially since I don't watch all that much TV.
Anyway, I'll be looking forward to watching the flames begin!
Anyway, I'll be looking forward to watching the flames begin!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Top Chef 4: Chicago
Attention Reality Food TV fans: Top Chef is back.
Set in Chicago, the Emmy-nominated series will begin airing new episodes from Season 4 on Wednesday, March 12. While I've been critical of Top Chef in the past, the last season reeled me back. I'm looking forward to the new season, especially with four local chefs in the running: Erik Hopfinger, executive chef at Circa; Jennifer Biesty, the executive chef from COCO500; sous chef Ryan Scott of Myth; and chef/consultant Zoi Antonitsas, formerly of the Presidio Social Club.
As Michael Bauer noted in his blog post today, San Francisco has been underrepresented over the past couple of seasons. Hopefully, one of the chefs will be able to take home the title of "Top Chef", bringing the prize back to where the series was first set.
Set in Chicago, the Emmy-nominated series will begin airing new episodes from Season 4 on Wednesday, March 12. While I've been critical of Top Chef in the past, the last season reeled me back. I'm looking forward to the new season, especially with four local chefs in the running: Erik Hopfinger, executive chef at Circa; Jennifer Biesty, the executive chef from COCO500; sous chef Ryan Scott of Myth; and chef/consultant Zoi Antonitsas, formerly of the Presidio Social Club.
As Michael Bauer noted in his blog post today, San Francisco has been underrepresented over the past couple of seasons. Hopefully, one of the chefs will be able to take home the title of "Top Chef", bringing the prize back to where the series was first set.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Reality Food TV
I told myself that I wouldn't do it, but I'm getting sucked back into watching reality food TV. Last night, I watched the special Top Chef All-Star Challenge pitting selected chefs from Season 1 against competitors from Season 2. I know that I said that I wasn't sure if I would watch that series again after the stuff that went down at the end of last season, but I did. Was it just me or did that show appear to be rigged? What a marvelous coincidence that the antagonists from each season (Stephen from Season 1, Marcel from Season 2) were selected to lead each team and then were set up against one another in a head-to-head battle! Or how about each season's winner (Harold from Season 1, Ilan from Season 2) duking it out over "Battle Duck"? In my opinion, the best thing that came out of that show was that a deserving charity got a $20,000 donation.
Tonight, I caught a rerun of the premiere episode of this season's The Next Food Network Star. I found it oddly entertaining, though certainly not a demonstration of culinary excellence. After watching the episode, I had a feeling that I just watched a slow-motion train wreck. A two hour train wreck. Nevertheless, like a rubbernecker staring at the scene of an accident, I was sufficiently drawn in to continue watching for the time being. Not so sure about this season's Top Chef though, but then again, I might change my mind.
Tonight, I caught a rerun of the premiere episode of this season's The Next Food Network Star. I found it oddly entertaining, though certainly not a demonstration of culinary excellence. After watching the episode, I had a feeling that I just watched a slow-motion train wreck. A two hour train wreck. Nevertheless, like a rubbernecker staring at the scene of an accident, I was sufficiently drawn in to continue watching for the time being. Not so sure about this season's Top Chef though, but then again, I might change my mind.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Top Chef Scraping Bottom?
Over the past year, I've been quite a fan of the Bravo reality TV series Top Chef. Though I was a latecomer to the first season, I have tried to catch the latest season's episodes whenever possible. As I watched this season, my feelings for the contestents changed quite a bit. For example, at the beginning of the show, I was really not a very big fan of Mikey, but as the season went on, I started rooting for him. While it was pretty apparent he wasn't going to win against the likes of Sam and Cliff, I really wanted the guy to do well. (Maybe I'll even make a trip out to Lodi to check out his work in person.) Of course, some of my feelings stayed the same, such as those for that asshat Marcel.
However, as much as I would love to see Ilan whomp that sniveling little Marcel's ass, I'm not sure that I will be tuning for the final episode. In my opinion, the best chefs in the contest were Sam, Ilan, Cliff, and Elia (more or less in that order, I'd reckon). While I felt that Cliff was fairly kicked off for that sophomoric prank that he pulled, I have no idea why the judges chose to give Sam the boot. From my viewpoint, he was certainly the most consistent of all of the contestants, as well as one of the most talented. And to pick Marcel over him, well, that was just a travesty. Tom Colicchio has been completely inconsistent in his reasoning. His remark that "behavior doesn't count... it's about the food" is both disingenuous and hypocritical. Tom, remember you kicked off Cliff (rightfully so) for his behavior? Remember Marcel's raw chicken wing? I'm not saying that Marcel isn't talented; it's apparent that he is very well trained, but the guy's a freaking jerk. While Colicchio is aware of how Marcel rubs the other contestents, he apparently doesn't think that it's such a big deal. Anthony Bourdain, on the other hand, has a differing viewpoint. Regarding Marcel's current chef potential, he says,
He goes on, as only one such as Bourdain can:
Tom, given those remarks, do you really think that Marcel should be in the running to be Top Chef? Judging from the comments on Colicchio's blog, I am probably not the only fan who thinks that Marcel is not nor am I the only one who is considering skipping the finale.
However, as much as I would love to see Ilan whomp that sniveling little Marcel's ass, I'm not sure that I will be tuning for the final episode. In my opinion, the best chefs in the contest were Sam, Ilan, Cliff, and Elia (more or less in that order, I'd reckon). While I felt that Cliff was fairly kicked off for that sophomoric prank that he pulled, I have no idea why the judges chose to give Sam the boot. From my viewpoint, he was certainly the most consistent of all of the contestants, as well as one of the most talented. And to pick Marcel over him, well, that was just a travesty. Tom Colicchio has been completely inconsistent in his reasoning. His remark that "behavior doesn't count... it's about the food" is both disingenuous and hypocritical. Tom, remember you kicked off Cliff (rightfully so) for his behavior? Remember Marcel's raw chicken wing? I'm not saying that Marcel isn't talented; it's apparent that he is very well trained, but the guy's a freaking jerk. While Colicchio is aware of how Marcel rubs the other contestents, he apparently doesn't think that it's such a big deal. Anthony Bourdain, on the other hand, has a differing viewpoint. Regarding Marcel's current chef potential, he says,
Presently zero. You have to get along with the people you work with--and I can't imagine this guy "working with others" over time. He's petty, vindictive, immature, a loudmouth, not a team player by any stretch of the imagination. And it's all about Him. I can't imagine him ever running a kitchen that actually makes its food cost percents--or appeals to the public--as Marcel would likely be too busy celebrating his own perceived brilliance on the plate.
If he can ever pull back his food to what TASTES good FIRST--and pull his head out of his ass, there's hope.
He goes on, as only one such as Bourdain can:
Being a great chef is about first knowing what gives people pleasure. And caring about that. Marcel strikes me as the sort of knucklehead/creative "genius" who insists on "educating the public" instead of finding new ways to please and delight and surprise them. There's nothing pleasing or surprising about foam anymore.
His tormentors were right about one thing: he needs to get laid. And the Astro-Boy haircut is a liability in the kitchen--where co-workers and subordinates will identify him as a fucktard from Day One.
Marcel has a LOT of growing up to do. A chef needs respect. A chef must be able to delegate. A chef needs to run a kitchen that actually turns a profit. I can't see Marcel doing any of those things.
Tom, given those remarks, do you really think that Marcel should be in the running to be Top Chef? Judging from the comments on Colicchio's blog, I am probably not the only fan who thinks that Marcel is not nor am I the only one who is considering skipping the finale.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)