This finale definitely has some meaner elements than in previous years.
For instance, the random way of choosing sous chefs and having absolutely no say. This seems unfair way. Kevin really got hosed...has his luck finally run out? I mean, Pritti, really? Ash might be OK. Brian got the strongest hand -- Ashley was really underrated and he seems to appreciate her.
And Kevin badmouthing Pritti (or however you pronounce her name) -- his bitchface finally shows up. Has he ever said anything negative about another chef before? The stress must be really bad.
Did not recognize Jessie with her blonde hair.
Kevin's mom sounds like a cigarette and whiskey kind of gal, with that smokey voice. Kevin looked completely different without a beard. Bryan and Michael's mom was really lovely as a young woman and the boys were very cute towheads.
During a live chat at the Washington Post this a.m. -- since they're local boys -- the brothers joked that their Mom was rooting for Kevin because that meant neither son was edging out the other. Wonder if there was another underlying theme there. Also wonder if they did the live chat yesterday because they knew neither won.
Think Bryan had some sweat trickling on his forehead when he heard who the judges were. Once again he underseasons it.
Bryan definitely is not winning. It's going to be a throwdown between Michael and Kevin.
So Bryan did well on two courses, Michael on two or three, and Kevin definitely had two. But his wasn't the "chef's choice," which might edge out everything else.
Or the editors are monkeying with our brains. Which they like to do. I'm still peeved about how they made you think Lisa edged out Richard Blais when the judges were arguing all night between Blais and Stephanie.
I honestly have no idea who is going to win.
1. Kevin
2. Michael
3. Bryan
4. Bryan
But Michael took risks and had admirable flavors in almost all his dishes. Almost all of his dishes had some element that people liked.
Kevin probably came in number 3. So is the winner Bryan or Michael. For personal reasons, I'm rooting for Bryan. But I recognize Michael's talent and his genius at finding creative ways of doing things. For instance, I'd love to try his fried broccoli.
Yep, Kevin was the first down. Poor guy, after leading the whole way -- to choke at the end. I'm not unhappy that Michael won, but I still wish it was Kevin or Bryan who had.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Top Chef 6 Finale Part I
Whoo hoo! Best season of Top Chef ever.
My friend J and I took the Napa Valley Wine Train...she does a lot of freelance for airline magazines so we got a few freebies, including the train, a bistro (owned by Thomas Keller) and a resort. The train was sort of fun, the food OK, the tour....well, touristy.
Note that Padma has water instead of wine. I like grapes as fruit. I don't like them mixed with other things. Especially in entrees. So I probably would have wanted to try Michael's because he used grape leaves, something I love. And wine sauce. Plus grapes. And good on Jennifer for using other favors really well. I hoped she was going to win the Prius since Chiarelli said he was going to put it on his menu. But Michael did use the widest variety of grapes.
Someone suggested that Kevin was really good at playing the usual Top Chef game, being a little conservative and realizing limits. But in the finale, you have to go all out. So I'm guessing it might really come down to the brothers. Jennifer seems good but lacks flash. Same with Kevin...he can manage complex flavors but can he really wow?
Jen's getting the loser edit here. And she's making her usual mistake of not knowing where she wants to go.
It's funny how they all fall back into their usual patterns, despite the three-month hiatus. Bryan always seems overly ambitious ands ends up in the weeds. Jen always seems a little unfocused. Michael always wants to show off. Kevin always does what he loves.
I have to agree with Michael about fresh eggs. Our farmer's market had an Amish (or Mennonite?) vendor that provided fresh eggs. I may never be able to eat normal eggs ever again. The yolks really are orange, instead of yellow. And they do have more flavor. My ambition, once the season begins again, is to learn how to make pasta using fresh eggs.
Hmmmmmm. They're not offering a lot of criticism. The judging is going to come down to minor details, like the lack of seasoning in Bryan's food, the runnyness of Michael's eggs, the "ropiness" of Kevin's beef. Liked all the talk of the "ducky duckiness" of Jen's duck.
I'm confused...at the vineyard, they raved about Jen's duck, now they're blasting it at judge's table. What's up with that? But as much as I love Jen, if it comes down to her or Kevin, I'll pick her to go. Bryan seems the clear winner from the discussion at judges' table.
But the editing monkeys could be deceiving us. During season 4 finale, they made it seem as though the difficult choice was between Stephanie and Lisa, when it was between Richard and Stephanie.
Bryan has the nerdiest laugh. But congrats!
Dang. Sorry to see her leave. And their reasoning actually seems kind of lame. But it's so great to have talented chefs that there is no one you're rooting against because they're not as good as the others, as in other seasons. Being jerks, on the other hand....
My friend J and I took the Napa Valley Wine Train...she does a lot of freelance for airline magazines so we got a few freebies, including the train, a bistro (owned by Thomas Keller) and a resort. The train was sort of fun, the food OK, the tour....well, touristy.
Note that Padma has water instead of wine. I like grapes as fruit. I don't like them mixed with other things. Especially in entrees. So I probably would have wanted to try Michael's because he used grape leaves, something I love. And wine sauce. Plus grapes. And good on Jennifer for using other favors really well. I hoped she was going to win the Prius since Chiarelli said he was going to put it on his menu. But Michael did use the widest variety of grapes.
Someone suggested that Kevin was really good at playing the usual Top Chef game, being a little conservative and realizing limits. But in the finale, you have to go all out. So I'm guessing it might really come down to the brothers. Jennifer seems good but lacks flash. Same with Kevin...he can manage complex flavors but can he really wow?
Jen's getting the loser edit here. And she's making her usual mistake of not knowing where she wants to go.
It's funny how they all fall back into their usual patterns, despite the three-month hiatus. Bryan always seems overly ambitious ands ends up in the weeds. Jen always seems a little unfocused. Michael always wants to show off. Kevin always does what he loves.
I have to agree with Michael about fresh eggs. Our farmer's market had an Amish (or Mennonite?) vendor that provided fresh eggs. I may never be able to eat normal eggs ever again. The yolks really are orange, instead of yellow. And they do have more flavor. My ambition, once the season begins again, is to learn how to make pasta using fresh eggs.
Hmmmmmm. They're not offering a lot of criticism. The judging is going to come down to minor details, like the lack of seasoning in Bryan's food, the runnyness of Michael's eggs, the "ropiness" of Kevin's beef. Liked all the talk of the "ducky duckiness" of Jen's duck.
I'm confused...at the vineyard, they raved about Jen's duck, now they're blasting it at judge's table. What's up with that? But as much as I love Jen, if it comes down to her or Kevin, I'll pick her to go. Bryan seems the clear winner from the discussion at judges' table.
But the editing monkeys could be deceiving us. During season 4 finale, they made it seem as though the difficult choice was between Stephanie and Lisa, when it was between Richard and Stephanie.
Bryan has the nerdiest laugh. But congrats!
Dang. Sorry to see her leave. And their reasoning actually seems kind of lame. But it's so great to have talented chefs that there is no one you're rooting against because they're not as good as the others, as in other seasons. Being jerks, on the other hand....
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Top Chef 6.12
What I love about Top Chef are the things I learn about cooking. I didn't know turducken was a ballantine. I didn't know what a ballantine was. Now I want to try it. This was a v. cool quickfire too. And I'm now officially rooting against Michael V., despite his talent. There's arrogance, and then there is Arrogance. And he's it with a capital A. And I hate all the digs at Kevin. Guess what, Michael. Tom Colicchio, the head judge for Top Chef, would rather have something cooked simply and deliciously than something gee-whiz that has no soul.
The editing on this is very ominous for Kevin. The digs by Michael. The joke from Kevin about packing his bag. The doing something he's never done before.
Thomas Keller's restaurant, French Laundry, in Napa Valley is booked up like six months in the future. J and I, when she was writing a travel article about Napa, got to eat gratis at his little bistro that had only opened a few weeks? months? before we arrived. It was excellent. I know from now becoming a foodie -- thanks Top Chef! -- that he's considered a god.
Both Brian and Jennifer are so gracious. Brian gave advice to Kevin and Jennifer helped Brian despite not having finished hers. Though I hadn't noticed that Brian has a nervous laugh. This is the first time he's been filmed this way.
See, Michael, a true pro like Thomas Keller can be firm in criticisms without being dickish about others' talent. Your Arrogance masks some insecurity. There's a Las Vegas chef who's been blogging about the competition for Las Vegas weekly and his most recent post noted the three stages of chefdom. He was focusing on Eli being in the "know it all" middle stage, but Michael still has some of it. He also says: "Mike V: the culinary world does not revolve around molecular and trick cooking. There are more comfort diners than hipster diners."
Is it editing or did they find strength and weakness in each of the dishes. So which is more important, successful cooking? Technique? Visual presentation? Even though Kevin's was tasty and cooked perfectly, it was too simple. Jennifer's was beautiful visually but other things weren't successful. Brian's had almost everything except perfect cooking.
Wow!!!! Kevin won. Yay.
The right person lost. The Four Horsemen ride on to the finals.
The editing on this is very ominous for Kevin. The digs by Michael. The joke from Kevin about packing his bag. The doing something he's never done before.
Thomas Keller's restaurant, French Laundry, in Napa Valley is booked up like six months in the future. J and I, when she was writing a travel article about Napa, got to eat gratis at his little bistro that had only opened a few weeks? months? before we arrived. It was excellent. I know from now becoming a foodie -- thanks Top Chef! -- that he's considered a god.
Both Brian and Jennifer are so gracious. Brian gave advice to Kevin and Jennifer helped Brian despite not having finished hers. Though I hadn't noticed that Brian has a nervous laugh. This is the first time he's been filmed this way.
See, Michael, a true pro like Thomas Keller can be firm in criticisms without being dickish about others' talent. Your Arrogance masks some insecurity. There's a Las Vegas chef who's been blogging about the competition for Las Vegas weekly and his most recent post noted the three stages of chefdom. He was focusing on Eli being in the "know it all" middle stage, but Michael still has some of it. He also says: "Mike V: the culinary world does not revolve around molecular and trick cooking. There are more comfort diners than hipster diners."
Is it editing or did they find strength and weakness in each of the dishes. So which is more important, successful cooking? Technique? Visual presentation? Even though Kevin's was tasty and cooked perfectly, it was too simple. Jennifer's was beautiful visually but other things weren't successful. Brian's had almost everything except perfect cooking.
Wow!!!! Kevin won. Yay.
The right person lost. The Four Horsemen ride on to the finals.
Top Chef last week
So I was too lazy to get my computer to blog, especially since it meant unplugging S's connection. We really need to get that new computer and get rid of that ancient hulk with the inert mouse.
Anyway, thought the elimination challenge was a fun idea, but they chose some really boring hotels. What about Caesar's Palace? The Luxor? And Robin, hello? The famous dancing fountains?!! Excalibur, Circus Circus, New York, New York, shudder. I did dislike Las Vegas. It was a grimy, grownup Disney World. Poor Latinos, probably paid pennies, trying to foist fliers for strip clubs on all men, including the ones holding their wives'/girlfriends' hands. It was a mistake to go there after Death Valley. Too much humanity and noise.
I was glad to see Robin go, though if they sent Eli home, I wouldn't have been sorry since he's such a little troll. But he does have some talent, so finally, at last, they get rid of the one person who definitely had no chance to win. Not that Eli does, though he could manage to slip into the Top 3. ugh. I was really nervous about the previews for tonight with Kevin doing something he normally doesn't. That's always a recipe for disaster. Especially when it's sous vide. Kevin, you were playing the game so well? Why would you pull a risky move now?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Quick lunchtime post about Project Runway
Fell asleep yet again! but woke up and turned on tv to watch it in wee hours. OK, I was sleep-blurred, so maybe my judgment off, but the judging sucked lemons big time. Gordana was robbed. that is all.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Top Chef 6.10
Way to start out, hitting the wrong damn button.
Today my personal trainer had me do that swim thing Robin did a couple of eps ago. It's surprisingly hard. Works out your lower back in a good way. Of course you'll be moaning in agony if you do it more than 30 seconds. But the PT gave it her own sadistic twist. 30 seconds of "swimming" followed by 10 seconds holding in one place -- three times. And then three sets of it. My back will be hurting tomorrow. At least it will help me with the bow poses in Bikram yoga.
What is up with Padma and onesies? Her quickfire clothes have been remarkably ugly this season. Hey, Eli, ever heard of TVLand. Gilligan's Island lives on your 52-inch tv. Not that I'd ever watch it.
If looks could kill, Kevin would be dead, dead, dead, judging from the lasers shooting from Bryan's eyes. The restaurants of Bryan and Mike I, by the way, were just named among the top 50 restaurants in DC area by Washington Post critic Tom Sietsama. From the description of the food, Bryan's very inventive on his own.
They're planning meat dishes...little do they know they're cooking for a vegetarian, or maybe even a vegan. Natalie Portman's column in the Huff Post was pretty offensive, drawing a parallel about speaking out about eating meat to your host to whether you should speak out if your host is a rapist. Huh? This also coming from someone who signed the petition supporting Roman Polanski.
Hmm, almost everyone seems in the weeds. So Robin and Mike I are the confident ones about cooking a vegetarian meal. That's usually the kiss of death. I'm guessing Mike I is in worse trouble because his leeks look uuuuuuggggleeeeee. (hee-hee, hoho, haha, will he be going home?) And yes, his leeks were undercooked.
But then Jen once again is showing a lack of confidence because of the eggplants she had to use, so who knows.
Ok, maybe it would have been better for Robin if she hadn't served her garbanzo beans!
The guest chef is hilarious and I wish had spent less time ruminating and more time paying attention.
Michael gets another Picasso ref. So he's an artist.
Well, at least Jenn's was delish.
Oooooo, dirty double-entendres! For robotically handsome Bryan's dish!
Kevin's definitely doesn't look pretty but it sounds as though it's pretty filling. But Natalie is now a vegan, so all that butter would have gone to waste on her now.
What was Eli's again? Something eggplant. I think he got good reviews.
So the chef is someone I haven't heard of, so it doesn't matter that I didn't catch his name during QF. Yeah, Kevin's a man who likes his food. We couldn't guess?
Kevin wins again! Though he keeps winning the crappy prizes.
Michael, you are Jekyll & Hyde. Sore loserman.
Robin assumes that's her problem too. Yikes, if that is the way she talks all the time, no wonder she drives the others batty.
I think Jenn is OK because at least hers tasted good. It sounded as though Mike I's and Robin's were not tasty.
YES!!!!! Then again, that leaves Robin there one more episode. Yep, this season's Wendy, Lisa, etc.
Previews: ruh-roh, is Michael in trouble? I think he's a donkey, but he is very talented, so I'd hate to see him go. Of course, it's never the person they feature in the previews...is it?
Today my personal trainer had me do that swim thing Robin did a couple of eps ago. It's surprisingly hard. Works out your lower back in a good way. Of course you'll be moaning in agony if you do it more than 30 seconds. But the PT gave it her own sadistic twist. 30 seconds of "swimming" followed by 10 seconds holding in one place -- three times. And then three sets of it. My back will be hurting tomorrow. At least it will help me with the bow poses in Bikram yoga.
What is up with Padma and onesies? Her quickfire clothes have been remarkably ugly this season. Hey, Eli, ever heard of TVLand. Gilligan's Island lives on your 52-inch tv. Not that I'd ever watch it.
If looks could kill, Kevin would be dead, dead, dead, judging from the lasers shooting from Bryan's eyes. The restaurants of Bryan and Mike I, by the way, were just named among the top 50 restaurants in DC area by Washington Post critic Tom Sietsama. From the description of the food, Bryan's very inventive on his own.
They're planning meat dishes...little do they know they're cooking for a vegetarian, or maybe even a vegan. Natalie Portman's column in the Huff Post was pretty offensive, drawing a parallel about speaking out about eating meat to your host to whether you should speak out if your host is a rapist. Huh? This also coming from someone who signed the petition supporting Roman Polanski.
Hmm, almost everyone seems in the weeds. So Robin and Mike I are the confident ones about cooking a vegetarian meal. That's usually the kiss of death. I'm guessing Mike I is in worse trouble because his leeks look uuuuuuggggleeeeee. (hee-hee, hoho, haha, will he be going home?) And yes, his leeks were undercooked.
But then Jen once again is showing a lack of confidence because of the eggplants she had to use, so who knows.
Ok, maybe it would have been better for Robin if she hadn't served her garbanzo beans!
The guest chef is hilarious and I wish had spent less time ruminating and more time paying attention.
Michael gets another Picasso ref. So he's an artist.
Well, at least Jenn's was delish.
Oooooo, dirty double-entendres! For robotically handsome Bryan's dish!
Kevin's definitely doesn't look pretty but it sounds as though it's pretty filling. But Natalie is now a vegan, so all that butter would have gone to waste on her now.
What was Eli's again? Something eggplant. I think he got good reviews.
So the chef is someone I haven't heard of, so it doesn't matter that I didn't catch his name during QF. Yeah, Kevin's a man who likes his food. We couldn't guess?
Kevin wins again! Though he keeps winning the crappy prizes.
Michael, you are Jekyll & Hyde. Sore loserman.
Robin assumes that's her problem too. Yikes, if that is the way she talks all the time, no wonder she drives the others batty.
I think Jenn is OK because at least hers tasted good. It sounded as though Mike I's and Robin's were not tasty.
YES!!!!! Then again, that leaves Robin there one more episode. Yep, this season's Wendy, Lisa, etc.
Previews: ruh-roh, is Michael in trouble? I think he's a donkey, but he is very talented, so I'd hate to see him go. Of course, it's never the person they feature in the previews...is it?
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