Anyone Else Watching Top Chef on Bravo?

[barbara-cook]

This is a great cooking entertainment show along the lines of "Apprentice", "Survivor", "Project Runway", etc. I've watched two episodes of it and am hooked!

How do you think you would do on a show like this? They'd never have me as a "contestant" because I'd have to have a couple of library carts for all my cookbooks!

Tune in, it's fun, funny, and addicting!

[HealthyinMN]

There was some discussion here if you are interested! :)

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=85788&highlight=Bravo

[melfitz]

I've been watching it. I just have a question. Why is it OK for the chefs on Iron Chef America to taste their food with their fingers while their cooking (and they do it all of the time), but the guy was booted for it during the first episode? It is really unsanitary. I really don't care for Tiffani. She definitely seems to think she's better than everyone else. Same for the sommelier (can't think of his name), but for some reason I like him more, at this point. Don't have any favorites, yet.

[madpots]

I really like the program. I used to enjoy the Apprentice, but after Trump was so ugly to Martha Stewart I don't watch it!
I really don't like Tiffany's attitude - she thinks she is the best and then she was so nasty to the girl whose oven was turned off early.
The first fellow needed to go - he was too disruptive. I agree the judges don't seem to have much personality. I'm surprised they let Cynthia stay on when they had to bleep so much of her language, but this week I thought there was too much about her father. Its sad, but all that crying made me feel bad and should have been left out.

[KristiB]

The biggest problem I have with this show is Katie Joel. She has zero personality on the show. Yawn. Where's Gordon Ramsay??

I've worked in several restaurants and chefs taste with their fingers. Otherwise they'd go through 50,000 spoons a night. They're also constantly washing their hands.

I didn't think the last show was sexy at all! It was more about catering a weird party than being a chef.

I don't like that arrogant little snot weasel sommelier Stephen. Did you see his face when he didn't win the final challenge even though he had immunity? He couldn't be happy for Miguel. He even admitted he didn't taste any of the things he put in the glasses on the first challenge and the ingredients wouldn't taste right-like strawberries and salt. I think that's worse than putting inedible garnish on a plate because people know not to eat the top of a freakin' pineapple! I hope his next dish burns. I hope his souffle falls. I hope someone labels his baking powder as baking soda. I am evil. :D

The model/chef Candice is horrible. Edible underwear? Puleeze!

I like Cynthia-she's like me. "Where the f*** is my Pommegranate?" is this shows "Where the f*** is my chiffon?" But she needs to go home and be with her dad.

Miguels face was classic everytime he saw the dominatrix. I guess we know he likes it kinky although he really should have kept his shirt on.

I'm rooting for Harold, LeeAnne and Brian.

[jjsooner73]

The biggest problem I have with this show is Katie Joel. She has zero personality on the show. Yawn. Where's Gordon Ramsay??

I didn't think the last show was sexy at all! It was more about catering a weird party than being a chef.

The model/chef Candice is horrible. Edible underwear? Puleeze!


I agree w/ you about Katie. Ho-hum....she adds NOTHING!
My favorite is actually Tiffany.
I'm glad I forgot to tell a student of mine (7th grade, wants to be a chef) about this show. I can just see his mom calling me and asking me what in the heck was I thinking if he'd tuned in for the sex show!

[barbara-cook]

Katie is Billy Joel's wife? Boy, I do live in a cave. And I agree - she is rather blah. Cynthia is a mess, but she's really got some personality. Tiffany is someone I wouldn't want to cook or do anything else with! Brat. And Stephen acts like he's superior to everyone else. We'll see how far he gets without tasting anything.

Can't wait for this week's show.

[funnybone]

I have the episodes tivo's so far, but am looking forward to watching them.

[nowimcooking]

Well I guess I'm in the minority here. I'lll say it....I like Tiffany! And I think she knows her stuff. She was so professional in presenting her pumpkin lasagna dish in the first episode. I wouldn't say I'd necessarily be friends with her IRL, but her food has looked good and been creative. And she was awesome working the line with Chef Hubert.

I think Leann is a strong contender also, but I really don't like her personality as much as Tiffany. She's sorta whiny.

Miguel cracks me up and everyone has liked his food both weeks. I think he could make final three.

I have caught the last 40 or so minutes of the sex shop episode three times, but have never caught the beginning to know what the elimination challenge was. Hopefully I can catch that soon! :)

Can I just say that I LOVE this show!

[PAMMELA]

The elimination challenge was for them to be creative in plating a basket of fruit. Stephen won (can't stand his smug superior looks) and therefore he can't have been eliminated yesterday (too bad). I like Tiffany too...not sure yet who i'm hoping will win - so far just enjoying the show!

[mrswaz]

I am enjoying this show too!!! I really didn't think that a lot of the contestants brought out "sexy" dishes for the last one. And I totally agreed with the choice to go home. Even though she had an explanation for the nuts being a source of energy...PB balls are sooo holiday cookie tray and not even remotely sexy. I would have liked to see someone put together an actual aphrodisiac dessert- or a play on that.

OMG- Gordon Ramsey would have been a perfect host for this! And the guy who watches over them and checks in on them needs to have a little more personality. I really like the concept of the Quickfire Challenges, having the mini challenge before the big challenege, very nicely done, IMO.

I kinda like Tiffani too. She is a little smug for me, but I definitely appreciate her dishes. So far though I'm pulling for Harold.

[KristiB]

Well Tiffani got chided for her attitude-yea!! I doubt she'll change though.

And Stephen is just a total a$$

I was sorry Cynthia had to go but I'm glad Andrea is back. I doubt she'll be around long but I like her food philosophy.

[mrswaz]

Oh gosh yes.

After the last one, I completely changed my thoughts on Tiffani. She was unbelievable with that mouth of hers. I so wished the judges would chaneg the rules and boot ehr anyways. Stephen is in the same class as her I think.

I felt bad that Cynthia had to leave the show, but I am so glad for her that she did, otherwise she may have regretted that forever. I think the producers did the right thing in bringing Andrea back to replace her. Hopefully she does a little better with a second shot.

[nowimcooking]

Okay, don't throw rotten tomatoes at me.....but I couldn't disagree with Tiffani this week. I think this challenge sucked (with a capital S). She's right that most of the kids in this country eat (and prefer) greasy, unhealthy food. They don't have refined palates and that's what all of these contestants are about. I get the point of the challenge -- pleasing the customer no matter what and making something "yucky" fun and edible -- but I thought it was a waste of everyone's skills and that it simply came down to whose team did a better job of interacting with the kids. She got a bit snotty with the judges, but I would probably have been mad after that challenge as well. Honestly, I think they should have changed the rules and not sent ANYONE home. This challenge was the worst I can think of in reality show history. I mean having them all "dumb-down" their skills to make corn "dogs" and fish fingers accompanied by brightly colored yogurt, chips, etc.?????....ugh, give me a break.

Alright....rant over. :D

Oh, and also I don't think the show is as exciting or as fun when they work in teams (but I guess they want those fireworks in the kitchen as with Stephen & Candace). I really enjoy seeing each person's technique and skills in the kitchen -- I guess we got that in the quickfire challenge this week, though.

[stacy7272]

Okay, don't throw rotten tomatoes at me.....but I couldn't disagree with Tiffani this week. I think this challenge sucked (with a capital S). She's right that most of the kids in this country eat (and prefer) greasy, unhealthy food. They don't have refined palates and that's what all of these contestants are about. I get the point of the challenge -- pleasing the customer no matter what and making something "yucky" fun and edible -- but I thought it was a waste of everyone's skills and that it simply came down to whose team did a better job of interacting with the kids. She got a bit snotty with the judges, but I would probably have been mad after that challenge as well. Honestly, I think they should have changed the rules and not sent ANYONE home. This challenge was the worst I can think of in reality show history. I mean having them all "dumb-down" their skills to make corn "dogs" and fish fingers accompanied by brightly colored yogurt, chips, etc.?????....ugh, give me a break.

Alright....rant over. :D

First off, Tiffany didn't say MOST kids, she said ALL kids which wasn't even true for this group of kids. Many complained of the overcooked carrots (which surprised me).

Second, it is a skill for a chef to be able to shape their cooking to their clients' desires. A skill that many of these chefs obviously have to work on. I admired Tiffany for not wanting to put food coloring in the food, that is great - I don't think health should be compromised. But it isn't so bad to use creativity to see how you can please a client with healthy food. She just wouldn't accept that they are kids and they want food to be fun. They aren't adults and they won't appreciate food in adult ways. It is a fact - accept it Tiffany! I don't think this challenge "dumbs down" anyone - I think it would expand their talents and make them much more valuable at chefs. C'mon, we all know that many adults that will be frequenting their restaurants still eat like children and it is in their best interest to please them.

A problem that these snotty chefs have right now is that they believe that their opinions are facts that should apply to everyone. Yes, people out there like ketchup (or whatever else they complain about) and just because they don't doesn't mean that it is evil and nobody else should enjoy it.

[nowimcooking]

A problem that these snotty chefs have right now is that they believe that their opinions are facts that should apply to everyone. Yes, people out there like ketchup (or whatever else they complain about) and just because they don't doesn't mean that it is evil and nobody else should enjoy it.

I don't disagree....ketchup is not evil and anyone who wants to enjoy it can do so freely (and I don't think that was the point of Tiffani's comment). But the fact is that this competition is entitled "Top Chef." The ability to make corn dogs and fish sticks for kids does not a top chef make, in my opinion.

Also, Tiffani was the first to say that they aren't adults and they wouldn't enjoy her food -- because that's not who she cooks for. And that's my whole point!

And, in most cases, I think adult diners who want burgers & fries, or pub food (okay, that is my slanted view of "eating like children"), can and would just choose NOT to go to the type of restaurant that chef might work in. If you are the caliber of chef who can work at, say, the French Laundry, or if you've worked with Charlie Trotter, you just wouldn't go back to slinging burgers and frying chicken fingers at the local greasy spoon.

[melfitz]

I really enjoyed this challenge. It gave them an opportunity to cook in a genre they most likely won't do for a career and, hence, making it a great challenge. I look at it like American Idol - most of the singers won't be singing 50s, Stevie Wonder, or whatever unusual genre the show chooses for the week. The competition wants to see if the singers can adapt their talent to different situtations. Same principal applies to Top Chef. As in the previous episode, most of them most likely won't be doing sexy cooking but it was their challenge to adapt their talent to that particular situation. Same goes for this week's challenge with the kids.

[schuh]

I don't like that arrogant little snot weasel sommelier Stephen.


I couldn't have said this better! The group is pretty unlikeable as a whole, but he's the worst.

I personally don't see how the kid challenge was any less relevant to the chefs than sexy food for a fetish shop. That manager for the sex challenge chose her winners by their sexy interaction with her as much as by their food -- no different from the kids being influenced by their interaction with the teams.

It's surprising to me that the chefs had more of a problem with the kid challenge than the fetish store challenge. Tiffany's 'tude would have been much more understandable to me if she complained about having to "ho" it up to sell her food.

[cminmd]

Chef's need to be versitile. When I worked at a restaurant one of the big wig customers asked the chef to cater his twins 5th birthday party. The chef did it with a smile. These were great customers that come at least twice a month to dinner and the comedy club, they have holiday parties at the club and events catered at their home. If it took food coloring and cookie cutters to make them happy- so be it! If you send them to another chef to get their needs met, you are giving another chef a perfect opportunity to steal your clients!

I was annoyed that the only one of the team that attempted to bond with the kids was the one who was sent home. Rude. Maybe he overcooked his carrots, but at least he talked to a kid. I think he was a few years off the mark. Nowadays kids are so used to eating the carrots raw with dip that they are used to the crunch. My kids love candied carrots, but I cut them into ribbons with a veggie peeler and cook them quickly with orange juice, honey and cloves.