Top Chef 4-19

[KristiB]

Miguel's time was definitely up. I'm suprised Dave won the challenge. I'm even more suprised he didn't can-can out of the room.

STFU Stephen!! Just pour my wine and bring my food! I don't care where Rojas is or how far it is from that other place in Spain.

some of the words used to describe Stephen on this last episode on the blog of the show at Bravotv.comtopchef:

1.alien
2.pod-person
3.plant
4.Ed grimley
5.hunchback
6.pee wee herman
7.plastic
8.clone
9. rooster head
10.autistic savant

[schuh]

I really thought (and was hoping) this episode was leading up to Stephen leaving.

I don't know why Miguel was raked over the coals for "just cooking" when Harold freely said he "just cooked." You can't have three "top chefs" and get something done that quickly! Plus the downfall of their "restaurant" was the service, not the food. I was really disappointed with that result.

I was glad for Dave for winning the challenge. I'll be curious to see what the fallout with Tiffany is.

[Peweh]

I was really disappointed Stephen didn't get the hook too! IMO Miguel contributed way more and most of the complaints were regarding service. Granted Miguel should've gotten the fish scaled but it was Lea Ann that scaled it after all so her fault the Chef got scales on his fish. Stephen must go! He wasted SOOOOO much time at the restaurant supply store...

[luvtocook]

I think Katie Joel was doing her best to point the finger at Stephen when she kept bad-mouthing him for trying to "educate" the guests. I believe she called him arrogant! I guess she didn't fight hard enough. I, too, thought Stephen was out the door this week and could barely contain my excitement. Maybe next week...it seems inevitable to me.

Linda

[Dfen911]

I agree, I think this should have been the episode where Stephan had to pack his knives.

His arrogance "They and I quote LOVED IT. I don't think they'd lie and just say that."

Um..Stephan..yeah..they would..and did get over it. But he did not contribute much to this task at all. Lee Ann had the food ready to go out but Stephan was too busy listening to the sound of his own voice.

However, Miguel was on his last legs. He just doesn't have the experience and kept missing the mark. Case in point the sandwich task.

He also didn't pay attention to the price of the fish, or make sure it was scaled. I kinda felt for Lee Ann having to pick up the slack of both the boys. At least she stepped up and tried to get it done.

[mrswaz]

When the judges were conferring, I was so worried they were going to send Lee Ann home. That would have been undeserving.

I do think they made the right decision sending Miguel home. While I don't particularily care for Stephen, I think the candidates that are left are all of a fairly same caliber, and it should be a fair fight. (Provided Dave can keep his act together.)

I think the difference with Harold and Miguel is that Harold said he "just cooked". Miguel actually said "I was the sous chef."

I still like Harold or Lee Ann to win. I'm really looking forward to next week. I am already appalled with Tiffany...boxed cake mix? For a wedding? I am not a pastry chef myself, but when I made my sisters wedding cake, I sure as skippy made a scratch cake. It will be fun to see.

[Canice]

I do believe this is the first episode without any "skid marks" across the serving plates! :eek:

I'm another who felt it was Miguels time. I kind of liked him, in a funky way, but he really HAD gone into passive mode. Even though Harold said he himself "just cooked," he didn't make any mistakes, much less CHEF'S mistakes as Miguel did. Harold did his executional/line work well, even if he wasn't a tremendous creative force. Miguel, on the other hand, should have read and/or recognized the fish prices, and asked the fish monger to do the scaling. I think it's misguided to put the "scaley fish" blame on Lee Ann when she was already chef de cuisine and running the line, too. She was clearly in charge, and looking to Miguel and Harold to do the back work. Also, Miguel should have known that a "sandwich" by definition is going to require a couple of slices of bread and portability. :rolleyes: I don't think that oversight helped him at all.

I would argue that Stephen ("pod person" is perfect!), even in his own train-wreck way, DID contribute more than Miguel. He did put together an ambience as best he could, and added a level of (tiresome and drawn out) sophistication. But I don't think Miguel actually ADDED anything to the diners' experience. 'cept the fish scales. You have to ask, "how were the diners' experiences enhanced by Miguel's contribution?"

I think Harold is arrogant but fair. And maybe he has no desire to go to Cannes! (I know I don't.) I also think it's challenging to argue that "new American classics" is a compelling notion, so *something* had to set them aside...I think the communal table, perfect roast chicken, and warm and attentive server could do that.

I actually DO understand why Dave won: The diners rated the warm and informative service highly, and if you read Gail's blog, she mentions that Dave's performance and the customers' responses were mostly cut. So it would make sense that Dave would be selected - as Colicchio himself noted, memories of service outlast memories of food.
I *like* Harold, but think Lee Ann is probably the "top chef". Will be curious to get the full story on Tiffani and the BOXED cakes!

If anyone's missed Gail's (feel the cool arctic breeze) or Tom's ("so what's your point?") blog, you can check them out here (http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/Episodes/Episode_7/Blogs/).

[Hammster]

Another great episode. I think it was Miguel's time to go. He had been at the loser's table a lot and also wasn't showing any signs of what it takes to be a Top Chef. He just sat back and let Lee Anne and Stephen run the show and didn't fight for himself at all. He could also have made a lot of points by offering to scale the fish himself instead of letting Lee Anne do it. He made the mistake, he should have fixed it.
What I did find confusing, I guess, is that if the winning team won on service, primarily, and Dave got to go to Canne's, why didn't Stephen go home on the losing team? It seems the judge's criteria changed between the teams. I guess it's because Stephen took a leader role in the dining room, even though the service was lousy, and Miguel didn't take any leadership role at all and also didn't step up to make sure the fish was right.

And....... I absolutely can't wait to see the fallout from using boxed cake mixes.
:D

[Jazzmatazz49]

I think the reason Miguel went home was that his accumulated "points" were lower. Steven has to be next though.

I wonder if they couldn't have gotten away with using boxed cake mix if the boxes had been hidden better. ;) Maybe not, but I've had cake mix cakes that were excellent. I'm a philistine, I know.

[mrswaz]

Thank you for sharing those links Canice! I never read the blogs before, and now I have something to do for the next few days while waiting for the next episode.

(I am obsessed with Top Chef- I think it's my favorite show right now! Anyone else?)

[stacy7272]

Yes, this is the show that I most look forward to watching.

I think the top contenders are Tiffani, Harold, and LeAnne and I really don't know which would win. I think the person with the most complete package is LeAnne because she has the best people skills. I believe it was the first episode where she excelled in the real kitchen and Tom said that he would hire her. What these other folks don't get is that they are not islands - they need to be able to work with the other people in the kitchen.

Tiffani really bothered me during this episode when she was explaining why she should go to Cannes. She quickly turned it into dogging the other people saying she could have made some of the food as well as Harold and she could have given service as well as Dave. Enough of what you could have done, what about what you actually did?

[Canice]

I agree, Lee Ann is the one I would select. She's obviously qualified culinarily, but she's also got real leadership skills, and if chef is chief, that should count big. She's also very good at being detached from her emotions and opinions about the drills, and that serves her well. So WHAT if you don't want to cook for kids? So WHAT if you don't want to shop at the store you're sent to? You gotta work with the audience and resources you're given.