Top Chef

[topher]

Come on, I can't be the only one.

I so want to try the pumpkin lasagna.

Who is the host? She looks so familiar.

Douche Bag was used in the highlights. I am so hooked.

[anne]

It took me three times watching the premiere (due to my schedule more than the quality of the show) to get hooked, but I think I am. I'll defniitely continue watching it, if for no other reason than because they got rid of the "santino" character on the first episode instaed of keeping him around for good TV.

In comparison to the fake BS of Hell's Kitchen, I think this show is MUCH better. I'm a little skeptical, just because with a cooking competition, it's hard to determine who is doing the best when you can't cook the creations. But they did a nice job of explaining some of the needs of a professional kitchen (the shoes you have to wear, not putting your hands in your mouth, etc) and made a lot of the judging about the presentation which we could relate to.

don't have a favorite to win yet, but I'll keep on watching.

I have never seen the host before. Not sure who she is.

[Deleted]

The host is Mrs. Billy Joel. From Bravo's website:

Katie Lee Joel will host this inside look at the inspired and fiercely competitive world of the culinary arts. Married to music icon Billy Joel, Katie's lifelong passion for cuisine began at an early age when she first learned to cook from her grandmother while growing up in West Virginia.

(Watch? Je suis Canadienne, and must wait until someone up here picks it up and gets around to airing it.)

[anne]

If the wine guy from Nob Hill in Las Vegas doesn't lose something and lose it big soon, I'm going to flip. His ego and sense of entitlement is really getting on my nerves.

[InchoateDetails]

anne did you notice how his forhead burrowed when he heard he didn't win? Kinda like he thought, "Hmmm, I? Didn't? Win? Huh?" I can't wait for his blow up with the model/chef because she sucks and should leave the show. I also didn't like Tiffani's necklaces. I mean do you want crumbs falling down your latex dress wheil some munches your neck?

[anne]

Oh I saw the forehead! That's when I made the promise that I'd cheer so loud that he'd hear me in Vegas whenever he gets booted.

I liked the idea of Tiffani's necklaces, and like that they were at least creative, but I didn't like them in practice. I'm very mixed on her. I like her competitiveness, but there is a line between wating to beat your competition, and wanting to destroy your competiton both in the competition and in their day to day lives for even daring to go up against you. Tiffani would benefit from identifying that line and committing to not crossing it.

[topher]

IMO, the one guy got robbed in the fruit competition.

[anne]

The one that made the fruit look like a sushi plate? I agree.

[Deleted]

anne said:

If the wine guy from Nob Hill in Las Vegas doesn't lose something and lose it big soon, I'm going to flip. His ego and sense of entitlement is really getting on my nerves.

YES!! Dear sweet god he really does look as if he has a stick up his ass.

As for Tiffani, I have to give the girl credit that she has some serious drive, but there is a fine line between competitive drive and uber-bitch in reality TV land. I think I may be a little in love with Miguel's personality after his hilarious getup last night. He totally got that the people at Mr. S were all about fun and sex, and even though I would of also rather him kept a shirt on, I think his wackiness combinded with a really awesome dessert combo won it over snob nosed Stephen.

[kafka]

Love this show. But I'm not sure I can squash down the bile I feel whenever I see Stephen. He makes me want to throw something at the television.

On a shallow note, his face transfixes me. And not in a good way either. The other day, I actually froze the recording at 6 different points to stare at the weird juxtaposition of all his features. And those strange bow-shaped lips.... seriously like something out of a Regency romance novel's description. Of the heroine. Then there is his expression of pained constipation, which messes up his features even more. <twitch>

As for Tiffani, I think she'll clearly be in the final two but won't be selected because of her ghastly attitude. She should marry Stephen. Their snobbishness, arrogance and sense of superiority comes out in different ways but they're really two of a kind. Except he's got trout lips; and she has none.