Top Chef

[topher]

We don't have any proof of who cheated.

Could be the dumbest statement ever. You have 18 freakin' cameras taping everything. How can you say you have no proof?

[Deleted]

I actually know one of the nutritionists who was on the show judging the calorie counting. I'm a little annoyed that they didn't say their names or anything. That's hella annoying. But she said she had fun taping so that's something. I guess.

[indygirl]

No kidding. Check the tapes.

I think the people who used the olive oil deserved to be chastised even more than Betty--provided Betty was telling the truth about misunderstanding the rules.

Josie sure lost her "I love everybody" attitude tonight.

How does Sam get to say "I don't want to be that guy" after he was in fact "that guy"? And I did love Mia mentioning that only those in the judges' room knew what was said. Perhaps an attempt to keep the others from revealing that she named Betty as a cheater?

Off Topic: Has anyone been watching BBC America's Masterchef Goes Large? It's the same basic premise--to find a great undiscovered talent. But I just like the competitions so much more. In the first rounds all the contestants go through three heats. First they prepare a recipe using ingredients picked by the show. Then they work the line in a busy restaurant. One is cut, then the others prepare another 3 course meal of their own design. One person is slected to move on to semis. During the semis, the final four went throug a week's worth of challenges, including preparing pastries for a party, cooking for the Corrs, catering, cooking for the army, cooking for top food critics, etc. And every show has 3 stages. First they attempt a classic recipe, second they attend a masterclass with an established chef (where they actually learn something!), and finally the big challenge. The two judges spend a week tasting their food and watching them work before narrowing it down to 3 finalists. And when they judge--we watch them taste the food and give immediate feedback to the contestants.

Excellent show--no gimmicks. Just cooking.

[pamster]

indygirl said:

Off Topic: Has anyone been watching BBC America's Masterchef Goes Large? It's the same basic premise--to find a great undiscovered talent. But I just like the competitions so much more. In the first rounds all the contestants go through three heats. First they prepare a recipe using ingredients picked by the show. Then they work the line in a busy restaurant. One is cut, then the others prepare another 3 course meal of their own design. One person is slected to move on to semis. During the semis, the final four went throug a week's worth of challenges, including preparing pastries for a party, cooking for the Corrs, catering, cooking for the army, cooking for top food critics, etc. And every show has 3 stages. First they attempt a classic recipe, second they attend a masterclass with an established chef (where they actually learn something!), and finally the big challenge. The two judges spend a week tasting their food and watching them work before narrowing it down to 3 finalists. And when they judge--we watch them taste the food and give immediate feedback to the contestants.

Excellent show--no gimmicks. Just cooking.

Abolutely! I have seen every ep of Masterchef Goes Large and I think it's better than Top Chef. I appreciate how they can get the point across without the thumpy emphasis drums and extra added DRAMA everywhere. In a half hour.

[topher]

Masterchef Goes Large, what? How has no one mentioned this before? When is it on? Why hasn't anyone started a thread on it?

[pamster]

topher said:

Masterchef Goes Large, what? How has no one mentioned this before? When is it on? Why hasn't anyone started a thread on it?

It's on BBCAmerica at 9am, 12pm and 6:30pm. They have been having marathons on Sunday afternoons of the previous week's eps. There are only a couple of new eps left until they pick the Masterchef, though. They might show the whole thing again; they do that a lot with their programming.

[topher]

Thanks, Pamster.

[scarlet]

indygirl said:

No kidding. Check the tapes.

I think the people who used the olive oil deserved to be chastised even more than Betty--provided Betty was telling the truth about misunderstanding the rules.

Yeah, they show them cooking, Sam makes that comment while they're cooking, and yet we never see a camera cut to anyone doing this with the olive oil. Very strange.

As to Betty, I have to re-watch, but I was honestly confused by the problem, too, so I could see where maybe it wasn't clear. Adding that amount of sugar wasn't going to put her over the 500 calorie mark, so I do think it was an honest mistake.

And, you know, Mia can stick up for Mike all she wants, I agree with the judges: the guy acts like he doesn't care at all.

[topher]

The problem with Betty is that she used Splenda day one and sugar day 2.

[india7]

Yes. The rules (from what I understand, and I'm not even on the show!) were that the dietician didn't just lock in the number of calories, but they locked in that specific recipe in order to maintain that number of calories.