Top Chef

[kafka]

indygirl said:

I really admired how Lee Ann praised Dave so graciously. And How she accepted responsibility for the overall lackluster meal. Of course, I don't think when she was planning her meal she realized just how little time would be alloted to the preparation of the dinner. They were really set up to fail on this one.

Thank god, you replied, Indygirl, because I've been dyyyyyyingg to discuss this episode. I completely agree on Lee Ann and how gracious she is. I was also really irritated by the slams against her for her menu. Excuse me, when she was writing it, she wasn't told she had less than 16 hrs to execute it! Talk about unfair. Especially for Stephen to try to use that against her. What I don't understand so much is why the judges also seemed to blame her for over-reaching. People, don't you remember the task as it happened?! Sheesh.

Tiffani learned nothing from the monk fish challenge. Since when should wedding guests be prepared to accept meals that are of a lesser quality than those found in a restaurant?

Tiffani is just as much as snob as Stephen; she's merely less obsessed and obvious about wine, so her arrogance slides (slightly) more under the surface. Even Harold muttered (and continues to mutter) about cooking for children or the lowliness of the convenience store challenge. As much as I like Harold, Lee Ann is the most professional, dedicated and non-prima-donna-ish of the lot. I really hope she wins. (Especially if it gives a flying backhand to Tiffani "Yes, I contributed. I shared my secret restaurant name with all of you. I 'sacrificed' American Workshop to win" I'maStar.)

I almost clapped when Harold jumped to Lee Ann's defense at the judges' table. And again at the end when he said he wasn't going to let her go out like that! Harold luuurves Lee Ann! And I lurve Harold--grumpy, exasperated Harold (especially when he wears those glasses)! Rowrrr!

I didn't clap. I thought his sotto voce defense of Lee Ann was pretty pathetic given his oft-said exasperation with Stephen in this episode. Even during the supposed confrontation, he seemed to say nothing, while his "after the fact" explanation was full of supposed indignation. But at the time? Nada.

By the same token, I think his half-assed defense of Lee Ann was barely anything warranted by the situation. Given that the judges seemed (from the edited portions at least) to be seriously weighing Lee Ann's fate and questioning if she was more culpable than Stephen, his mumbled comments were hardly a vociferous defense. He didn't say anything of the things that he was so quick to say in "after the fact" interviews.

Frankly, if Lee Ann hadn't showed incredible potential in all the prior episodes, I doubt his bland-to-the-point-of-nonexistent 3 lines would have done nothing to save her.

So, yes, he's somewhat loyal, but he's also incredibly weak, imo. That said, I hope he's in the final 2. He's cute, unbelievably talented, dedicated and a generally nice chap.

[Deleted]

Soooo glad insufferable Stephen is gone. Such a pompous ass, and his smirky faces during Dave's presentation to the Scotts made me wanted to smack him upside the head. Plus he's got crazy eyes. Adios, Stephen!

I agree that the team was set up to fail at the task and that is one thing that disappointed me about this episode. These guys are clearly talented, and I like to see them get a chance to shine or fail on their own merits. However, I would have been interested to see how Dave's menu would have worked since he seemed to understand the catering aspect more than any of the others.

At this point I would be happy with anyone except Tiffani winning, and the previews made it look like she's gonna suck next week, so yay!

[FiggyPudding]

I completely agree on Lee Ann and how gracious she is. I was also really irritated by the slams against her for her menu. Excuse me, when she was writing it, she wasn't told she had less than 16 hrs to execute it! Talk about unfair. Especially for Stephen to try to use that against her. What I don't understand so much is why the judges also seemed to blame her for over-reaching. People, don't you remember the task as it happened?! Sheesh.

I agree!! Her menu would have been fine if they'd had more prep time, esp. if they had been able to get better ingredients than could be found at a grocery store. Although Dave was smart to point out it was quite ambitious. Lee Anne and Harold are still my favorites, if they don't make it to the final three in Las Vegas I don't know what I'll do.

So, yes, he's somewhat loyal, but he's also incredibly weak, imo. That said, I hope he's in the final 2. He's cute, unbelievably talented, dedicated and a generally nice chap.

You summed up my feelings for the most part, and I understand your criticisms. Harold is definitely a very low key guy, even when Tiffany and Dave were high-fiving at the end of Restaurant Wars, Harold seemed a bit embarrassed to even show his amusement; so I think this translates to his behavior overall.

I enjoy his camera time because he does come out a little more about his feelings. When he said "I'm taking the salmon. You're giving me the salmon. That's all there is to it." I bust out laughing. So sad, considering it was lesser grade fish that came out cold.

I was extrememly worried about his fate, and Lee Anne's. His salmon dish was the least favorite, and he told the judges he was the one who brought up cake mix (even though Lee Anne agreed in a milisecond, as did the others a few moments later, except Stephen). I'm sure his past record helped save him, as it did for Lee Anne. Whereas Stephen has shown a history of placing other concerns ahead of the kitchen.

[Deleted]

I was actually more pissed off at the judges last night. I found them much too hard on them given the circumstances and pretencious. I also found it odd they picked apart food that the guests and grooms loved. WTF?

Anyone else beam for the two grooms? I love seeing people happy together. It's all about the love baby, yea! ;D

[LurkerNan]

I wonder if Harold could have bought a better grade of salmon somewhere else, or whether they were limited to shopping at that one store. I thought they had a time limit, which suggests they were directed to shop only there. If so, the producers are responsible for the quality of the fish.

The producers are certainly responsible for setting up the chefs to cater a wedding in less than a day. I'm glad the chefs didn't take time to sleep, they worked straight through and barely had enough time to just slap something together as it was.

But the chefs need to take responsibility for not knowing the ingredients to creating a wedding cake from scratch. Baking is part of cooking too, and there was ample time for someone to take on that responsibility, if there was enough time for Stephen to choreograph the wait staff.

[Deleted]

I was telling my boyfriend last night that in all my years on working in restaurants and knowing chefs, none of them either liked or knew how to bake. If they did, it was not their forte..I was married to one and my brother is too, and they used to talk about it. It's odd, in cooking schools, baking is merely touched on. If you want to be a pastry chef, most everyone goes to a separate school that addresses just that.

So I was not surprised about the cake mix as everyone else is. It's just the nature of the business. If you notice, none of them like to bake or think they are good at it. it's because they are not really taught it in schools or restaurants it seems.

[Deleted]

Yay the arrogant jerk is gone! Granted Miguel wasn't one of my favorites, but at least he was in the kitchen working when the restaurant wars were on. And up to 30 minutes between courses so A-hole Stephen could explain some obscure fact to the customers that no one even cared about.

I was really worried about Lee Anne there for a minute. And WTF was with the judges blaming her for not stopping every thing she was doing to go and find him when he disappeared.

[bklynred]

The guest judge who pointed out the waiters' sweep of the tables got on my last nerve. I had to keep reminding myself about editing. I was seething that her compliment might save Stephen--who seemed stunned, and not even grateful for her encouraging words.

Is he the only contestant to leave without a comment to the judges? "Do you have anything to say, Stephen?" Just an icy "No" in response. I was wary of watching him pack his knives at the end as well...Chef Tom, watch your back! In the meantime, I'll sit here at home waiting for Stephen to bring momentous and miraculous changes never before seen in fine dining today in America.

[LurkerNan]

Oh, I forgot about his exit interview. Yes, he will single handedly bring about the new era of dining excellence...

What. An. Asshat.

[biondetta]

I just sat and watched the last two episodes back to back. That's almost too much Stephen all at once to deal with. I was so worried that Lee Anne or Harold was going to go before Stephen. Such a relief at the end. I think Stephen's lousy behavior toward the judges with his refusal to make any comment just makes him look bad professionally. Burn some bridges there, buddy!

I thought the wedding competition was ridiculous. They only had one hour to shop for ingredients and it was so late that the grocery store was the only option, considering the fact that they only had 16 hours to do everything for the reception. I think if any of the contestants had known how little time they'd have, they would have planned a different menu. I'm sure that the long hours and lack of sleep was bound to effect their senses by the time they had to actually cook and serve the food, too, so the lack of stronger flavors might have been a result of lack of sleep.

And because it can't be celebrated enough ...

Stephen's gone!!!!!!!!