Top Chef Texas Running Commentary

I might have missed the thread, but there must be more than me keeping an eye on Edward Lee's competition in Top Chef Texas.

I thought he got hosed in the last episode on the "survival kit quickfire". Difficult to taste through the TV screen even as hard as I try. Everything tastes smooth, slick and has the same bland flavor regardless of the show.

I am a vienna sausage lover so maybe I would have preferred the winner's dish.

He's made it to the last eleven.

Even if he wasn't from the home team, Edward would definitely be my favorite contestant on the show. I think that he will go far in the competition and his sense of humor is awesome! I love his Asian-inspired Southern fare (or is it Southern-inspired Asian fare? ). He cooks the food that is in my head! The duck chawanmushi he made in the second episode looked incredible.

I, too, think that he got HOSED in that challenge. I think he put it best when saying that it must have been one hell of a sandwich because it didn't look or sound very appealing at all.

Ed made it through seemingly by the skin of his teeth, relegated to the bottom three chefs in the elimination challenge. Actually I think there was a wide margin between he and the other two of that group.

The chef that was eliminated served raw potato au gratin. The third grilled the steaks and did not grill them medium-rare as specified, serving a medium well to Dean Fearing the guest judge.

You can't miss the resemblance to his brother Greg from Gary's on Spring.

I didn't catch the "why" Ed ended up in the bottom three. Was it because it was his recipe for the sirloin salad course? The judges didn't say it was bad, they just said it could have been great and they were looking for more.

The salad was referred to as "boring." You can never bore the judges on these shows. Also, one judge said the cherry tomatoes should have been peeled. Seriously? No way.

The judges try to make themselves look like pompous cooking gods when commenting on the food more than is necessary... probably for ratings. It's unfortunate because they are surely qualified to provide legitimate constructive criticism. Edward comes through as one of the more likable and normal (read sane) competitors.

Edward needs to step up his game. He's spent most of the challenges in the middle and seems headed the wrong direction.

He needs a win and soon. Far too talented a chef to not be in the top 3 frequently.

Well Ed did step up his game in the last episode, winning $5,000 in a team competition with his partner Ty-lor Boring.

These competitions have an element of luck in them in addition to requiring serious chef skills. A lot depends what course, what "secret ingredient" or which teammates you get.

The challenge was wild game and Ed got the Quail. I think this gave him an advantage over the heavier meats such as Elk. Maybe the chefs and serious cooks on here can say whether this is a valid observation or not.

The pressure must be enormous because the loser served raw chops. They know how to cook meat, I'm sure. It has to be they just crack under the pressure.

I think there are only 10 chefs left. The preview led me to believe Ed might be in trouble again.

One unintended consequence of watching this show is that I was planning to visit Moto in Chicago some time in the future. After watching their executive chef Chris, now I'm not so excited about it. He has suffered some major snafus. I preferred my idealized version of Moto's Chef.

I think there are only 10 chefs left. The preview led me to believe Ed might be in trouble again.

My gf came to the same conclusion based on the preview.

One unintended consequence of watching this show is that I was planning to visit Moto in Chicago some time in the future. After watching their executive chef Chris, now I'm not so excited about it. He has suffered some major snafus. I preferred my idealized version of Moto's Chef.

I wouldn't let some producer-shaped-and-edited reality show shift your perspective.

One unintended consequence of watching this show is that I was planning to visit Moto in Chicago some time in the future. After watching their executive chef Chris, now I'm not so excited about it. He has suffered some major snafus. I preferred my idealized version of Moto's Chef.

If you haven't already been, you should definitely go to Alinea.

One unintended consequence of watching this show is that I was planning to visit Moto in Chicago some time in the future. After watching their executive chef Chris, now I'm not so excited about it. He has suffered some major snafus. I preferred my idealized version of Moto's Chef.

I wouldn't let some producer-shaped-and-edited reality show shift your perspective.

That's a good point. Chef Chris' performance is also colored by the circumstances. In his own restaurant he has the time to plan, create and cook well reasoned dishes. I'm sure the experience at Moto would be very different from his dishes on this show.

Ed's now landed in the top 3 two weeks in a row, so I'm hoping this means things are looking up for him....

I think we get a new episode this week. I hope he has overcome his opening jitters, bad luck etc. He will need to. There are a bunch of good chefs in there with him.

OK...this is probably going to get me some negative comments but where is Ed a chef? I thought he was in Louisville. I am pretty sure I saw him Friday morning in Louisville...please let me know so I can visit his restaurant. I remember someone recommending his restaurant for a 7 course dinner service for a party....If I recall correctly.

Thanks!

610 Magnolia. Pretty awesome food there!

Tim T
If you are going to Moto, I suggest a very thick wallet, lots of patience and quite frankly with all that said, it was a large disappointment. I would agree Alinea being a much better choice