Top Chef Texas Running Commentary

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

Is Alinea as pretentious in person as it plays on tv?

Based on this definition (Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.), I would say know. Everyone I have spoken to thought it was great.

A close friend of mine worked at the Chicago Board of Trade for one of the primary investors in Alinea. He knew I was way more into the restaurant scene than him, and tried to convince me to go many times, but at the time, I was kind of opposed to the whole molecular thing. By all reports of everyone I know who actually dined there, it was a paradigmatic dining experience, and worth it in every way. Also most people who I know who've dined at both Alinea and Moto but the former in a category that the latter does not even approach. But my understanding is the the best ticket in town up there continues to be Schwa, though Next is also supposed to be everything you might hope it to be. All of this ties into the other thread on Trotter's closing, and kind of shows why he may be moving on.

Is Alinea as pretentious in person as it plays on tv?

Not sure how it plays on TV but it can be a bit pretentious. I went 2 or 3 years ago and really enjoyed it. While I don't think it was my favorite meal ever, I really appreciated the flavors and creativity. Others in our group thought it was a bit over the top and would have been happier with more traditional foods. I wasn't really feeling the beverage program. Wines were all very esoteric unkowns that they charged dearly for, beer was very limited - Schlenkerla was the only one I remember.

Ed made it through by the skin of his teeth again in the BBQ challenge. He let his emotions get the best of him when one of his teammates he has issues with became ill and couldn't help during service. Either he was, or the editing made him appear at best a little prickly and at worst uncaring.The judges castigated him for slicing his brisket before service and placing it on a steam table instead of slicing to order. I believe Ed thought they would give him a pass because they were shorthanded.

He is in the final 8. Next week it will be team competition of men vs women. The previews show a catfight. We'll see.

I love BBQ. This episode helped me decide to get some Pink Flamingo brisket to eat while watching the bowl game tonight. My favorite in Louisville is Bootleg.

Ed made it to the final five after the most recent competition. It appeared he cooked his own goose on this one but got lucky and one of the others presented a dish worse than his.

The challenge was to cook a "Healthy" dish in honor of the sponsor "Healthy Choice". His dish of Korean rib on homemade bread wasn't good or healthy according to the judges.

When questioned about the healthy element of his dish Ed replied that substituting bread for rice was the secret. That did elicit some laughter from the judges. Editing is everything on television shows but it made it seem like he pretty much tried mailing this one in.

Ed made it to the final five after the most recent competition. It appeared he cooked his own goose on this one but got lucky and one of the others presented a dish worse than his.

The challenge was to cook a "Healthy" dish in honor of the sponsor "Healthy Choice". His dish of Korean rib on homemade bread wasn't good or healthy according to the judges.

When questioned about the healthy element of his dish Ed replied that substituting bread for rice was the secret. That did elicit some laughter from the judges. Editing is everything on television shows but it made it seem like he pretty much tried mailing this one in.

Honestly, Ed should have lost that one (and he admitted it himself). My take on this is Ed gets kicked to "last chance chef" in the next episode, beats his worshiper Bev (thankfully as she has only one trick in her bag), gets back in the mix, and wins it all (or at least a solid second). That's what my crystal ball says....it's TV and they know he's better and more well versed in different styles than the rest.

Last post on this topic as I'm sure you all know Ed lost, but I had to comment on how it went down.

He used canned oysters. Every chef on the show that used canned ingredients themselves was "canned".

Overall I thought he acquitted himself well on the show. It will add to my enjoyment the next time I am able to dine at 610. I'm coming home for a visit next month. If any on the list would like to help finance my next meal there I accept all donations!

Not to make excuses for Ed. But I found it unbelievable in a large market that Whole Paycheck did not have fresh oysters. He should have changed course, but I think he was confidant enough in his skills to slide by. His dish was fairly complicated and a nice Demi glaze or clam reduction would have done the trick. I hated seeing him go. He grew on the judges and I think everyone admired him and his quirky sense of humor. Nothing but upside though. All the chefs, even the real losers go on to some fame as spokespersons, or some other paying gig. I was amazed about his comment on how many youngsters watch the show. I thought it was all old couch potatoes like myself. Rock on Ed.

Now that Chef Lee is out of contention, I have been biting my tounge and it's time to tell it like it is.

This season of Top Chef has had some of the most ridiculous challenges that had absoultely nothing about the chef contestants culinary ability. Last night's episode was the worst yet. After watching the contestants ride around on bikes in 100+ degree Texas heat in a previous episode, the producers decided it was a good idea to make them chisel frozen ingredients out of 200 lb. blocks of ice with an ice pick.
Next I had to endure the pain of watching two people who have obviously have never been on skis before, attempt to perform one of the most difficult Winter Olympic events, the biathalon? So what does any of this have to do with showcasing the culinary talents of the contestants? That's why I don't watch Hell's Kitchen or really any other competition shows because they are obviously set up for failure.It's probably because some network jackhole thinks it makes for better TV.

To be perfectly honest, I was happy that Chef Ed wasn't subjected to this sorry spectacle. This show has now jumped the shark as far as I'm concerned.

Word. I thought that Top Chef was held to a little higher standard than the other reality shows, but I agree with Dan, last night was ridiculous to say the least. Random incidents and luck played into it more than culinary talent. I'm glad he wasn't subjected to the degradation of it all, and I suspect he might be glad as well. Give me "Chopped" any day.

I couldn't even continue watching last night. I just went to the website. I'm happy that Beverly's out, since she was about as likable as Marcel from a previous year. Although "Last Chance Kitchen" was an interesting idea, Ed and Beverly should have battled it out, too. Ed was the only eliminated chef who didn't get a "last chance."

And I liked Chopped better also, although the winners don't get quite the fame and certainly not the $$$.

The only way I will ever watch Padma and Tom Bite-my-dick-io is if they are paired up in a WWF friday-nite-tag-team-knuckle-drill-cage-match. I'd definitely do the pay per view to watch the likes of Rob Van Dam/Tommy Dreamer dismantle those two arrogant pricks.

I'd rather watch reruns of BBQ Pitmasters

Steve P, you really have to come out of your shell.

The only way I will ever watch Padma and Tom Bite-my-dick-io is if they are paired up in a WWF friday-nite-tag-team-knuckle-drill-cage-match. I'd definitely do the pay per view to watch the likes of Rob Van Dam/Tommy Dreamer dismantle those two arrogant pricks.

Please advise how you REALLY feel about PadTom.