Top Chef 5: New York - Let's Dish!

Euegene needs to do more than make sushi to win. Jamie needs to tone it down, she's starting to remind me of Lisa from last season.

Told you she is a DIVA! ....

Hey, what kind of Quickfire was that? except.... Cuisine..... > 101! Salt, pepper, oil?..... Plah! calling bluffs?....

Aaaagghh.. zzzzzzz! this season is a snoooze!

Tonight's episode was super-lame. Not kicking off Jamie was ridiculous.

Almost as ridiculous as me arguing about the integrity of a reality tv show, but nonetheless, shark = jumped.

Okay, why wasn't Eugene packed up for failing to acknowledge the problems with his dishes in both events? But Danny was immediately before? I'm not sure how many "housewives and grandmas" use corn starch (flour is good enough in the South); and I don't think Martha cared about what starch he used, as long as she couldn't tell in the first bite, but don't tell Eugene that. Good Lord, am I agreeing with Martha?

But I guess if I am hollering about Eugene then it wasn't that crazy of an episode. I see signs of the judges clamouring to motivate the chefs, let's hope the producers find a way to shake things up and cut out the kumbaya (sp) scenes and get to some real cooking. Our chefs need to be competitive, quit propping each other up, and focus on their own food.

I see signs of the judges clamouring to motivate the chefs, let's hope the producers find a way to shake things up and cut out the kumbaya (sp) scenes and get to some real cooking. Our chefs need to be competitive, quit propping each other up, and focus on their own food.

From the preview of next week, it looks like they are giving them a free-for-all to cook whatever they want, instead of trying to force them into some silly theme.

More on Scallop-gate...

Tom couldn't bring himself to send Jamie packing....looks like more scallops next week as well.

After a two-week holiday hiatus - new episode tonight at 10!

After a two-week holiday hiatus - new episode tonight at 10!

Not wanting to take away from your love of the show, but this is a far cry from past seasons. I have quit watching it. Hot host and all. Just my opinion.

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I can't believe they kept Carla over Eugene!

A better challenge that was certainly more interesting. Fish tacos as the dish to wow you?

Bring on restaurant wars and/or Bourdain!

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Yeah I don't get this either. Eugene's dishes didn't always look great but I think he made more interesting choices overall than most of the other chefs. I liked Carla too but she seemed too indecisive to not be cut. Oh well.

A better challenge that was certainly more interesting. Fish tacos as the dish to wow you?

Bring on restaurant wars and/or Bourdain!

A much more interesting episode than the past few have been.
The season seems incredibly lackluster.

Fabio's comment about "top scallop" really does ring true though.
As much as i really liked Jamie's cooking originally and would like to see her in the finals... scallops from her are just getting plain old and predictable. Her choice to redeem her last challenge scallop crudo blunder was admirable, and looks like it paid off.

Richard Blais makes a comment on his Top Chef blog apologizing for preparing 3 different versions of banana scallops, and how after watching Jamie's scallop dish after scallop dish - he see's how painful that must have been for viewers to watch when he did variations/riffs on the same dish... In a previous entry he pegs Radhika as one of this season's dark horses, and I have to agree.

This week's eliminations were probably the one's that made the most sense so far. Eugene and Melissa just keep making the same crap over and over.

Colicchio made a comment in an early episode to the affect of: "you're not going to win Top Chef making deviled eggs"
Melissa obviously didn't heed this warning when she made he fish tacos and paid for it, by showing her true talents (or lack thereof)
.
As much as i thought Carla was kind of useless in the first few episodes, I really was banking for her to be spared... she at least seems like she's learning along the way.

And ss much as I hate to admit it, Ariane is actually really starting to hit a nice groove. I was begging for her to get axed episode after episode... but she's really starting to cook. Her skate dish was really nice and refined... a huge step from the previous simple dishes she's produced.


It's tough to tell from here on out who's likely to get axed.
All the obvious no-talents have been eliminated. You have some very talented cooks who over the past few episodes keep making careless mistakes or bad judgement (Fabio, Jamie, Jeff), in addition to cooks who are really starting to learn from their mistakes and get confident. (Ariane in particular). Stefan manages to stay consistent, and I expect him to stay for a while, but his personal arrogance and over-confidence may be the death of him - especially if he finds himself thrown under the bus. He's probably the only person that is "hated" by the other contestants this season and aside from the European bond between him and Fabio... he's got no friends and is going to pretty much have to stand on his own (which he does well), or face being sacrificed by the others if he finds himself on the chopping block.

Yes, my favorite quote of the season "It's Top Chef for crissake, not Top Scallop."
I see a t-shirt in the making.

I don't know. Eugene started out strong, but he has faltered badly of late.

And I don't get the full on general whining. "I have sooo much more to give! I know I can do better than this!"

Uh . . .you each have a chance to bring it every week. So do it.

And this is reality TV folks, with emphasis on the TV part. Purely entertainment with a payday at the end for one lucky person. I'm entertained.