Top Chef - S5E8 Postmortem

Well, that was interesting.

I imagine this'll be one of the more controversial episodes of the season. I expect folks are already crying foul elsewhere. And to some degree, yeah, maybe she got a bit of a raw deal, but two things strike me. First, for the second or third time this season, Ariane chose to blame her teammates for not telling her there was a problem with her dish. Should they have? Sure. But here's a better solution, Ariane. Cook good food. Second, I'm not a big fan of Leah's attitude, but when her teammate can't tie a roast, I'm somewhat sympathetic. I'd be annoyed too.

It's funny... as the episode ended, I was thinking about how I was going to talk about how I was sad to see Ariane go, even though I've been a strong critic. I didn't think she should have been winning as much as she did, but I liked her. Until I watched her go scorched earth on her teammates in the exit interview, some of which was purely mean-spirited. I'm no more a fan of the Leah and Hosea show than anybody else, but there was no need for that. Too bad.

Anyway, a good show, some good information, and some help for the rankings next week, I think.

Discuss! UPDATE : I just briefly reviewed the pertinent parts of the show, and while I intend to dig a little more before Monday and hopefully another blog or two pops up that will help illuminate the situation, I wanted to issue a couple clarifications of fact for the purposes of discussion here.

1) While we get a really good look at the rolled lamb leg, it was lamb two ways. There was also some kind of lamb loin, and while it sounds like Ariane probably did the butchering, it's unclear from the edit who created it, who seasoned it, or even how it was made. So I'm not certain that we can assume Ariane was the only person with her hands in the lamb, even if she was primarily responsible for it.

2) Some seem to feel that Ariane was pushed into doing the lamb. To my viewing, this is not at all clear from the video. We never see the point where that decision was made, and in fact, Hosea says at one point that he's "okay" with Ariane doing the lamb since she won with a lamb dish earlier, which makes it sound more like he's going along with and less like he's suggesting that course of action. I think we have to consider the possibility that despite her complaints about now knowing how to handle the lamb, she might have made her own bed. To be blunt, it wouldn't be the first time this season she's actively taken on a responsibility and then blamed others when it didn't go well. But at best, it's unclear who was driving that decision.

3) It definitely seems like this team could and should have done more, but Hosea did more than just potatoes. We know Hosea also worked on some kind of haricot verts, there was swiss chard that somebody other than Ariane made, there was a lamb jus that may have been somebody else's responsibility, and I wouldn't discount the possibility that there were other vegetables we never saw. Bottom line is that I don't think we're getting a complete picture of what Team Lamb produced.

Anyway, I'll probably hold off on further commentary until Monday, but I thought a little clarification was in order.

Comments

[David]

"We're now down to nine and I don't think anything could possibly shock me next week. Maybe Carla winning an elimination, but that's it."

Are you shocked Dom? I'm sure most of the talk will be about Ariane, but I think Carla got robbed of a solo victory. Her dessert dish seemed to be the strongest (or one of the strongest), not only of her team, but when compared to items across all teams.

As for Ariane, as Dom said in the introductory remarks, you can't pass blame off for everything. However, Leah did ... get this ... tomato salad and the crappiest dessert of all three teams.

[Doug]

It was due. We just didn't know when it was coming.

The surprise turned out to be that her fatal flaw was that she couldn't handle one of the basics - butchering lamb. And also that she didn't know how serious that might prove to the reception of her team's dish. Nailing the basics in spite of lacking other elements was what kept her going this far. So, yeah... surprise of a kind.

Hosea and especially Leah set her up to take the fall for that team. But it didn't look like either of them thought the team was going to take any fall in advance. They were playing the game and building layers of protection for themselves just in case. It happens in these shows.

Carla lucked out on getting to do one of the few dishes she's consistently executed well in the context of a very strong team. How long can that keep up? I wouldn't move her up a single spot, Dom.

Also... Toby's comments were smarter and more informative. Shame on the rest of you for piling on a guy the first day on his new job. ;-)

[Skillet Doux]

"Are you shocked Dom?"

That was a THIRD of a win!

:-)

[David]

Doug, you talk as if Carla can't cook at all. I wouldn't call it luck. If anything, I think it was smart of her to go to the dessert and let Stefan and Jamie hammer each other in the head.

I'm typing while watching the repeat of the show. Leah really skated through the challenge, and is exactly why I don't think she's capable of reaching the finals. The same can be said for Radhika.

Toby was more subdued, but he still feels out of place as a permanent judge.

[Doug]

David, I get where you're coming from. It's kind of an art of impression at this point.

My impression is that Leah and Radhika seem to be capable of far better than Carla. But, frankly, I don't expect any of the three in the finals.

Leah (as usual when she doesn't try) and Radhika (unusually) skated through this challenge. The only reason I think either was spared was because the judges didn't consider either's effort typical of what to expect based on their prior achievements.

Carla can certainly cook. Can she impress compared to one of the remaining chefs barring a very bad day turned in by the other? I'm not seeing it. "Waiting for someone else to screw up" is a strategy that only takes you so far.

Plus... Carla is prone to screwing up herself. See the prior episode.

[Tyler]

Well. That was interesting.

Ariane was probably sent home since there is a sex interest between her team mates (and I am only surmising that given the preludes at the end of the episode, as I'm on the slow side.)

Rhadidka dumped her dish cause there were no fresh figs?

Leah exists and admits she's doing nothing. but she and Hosea are a sex interest, so they have to stick around.

Jamie, what about Jamie. She's good TV too. (Is she a TV?)

[Independent George]

As someone who was upset when Ariane won an EC for the lamb, tonight, I'm even more upset that she was sent for the lamb.

To me, trying and failing when you're in over your head is less of a fault than (1) watching with indifference as your teammate struggles, (2) somehow managing to be indignant about having to help her (3) while simultaneously complaining about not having enough to do (4) and doing a half-assed job of helping her.

I'm untroubled by Ariane's exit interview for the same reason I'm not bothered by Stefan's confrontation with Jeff & Eugene in the bridal shower: she was absolutely right. I might not like the manner of her expression, but I can't disagree with the substance.

[Steve]

I'm devastated. I didn't expect Ariane to make the finals, but her departure is sad. Yes, she made the worst dish of the challenge. But her teammates let her do the most important work and did not pitch in when they should have. It is quite a shock to learn that Ariane is not schooled in some of the basics, when she has executed so well these past few episodes. Toby Young probably shed some crucial light on the reason for her failure when he noted that her team did not need to do all that they did to the lamb - their methods are not meant for the freshest lamb meat. I guess they do not work with so fresh lamb in New Jersey. But, for shame, Hosea, working in ranch country, should have known.

I am upset. Radhika, Hosea and Leah showed why I do not have confidence in their talents and consider them to be "middle of the pack." Not enough drive to win and no major EC successes.

I know many of you still see a muddle of contestants. Dom, I give...you're right about Fabio. But, my expectations: Stefan, Jamie and Jeff (especially seeing what they did tonight) for the final.

[Skillet Doux]

"As someone who was upset when Ariane won an EC for the lamb, tonight, I'm even more upset that she was sent for the lamb.

To me, trying and failing when you're in over your head is less of a fault than (1) watching with indifference as your teammate struggles, (2) somehow managing to be indignant about having to help her (3) while simultaneously complaining about not having enough to do (4) and doing a half-assed job of helping her."

I understand the sentiment, George, but by this logic if I'd gone in and given it the ol' college try, I'd have deserved to stay despite the fact that I've never worked a day in a professional kitchen in my life, and any of the remaining contestants would run circles around me like Michael Jordan in a junior high pickup game.

All of this peripheral stuff -- attitude, teamwork, etc. -- it all figures in, and it seems clear the judges seriously considered sending Leah or Hosea home, but this is still a COOKING competition. When the person primarily responsible for the worst dish butchers it (both meanings!) and then admits at JT that she doesn't know how to do something as basic as tying a roast, how do you keep her around? Regardless of how she responded, the fact that something so basic put her in over her head in the first place is, quite frankly, the strongest argument for her elimination.

[Tyler]

I agree it's still a cooking competition. But to my mind, Ariane was the one cooking on her team. Her team mates admitted to having a greater knowledge in all aspects of the dish which they entrusted to her implementation; but her team mates are going to hang around to a be a sex interest.

Boooooooo! Bzzzzzzzt!!

I'm not buying it. I enjoy Top Chef, and I enjoy learning from some of the things which the chefs create. But when show often dwells in mediocrity, and 'TV drama'. It's at times a frustrating mix.

TY

[Skillet Doux]

Tyler...

That Hosea and Leah should have done more and dealt with the situation poorly, we're in total agreement.

If you're suggesting that the show is fixed and the producers vetoed the judges (who don't see any of the house footage and had no idea at the time that anything was happening with Leah and Hosea), I'm going to have to decide whether I'm going to broach the "why it wouldn't make any damn sense for Top Chef producers to fix the show" subject for the first time this season.

I was starting to hope we might have a season without going there :-)

[Annie]

I have been a avid watcher of the show(well from at least season 3) and i am by no means a chef, just a person that loves to eat :) With that being said my opinions are definitely not from a chef's point of view, just as a watcher I noticed that season 5 just is a really uninspired group overall. And While I cant cite examples from memory I just feel most of these chefs repeat their dishes over and over again, which is making this season so uninteresting.

And I'm not speaking in the same context of Brian being the Seafood guy or Jamie doing scallops/soups. Because at least they presented these dishes in different contexts with different flavor profiles. Carla!! I love carla She prob will be fan favorite but i feel like she did that pastry 3 times already, I don't know. Oh arianne I actually was just starting to like her, But I agree with some other comments before mine on how fitting she gets sent home for a basic skill, when she's been coasting (barring last episode) and WINING for basic skills. Leah and Hosea may have had a hand in sending her home, but it was going to happen eventually.

As for restaurant Wars, I'm nervous because I have a bad feeling that Radhika(my personal favorite) might be in trouble again. She looks like she's taking on a leadership role, and for a timid person this may not bode well for her. :(

[Independent George]

Dom - I agree failing in such an elementary skill (heck, even I can tie a lamb roast) is grounds for elimination, but she wasn't the only one who failed it. Moreover, I don't think she ever should have been in that position to begin with.

I think the better sports analogy is Bill Buckner in the '86 World Series. It's an elementary play that a professional should make 100% of the time, and he's rightfully blamed for that loss... except there's also a consensus that he never should have been put in that position to begin with. He had a groin injury, and could barely stand at that point; he'd said as much to the manager, got ignored, and soldiered on as best he could. He failed, but he wasn't the only one, and in context, his failure wasn't the worst one even if it was the most prominent.

Of course, Buckner was also way more stoic and honorable in dealing with such infamy than Ariane was, but that's another story entirely.

[annie]

"Moreover, I don't think she ever should have been in that position to begin with."

I guess maybe not, but what she have done with last season's group where EVERY remaining contestant had to break down the Tomahawk steak, and the pig. This season thy are definitely taking it easy on these guys.

[Independent George]

Alright, enough of Ariane.

I think my favorite part of tonight's episode is the fact that they gave out a team win instead of picking a single winner. This is probably easier because there was apparently no prize to split, but I'm a big fan of team wins for team challenges.

[Caulder]

I'm a little surprised they didn't try to come up with a dish with the lamb's head a la marco pierre white-Yew Tree Inn. Something a little more interesting. I'm really disappointed with the level of creativity. If someone gives you a baby lamb's head to use, use it. To quote Homer Simpson, You don't win friends with salad.

[kit]

I know alot of commenters (and Dom) don't exactly like Toby, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed his sparring with Padma. I'm not one of those Padma-haters, but this season she has started annoying me for some reason, maybe because sometimes I feel like her comments to the cheftestants come from an emotional place, as opposed to a well-reasoned one, and are just generally less constructive than say what Tom or Gail offer. So upshot is, I'm really glad Toby called her on it - this is not a pity party!

I'm actually more surprised that we hadn't run into a "Rhadika is slow" issue earlier in the season, just based on some of her comments earlier in the season (something about the time allotted for a quickfire only being sufficient to, um, line up her ingredients or something).

Just generally speaking, I loooved the premise of this EC (though my standards may have been lowered after some of those earlier episodes, I refuse to watch that Today Show nonsense when they show reruns, *shudder*). My all-time favorite restaurants are those that have their own farms/gardens, and the food really does taste like it was pulled out of the ground 10 minutes ago, yum. So for me, I found this episode very illuminating in regards to whose food I personally would really want to try (Jamie's restaurant is top on my list of Bay area restaurants to try the next time I'm there :) ). Actually, I'm sorta surprised that the cheftestants didn't overall do better. I thought chefs were always salivating about getting the best product possible, which I guess made me think that once they got them, there would be alot of no holds barred awesomeness. I mean, you can't really blame lackluster product from Whole Foods this time. (Though Ariane in her exit interview does complain about the lamb they received, something about getting 1 adult one and 1 baby one, and I guess at that point I should totally get what the problem with that is?)

I wish we had seen more of Hung! They kept Sam around for the EC when he was on last season, though I understand that Hung doesn't have the same, ahem, appeal as Sam, but c'mon, Hung's commentary would be at least as interesting as Toby no?

Restaurant Wars next week!!

[Bart]

While it's no secret that I'm an Ariane booster, this one upset me for reasons other than her departure. The biggest was that Hosea and Leah pretty much explicitly said at the beginning of the episode, "Well, Ariane's won a lamb challenge. Let's just let her do all the work."

Hosea did potatoes. Leah did a salad. Ariane did everything else. The two chefs gambled on her ability to do all the work for them, and to carry them to victory. That bothers me hugely, and I wanted to smack Leah when she acted snottily at Judge's Table. That was just a poor showing by two "cheftestants" - and frankly, I really can't blame Ariane for calling it like it is.

Another element that irked me was when Toby made this big, huge speech about forgetting the past and treating each episode as a new one. Come on, now. I've heard judges praise contestants in the past for their consistency - but as soon as one of the consistent ones screw up, they seem to go after them with a savage glee not seen directed at the inconsistent ones, and the more undeserving one gets sent home.

Ariane wasn't consistent those first two episodes, but she certainly was after that. She made better dishes than "Balsamic" Leah and "I'm not going to do anything with her" (cut to shot of him making out with Leah) Hosea. Yes, there have been times when the two of them have made better dishes than Ariane, but they seemed more like exceptions rather than the rule.

Put Ariane on another team, and she'd still be here. And whoever was on Hosea/Leah's team would have been sent packing. Where's the justice?

On a happier note - Stefan's commentary on the hen pen was hilariously juvenile. I laughed pretty hard.

[canasian]

On a happier note, of six quickfire-elimination double wins in Top Chef history, Stefan has two. I'll have things to say about Ariane, but I prefer to give myself 12 hours to cool down after an elimination that I'm not happy about.

[Biebs]

I thought Leah should have gone home also, and until this episode, I actually liked her.

However, this was the episode that really made me say, "Wow, these guys aren't nearly as good as some of the earlier seasons."

This was a challenge that everyone, even team Chicken, could have done much more with. Make farm fresh food, with the freshest ingredients in 3 hours for 16 people. That's not a hard challenge, and every team should have put together much better food than they did.

Liked the challenge, disappointed with the results. Thoroughly unimpressed with just about everyone.

[Dave]

Is it OK now to conclude that the casting department did a terrible job choosing this collection of chefs? What a disappointing group.

I first watched Top Chef last year, Season 4, and later caught Hung's season in reruns. What a major step down in talent level. Sometimes, with Season 5, I feel more like I'm watching Next Food Network Star.

[DCThunder]

Everyone is commenting on the EC decision, but I was struck by the elitist attitudes of the cheftestants towards "canned food" for the QF. I think it was Jamie who made some real snide comment about "nothing good ever comes out of a can" or she olnly cooks with farm-fresh ingredients or the like. I was very put off by that attitide and I think some of the QF dishes reflected that.

While "poor" people aren't the demographic of this show, in the current economic times these chefs ought to keep in mind that many people eat food from cans or frozen food or other non-farm fresh products and that they shouldn't be scorned.

[babyarm]

I think possibly I think I have a small feel for what is going on this season. It looks like they went for a series of "guys", a german guy, an italian guy, an indian guy, a few latin guys, a sushi guy, a mario batali guy, and a few cooking school kids for good measure. The last two seasons have been heavy on the continental cuisine guys that were well rounded. Yeah Hung was asian based, but he had French classical training, no?

There were very few that were so pigeonholed like this year that once you push them out of their comfort zone (no figs?!?) they just curl up into a ball.

Of this group I strongly feel only Jeff at this point has shown even a small inkling of being able to hang with the finalists in prior seasons.

[Liz]

"While we get a really good look at the rolled lamb leg, it was lamb two ways. There was also some kind of lamb loin, and while it sounds like Ariane probably did the butchering, it's unclear from the edit who created it, who seasoned it, or even how it was made."

If you watch the entirety of Ariane's exit interview on Bravo's web site, she says she had to work with two different types of lamb as there wasn't enough of the "baby lamb", so in addition they were given a large leg of lamb to use. She felt the judges were criticizing her for not respecting the baby lamb in how she prepared and flavored it, but stated it wasn't the only kind of lamb they had to serve (if I understood her correctly).

[Skillet Doux]

"If you watch the entirety of Ariane's exit interview on Bravo's web site, she says she had to work with two different types of lamb as there wasn't enough of the "baby lamb", so in addition they were given a large leg of lamb to use. She felt the judges were criticizing her for not respecting the baby lamb in how she prepared and flavored it, but stated it wasn't the only kind of lamb they had to serve (if I understood her correctly)."

True, but I'm not convinced this is what they're referring to with the "two ways". We know the leg was boned, pounded and rolled. But what was done with the loin? Breaking down and rolling a loin wouldn't make any sense. You bone and roll the leg to get a tight, consistent package that will cook evenly. The loin's that way naturally. What got her into trouble was clearly the leg, which it seems came from the larger lamb, but what of the loins that she pointed out to Tom when he visited the kitchen? What became of them?

[Bill]

While watching this episode I was regretting my earlier comments in support of this season's chefs. I thought their efforts in this challenge were, for the most part, uninspired and boring.
It seems that only Stefan, Jamie and Jeff are showing up and trying to win on a week to week basis. Everyone else is trying to hide.
I still believe Radhika is going to come through at some point and I'm hoping Carla sticks around but I don't have much interest in seeing Fabio, Hosea or Leah cook anything else. I think they've shown all their cards and their cooking is fine but it doesn't get me excited about tuning in.

[DaveP]

Lot's of good comments from Dom et al. Lot's still more to write about.

First off, what a gyp re: Hung. Looks like he's doing the Harold thing, showing up for his 3(?) contractually obligated sightings on TC, but doing so w/o much enthusiasm. Then again, I hardly blame him--he has way better things to do than judge a Sandra Lee competition. And that's exactly what that ridiculous QF was (btw, canned/prepackaged ingredients do not necessarily mean they're cheaper--you can make vastly healthier and better tasting meals with fresh ingredients and not for much more $). And 15 minutes? Because Hung is a fast chef (at least reference his Smurf village if you're going this way)? How much speed do you need to open up a can of peas, anyway? Ugh.

Great EC though. Dan Barber, down at the farm--fabulous premise. I too was a bit disappointed with the execution though. Especially the pork team--why oh why would you use the tenderloin when you have a whole pig to play with? I would've gone for the belly or some other fatty (and most flavorful) cut. Much kudos for the green tomatoes though. Oh, and I would've been driven nuts to see someone cleaning & grilling corn for an hour next to me too. Chicken team seems to have pulled everything together, which is near miraculous considering Stefan & Jamie's negative chemistry. Good to see Carla doing well.

On to lamb... oh, where to start (disclaimer: I'd been down on Ariane since week 2, but the last 2 episodes, I'd been coming around to seeing she was in fact talented)? Okay, look, this is a competition. If the chef next to me is floundering, I have absolutely no obligation to lend a hand. Would I? Sure, but I'm prolly too nice to win these competitions by nature. Should I in a team situation? Maybe, but then again, who am I to step on others' toes when their chef credentials are just as qualified as mine?

Hosea was in a no-win situation. If he'd come to Ariane and told her she's messing up, let me take over, he would be criticized for being a know-it-all jerk, ala Stefan. If he does nothing, he's not a team player. Plus we have no idea of how much or little interplay there was within that team other than the snippets we get from Bravo's creative editing. He did his job, his potatoes got kudos, end of story for me.

Leah, otoh, is far more culpable, because she did agree to tie the roasts, and did a very half-assed job of it, it seemed. Was it the worse crime than the actual butchering? Maybe not, but she certainly lowered their overall chances of winning. At the end of the day though, it was Ariane's responsibility to see the lamb through, regardless of how she ended up with that job. And really, her lack of butchering skills was astonishing. That poor meat looked about as hacked up as you can get--I totally agreed with Tom's comments about lack of respect.

--
Dave

[Rahul]

Finally, an episode with an EC/outcome I'm entirely satisfied with. I can't quite understand how the judges didn't see Ariane's failure coming a mile away. By this point, I've settled on my final 3: Stefan/Jamie/Jeff. I'd like to think that Stefan is holding back in order to wow the judges in the end, but he's going to have his work cut out for him if Jeff has the time/resources to really shine. I'm sure Jamie is more than a two-trick pony, but I see her ending up like Casey from Season 3. I don't think Leah has enough creativity to last, while Hosea/Radhika/Fabio are just running on fumes. Carla is a non-issue (even though I like her more than anyone else)...

[Vin]

Watching that episode it is hard for me to criticize the decision to let ariane go, given the fact that she was most responsible for the lamb. Also, in the grand scheme of things i felt that carla and ariane were/are the two least likely to make it to the finals out of the 9, so the loss of ariane is fine. That being said, I have no problems with ariane's exit video. And i really didn't find it "scorched earth" on her teammates. What was obviously cut out of the show was at JT Leah unleashed on ariane's technique and skills concerning the lamb. I think ariane, who probably didn't have much of a voice at JT, used the exit interview to say a few things that she wished she had said earlier. And even then, it wasn't that bad. As for the episode it is right up there with my least favorite. The QF was terrible if only because giving chefs only 15 minutes to use products they NEVER use, sets them up to fail. The EC concept was great, but as others have stated above, the execution was marginal and the creativity was lacking. The finals almost assuredly will include stefan and jaime, and i am hoping jeff is the third given his penchant to think on the fly, lead and overall creativity. Hopefully restaurant wars can revive and otherwise mundane season (and lets hope either leah or hosea goes soon, so we don't have to endure a real-world-like menage any longer than one more show).

[E L]

Leah appears to have more enthusiasm for washing/drying/combing her hair than she has for cooking. Maybe she should drop out and try out for Bravo's hair-salon based reality show?

[paula]

The decision to give a three-way win disappointed me. It's not that I don't think group efforts should get group rewards...it's just that they've never done that before, so why now? Why this particular challenge? They've always been able to come up with some justification for one person getting the win over someone else in team challenges. So, eh.

Otherwise, I'm in agreement with previous poster Bill's comments on all the remaining chefs, except I don't think Rhadika has it in her to pull out all the stops. I'd love to eat her food, but she just seems too meek and too slow to outshine the real contenders in this competition.

[paula]

Also: What a waste of Hung. They should have made everyone use the canned goods to create rival Smurf Villages for him to judge.

[Elizabeth]

OK, I have a question to ask in reference to the "baby lamb". Isn't a lamb, by definition, a baby? Meaning a baby sheep? And an "adult lamb" is really just a sheep - and should then be mutton? Am I missing some culinary wisdom here?

[DaveP]

I think they've given group wins before. At the very least, Dale T & Richard shared their "Green Tofu" win.

--
Dave

[Skillet Doux]

"OK, I have a question to ask in reference to the "baby lamb". Isn't a lamb, by definition, a baby? Meaning a baby sheep? And an "adult lamb" is really just a sheep - and should then be mutton? Am I missing some culinary wisdom here?"

Generally speaking, a lamb is under a year old. But that can still cover a broad range of sizes. The "lamb" was probably closer to a year, and the "baby lamb" was probably only a couple of months old. Both lambs, but a big difference.

[Joanna]

Holding off for a moment on discussion of the chefs themselves, I was a little frustrated with the design of this challenge. I loved the farm-to-table concept, but why the deception? Why give the chefs so much time to plan while they are under the impression they'll be shopping at Whole Foods? I understand that the chefs need to be able to improvise and think on the fly, and Radhika obviously failed at this - "they don't have figs for some reason" - as if every single farm should grow every fruit and vegetable just so she doesn't have rethink her dish! But I can't help but wonder what (if anything) would have been different if the chefs had been told that:

1) they'd be going to a farm (which presumably would lead them to realize that they'd have access to the freshest produce possible, yet would be strictly limited to what was in season in New York at that moment);
2) they'd be given whole animals, instead of buying meat from a supermarket butcher; and
3) they'd be serving their food outside.

Maybe this type of full disclosure wouldn't have changed anything, but I have a feeling that, for example, Stefan wouldn't have been so insistent on soup for an outdoor event in the middle of the summer, and maybe Radhika wouldn't have automatically assumed she could find figs, or Jeff might have considered leaving his meat on the bone. Instead, they made all their plans based on what they expected to find in Whole Foods, and a lot of the plans had to be changed at the last minute, which is probably why the teams all seemed to turn to simple salads (tomato, roasted corn, etc). Again, I understand the importance of adaptability, but is the point of the show to see who can think on the fly, or is it to see who can make the best food?

[Steve]

One last entry from me on this week's episode:

As one of Ariane's strongest defenders on this blog, I unfortunately have to agree with the judges that she was most responsible for the losing lamb dish. The judges made a strong case that she did not know how to prepare fresh lamb, not just how the lamb was butchered and cooked, but also her herb rub, which was ostensibly overpowering for the challenge.

I am very sad as I would like to see more of Ariane's talents.

On the other hand, Leah and Hosea were AWOL. (It does not seem fair that Danny went home for Gail's bridal shower when Gene was the lead cook, which is similar to this situation.) Hosea, especially, should have known how to cook farm fresh lamb, being from the Rockies. (This was the point of the challenge - knowing how to cook farm fresh - and Ariane failed.) Hosea's major sin was not being a team player and taking charge when he should have. This was a team challenge and he let his team fall. Leah was just calling it in as she does more often then not. The Bravo Top Chef web site poll has Leah the choice of 70 percent to be booted off.

While I like Fabio and love Carla, the consensus seems to be that Jamie, Stefan and to a lesser extent Jeff has now proven they are top chef material. There is nothing more I want to see from Radhika, Hosea and Leah - especially that stomach churning faux romance between the latter two.

[babyarm]

I think "baby lamb" is <8weeks. "spring lamb" is 3-5 months, and everything else up to a year is "lamb" then you get Mutton after 1 year. This is at least the distinction my farm makes on it's website.

I think the concept of spring lamb as a spring product is gone now as lambs drop no particular cycle anymore with our breeding habits.

[jse91]

While I think Ariane's exit was justified by her inability to butcher the lamb, it was in fact Leah who proved herself unable to tie a Roast. Leah complained that Ariane couldn't do it, but Leah actually did it incorrectly.

[Skillet Doux]

"While I think Ariane's exit was justified by her inability to butcher the lamb, it was in fact Leah who proved herself unable to tie a Roast. Leah complained that Ariane couldn't do it, but Leah actually did it incorrectly."

Welllllll, yes and no.

If you watch the video, at the point where Leah steps in, Ariane already appears to have at least half of them tied. I see four on the table, two are completely tied, she's working on the third which is about halfway done, and there's a fourth that's sitting on the side and doesn't appear to be tied, but it rolled and ready to go. It's not like all of the meat was laid out and Ariane said, "Gosh, I need help with this" and Leah took over that responsibility. Leah stepped in and tried to salvage what Ariane had already done, and we're definitely led to believe that they were really crunching for time at that point.

I think you can argue that Leah should have completely undone Ariane's work and started from scratch, but whether there would have been time for that is, I think, an open question.

It's hard to say with any kind of certainty, but I think you have to consider the possibility that Leah stepping in and trying to clean up Ariane's mess as best she could with a limited amount of time is a more accurate characterization.

[Beatrice]

It's Top Chef, not Top Team Member!

Bottom line, Ariane had a dish to make and she executed poorly. I don't think it's relevant whether or not she got pushed into the job, or did not get adequate support, or anything else. Although I have only watched the episode once, I seem to remember she cheerfully tackled the task of butchering the lamb when clearly there were other alternatives to pounding it out and rolling it up into a lumpy mass. The judges objected to the whole concept, not just the poor execution of it.

Oftentimes there is more than one cheftestant who deserves to go home, and the other one only survives by being less bad than the worst. Don't worry, Leah's time will come. Playing it safe and making it through on others' mistakes only takes you so far.

[jse91]

It's hard to say with any kind of certainty, but I think you have to consider the possibility that Leah stepping in and trying to clean up Ariane's mess as best she could with a limited amount of time is a more accurate characterization.

Fair enough, though I would argue that they both failed at this task, which justifies Ariane's exit for her butchering.

[Jon Olsen]

Purely on the night's EC, Ariane lost. However, I am in complete agreement with judges that they could have eliminated multiple people. If they didn't have restaurant wars next week (i.e., four per team), I bet they would have dumped another lamb chef. And I prayed it would be Leah.

I am done with Leah. I think Hosea is boring, and hasn't got a chance. I think Ariane deserved to go tonight even though the whole situation stinks (I completely agree with commenter Joanna that this challenge set up for failure. I go further to say for all their talk about "honoring" ingredients, the show deserves most criticism for dishonoring these wonderful ingredients by handing them to this pack of bunglers with three hours notice). I think Radhika's too slow and feckless. Fabio has retreated and is not capable of inspiring us.

But none of these faults compare to the profound distaste and disinterest I feel when I think about Leah. Oh to the Em Gee. This woman is 1) lazy 2) boring 3) incapable of good judgment 4) lazy 5) uncreative 6) did I mention fricking L-A-Z-Y? 7) apparently lonely, in a bad way. Dom, it's time to fess up: she is overrated in your rankings. It's an honest mistake. She just isn't GOOD. Time will make a prophet of me on this point. I don't *hate* her as a person, I'm not idiotic enough to think these shows give us a real person. But I hate her as a contestant, I hate the thought of having to watch her slide past better chefs.

I dislike what this show reveals about Leah more than I disliked what it showed about Lisa last season. That's how much venom I feel toward her.

Jeff, Jamie, and Stefan are the most Top Chef-like and Carla is now the dark horse. I couldn't be happier. Well, I could be happier. They could do a different show. They could stop this season right now and do restaurant wars with cast members from previous seasons. A show where the top three finishers from each prior season compete for the title God Emperor of Top Chefs.

In the finale of this mythical program, they would be given a choice between whole pig or whole fresh Toby Young*. Toby would spend the eight week pre-finale hiatus being massaged and fed solely on a diet of chestnuts and blueberries. I imagine Hung could break down a fresh Toby in like...38 seconds.

They would serve a cold appetizer course on the naked body of Padma, a la nyotaimori. Service would be to a scantily dressed Gail and Tom, seated upon their chaise lounges in the ancient decadent Roman style. Bourdain would also be present.

Chefs would have 24 hours and their sous would be the two different Kellers and Tim McKee.

*For the record, Toby Young was much better this week and I now officially like his blog and his columns. I'm just sayin' I bet he'd be freakin delicious braised and served with jus. Blaise could render his fat, smoke it and infuse a lentil loaf with the essence, finished with a truffle-bing cherry-kim chee sauce (somehow he'd make the flavor combo work). Or make nitro Toby ice cream. Tiffani could serve Toby two ways, or serve something like her pumpkin dish from S1E1, except in his skull. Harold would sous vide his trotters. Presumably someone would cluelessly utter the phrase "I like my ears al dente, yeah."

In closing: Carla! Fan favorite! More time! Go Jeff!

[Dave]

Why is Jeff getting so much leeway? Besides him coming from the Dildo Beach Club, or whatever, and putting a bunch of things in tiny bowls, what has he really accomplished? He seemed bothered by having to cook farm ingredients, and got nearly as much stick for ruining the pig as the lamb team got. I don't see really see anything there to be excited by. If all he can bring is Fried Green Tomatoes, we won't be seeing him in the final.

[Bill]

I think Jeff deserves credit for not playing it safe and his willingness to lead. Typically his dishes have been well received when he hasn't gone for too many components.

[paula]

More defense of Jeff...

1) Hasn't he also created a lot of really impressive components from scratch, too? (Dom, can you back me up, here? I watch the episodes only once...) Stuff that some of these other chefs couldn't even conceive of?

2) He's soooo pretty.

[Polybus]

kit said, "(Jamie's restaurant is top on my list of Bay area restaurants to try the next time I'm there :)"

Part of the reason that I've been supportive of Jamie (and I know this isn't logical) is that over Thanksgiving, I went back to San Francisco and Absinthe was on my itinerary. I went with two close friends who are real foodies and the entire evening was fantastic. We had pork, beef and fish dishes and each of the three entries was really great. The celery root puree was absolutely amazing. I only wish that I could taste some dishes from the other chefs! But, kit, I think you are in for a real treat!

Regarding comparisons to earlier seasons, I've been reviewing Seasons 1 and 4 and I've got to say that I think some of the bloggers here are looking back through rose-colored glasses. Last season, for example, we tend to forget that the glorious Richard was almost sent home for leaving scales on salmon, that Stephanie ended up in the bottom several times for dishes for which she had no excuses.

Look, everyone sees these things differently. I really liked Season 2 and hated Season 3 (most people feel just the opposite). We're all welcome to our opinions, but I think it is always a good idea to go back and take a fresh look at some of the "glorious" episodes of the past, just to put things in perspective. Frankly, I think that the top tier of chefs this season are way better than Season 3 and even a little better than Season 2. Just my opinion.

Although I'm in general agreement with comments on Hosea and Leah, I can't even begin to compare them with Spike from last season, who used every possible opportunity to actively undermine the other contestants and then laughed on camera about it. C'mon... now that was low. Hosea and Leah may be slackers in some way, but their demeanors did not suggest that they were actively working to get Ariane kicked out. You can bet that Spike would have been laughing and gloating.

I must say I disagree with Jon on how BAD Leah is and some of the others. I'm betting that in order to be even considered for this show, you have to be a pretty darn good cook. Given the weird challenges and time constraints, I'm guessing that most people in the culinary world would be going down in flames at one point or another. I honestly don't believe that you can be a bad cook and still make it to the show. Now, if we were talking about my college roommate, you might have some traction.

The only reason that I'm disappointed Ariane had to pack up and go is that I put her on my Fantasy Team for this episode. I mean, she was consistently nailing proteins, I saw the farm and thought, "Wow, she should do really well!" Har-dee-har-har.

Fortunately, Stefan and Jamie came through for me. Maybe I'm wacked, but I just think that it should come down in the end to the two of them (even if there are three in the very final group). That third person really could be any of the remaining chefs, but I feel like Jeff might kick things up a notch and make it. As to the final four, I haven't a clue. Perhaps Hosea will also kick it up a notch. I would love to see Carla in there, but... well, who knows?

Although I'm psyched about Restaurant Wars, I was really hoping that there would be some kind of romantic challenge and Leah and Hosea would be booted off together. Oh, well.

Also, after all this time, I'm starting to get tired of the word "Cheftestants". Maybe I'll just start calling them "Chefts".

[DaveP]

Honestly, I was very much prepared to hate Jeff for his smarmly wink and his own introduction in the first ep. I've since been more than impressed with his leadership skills and willingness to push himself far more than any other contestant. And he succeeds more than he fails, which leads me to believe that he's a very skilled chef, at least on par with Stefan & Jamie (those three seem to be the likely favorites for the finals atm).

In defense of Leah's skills, whom I'm getting very sick of as a person btw, she has had some very inspired dishes earlier on. I really don't think you can question her technique or flair, but she just seems way unmotivated. If she's at her peak, she can easily make it to the finals, but I foresee her washing out sooner than later.

--
Dave

[Jon Olsen]

I refuse to believe that was anything but editing. Blais was never in danger of actually going home for scales on his salmon—wasn't that the Elements challenge? He was in the bottom group, which I think numbered *five* people, and sent a weak Zoi home for carpaccio and poo. Also, my titanic ego is far too wrapped up in it to relent now. I DO watch old shows and I stand by my diagnosis (which, for those of you scoring at home is Seasons 3&4= Good, Toby Young = scrumptious).

Season two I simply missed most of and I didn't comment on it. Season Three had a very high level of skill in their top three, even if Casey choked a little in the end.

Leah's offense is the fact that she can't appear on camera for more than three seconds without wholly embodying "whatever." She's like a walking talking shrug. She's the cook of the MTV generation: she feels neither highs nor lows. She doesn't appear to care and her apathy is just about half as infuriating as her failure to grasp how much potential she's wasting. If she doesn't give a shit, why should we feel GOOD about her?

[Elise]

To Jon: Let me add to your delicious dream of the God Emperor of Top Chef, Ted Allen (scantily clad or not) as the fourth judge. My money would be on Hung to win, with Harold and Richard close behind him.

Also this season must be incredibly frustrating for Jeff and Jamie. Constantly coming in second place to less creative chefs must rankle.

I do wonder about how they cast this season. Did anyone else feel sorry for the poor guy still in school? Who on earth thought he'd actually stand a chance? Most of the other chefs have been similarly uninspiring, and set against previous years painfully outclassed.

I think that's why so many of us like Jeff, he does things that reminds us of the skill/creativity level that got us watching this show in the first place.

[Amy Hay]

I just finished reading Tom C's blog. He dings Jeff for using green tomatoes instead of the ripenened tomatoes at the peak of their flavor. I don't think he likes Jeff very much (especially after last week's comments) and am wondering if it's because Jeff does not appear to be a big "protein" chef.

[mar]

I thought Tom's blog harshing on Jeff for the fried green tomatoes was a bit strange because in the episode he seemed to compliment him on the tomatoes and using an unusual ingredient. It's always hard to know what's really going on with the editing of this show - that's why I like reading the Bravo blogs and definitely miss that they are often not current. This blog has become my go-to for sure.

We vacation on Nantucket every year and eat some great food there. One year we had an appetizer of fried green tomatoes layered with incredibly delicious ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Too bad Jeff didn't think to include both types in his dish, maybe Tom C. would have appreciated it more.

Was anyone else confused early in the EC about the "seasonal" aspect to the challenge? I mean, earlier challenges included Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. And when the teams are making menus with soup and roasted/braised lamb, I couldn't figure out if they were supposed to do summer or winter season. Were the cheftestants confused too? It became pretty clear when they got to the farm, but then they just didn't adapt well enough to the possibilities.

[Independent George]

I realize that the comparison is a bit unfair, but it occurs to me that, starting with the same pig, Richard and Stephanie, with one soux chef apiece, managed to do a heck of a lot better preparing food for 150 people than three chefs managed to do cooking for 16.

[anon man]

Due to a sad case of sleep deprivation, I fell asleep during the EC and woke during the replay right as they were PPYKAGing Ariane. So, I read all the blogs and then watched. Interesting.

I guess Ariane is defensible as the sacrificial lamb (sorry), but Leah and Hosea both coasted. The dish apparently just sucked expect for the potatoes and beans (which, to be fair, look pretty conventional). I think after watching it knowing what to expect, my reaction was sort of "whatever", as any of those three or Radhika would have been defensible. Ariane also get a thumbs down for the worst looking, if not worst tasting, QF: "Spam on a shingle"

I thought that the lack of dessert discussion was interesting. They hated Leah's trifle, but no mention at the table? I guess doing a horrid dessert doesn't get you booted when the focus is protein. It sounded pretty bad.

I think Jeff is eventually going to get shoved out by Tom. I'm assuming he trimmed the pork because he cooks in Miami where people like leaner food (he's said as much previously). I don't think that defends the decision, but his reaction to Tom's comment that food with fat and bone is better was kind of mix of bewilderment and disagreement, which I think will eventually be his downfall.

I also noted a hint of positive toward Fabio. Toby called the sausage flavors "subtle" before bashing the pesto. And on to Toby: I found Toby tolerable last episode, but not this time. His commentary that Ariane "can't cook" was about as insightful as a sportscaster who says "The team who scores the most points win." Can we all start yelling "Gail!"

So, Carla up, Radhika, Hosea and Leah way down. Fabio up slightly, Jeff down slightly, but only because I think Tom will get him eventually.

[Weirdsmobile]

I'm a little sorry to see Ariane go, because this season could use some surprises, and I'm not sure she was more deserving of packing her knives than Leah, but I can't complain about the decision. If they're going to lower Top Chef standards to the point where a chef who can't properly tie a roulade can stay in competition, the entire series may as well pack its knives and go. Plus, we have yet another elimination based on a dish that wasn't just poorly executed, but should never have been made in the first place. Why would you take a farm-fresh leg of lamb and make a dish that might as well have been made with the manager's special from Alberton's?

Oh well. So, barring any calamitous twists, I think it's gonna be Jamie, Jeff, and Stefan in the final three. Radhika's staying true to my belief that she's the Antonia of this season. She's skilled, but she doesn't have the temperament or the flair to make it all the way, and she has to have at least one of those.

Toby continues to be the drunken schmuck of a dinner guest that everyone wishes had never been invited.

[Scott]

If there is one thing I have learned from watching Top Chef all these years is that nobody gets sent home for not doing enough, you only get sent home if you can't cook. People got to realize that Ariane wasn't sent home because she disrespected the lamb, as if all the judges felt offended and sad for the dead lamb. She got sent home because she can't butcher meat and it showed. Tom noted that the butchering skills were sloppy and then why would you tie the meat together in a roll if you don't even know how to do it? I mean, we all were on Casey when she took hours to chop onion, why wouldn't you be on Ariane for not knowing how to cut and butcher meat?

I don't respect Hosea and Leah and I feel that their little love story is both sickening and degrading to the show since they both have mates back at home. But the lamb just didn't taste good. I'm sure if it tasted okay, she would not have been sent home.

Did anybody notice when one of the farmers noted that some people didn't dig a soup during the summer... summer?? wasn't it christmas two weeks ago? :D

[Liz]

"In defense of Leah's skills, whom I'm getting very sick of as a person btw, she has had some very inspired dishes earlier on. I really don't think you can question her technique or flair, but she just seems way unmotivated."

The kicker was the Today Show EC where she had immunity through winning the QF. She didn't do well and said afterward in the stew room, "I don't really care." If you don't care, why are you there?

[kit]

Scott says: "If there is one thing I have learned from watching Top Chef all these years is that nobody gets sent home for not doing enough, you only get sent home if you can't cook."

I do think they sometimes take into consideration whether they believe you are doing enough (though whether you can cook is weighed much more heavily). I'm really just thinking of when Nikki got sent home last season. My impression was they thought her food wasn't good, but there were others whose food they disliked as well, so perhaps as the "tiebreaker" they then brought up how she should have asserted herself more and taken on a leadership role, given her expertise with Italian food. If Ariane's errors had been less grave, I think Leah's taking-a-backseat attitude may have been enough to get her sent home. As for her phoning it in, maybe she's too busy worrying what her live-in boyfriend is going think when footage of her snuggling up against Hosea broadcasts. Whatever the reason, can we please kick off anyone whose head is not in the game???

I do think Dom's got a point about Ariane's problems with taking responsibility. Yah her teammates are too busy worrying about their cheating ways or whatever, but honestly I don't think they're really savvy enough to be as manipulative as she seems to think. And if she knows they're overly wrapped up in their soap opera cliche, why is she listening to them in the first place? This quote from her blog drove it home for me:

Bravotv.com: Why did you decide to roll up the lamb?
Ariane: I think Hosea and Leah were so afraid it wasn't going to cook in time. And that was what they had put in my head. Brainwashing I tell you!

In her defense, just watching the preview for next week, and realizing that we'd have to watch more Hosleah, is making me cringe, so I really don't know how I'd react if I actually had to work in some cuisine a trois with them. Ick.

[John Coctostan]

I think some of the previous posters have a point regarding the Tom-Jeff friction. But I don't think it's because Tom doesn't like Jeff. In everything I've seen and read, Tom seems to want all the chefs (regardless of personality) to do well, because that means they'd be making good food. Instead, I think the friction comes from the fact that Tom doesn't get what Jeff is doing all the time. In general, I think that Tom is a very good judge, and I don't know if there'd be a show without him; but he still has his blind spots and subconcious biases like everyone else.

[Bill]

"I think Jeff is eventually going to get shoved out by Tom. I'm assuming he trimmed the pork because he cooks in Miami where people like leaner food (he's said as much previously)."

I was thinking the same thing. I don't know why Tom seems to have such an attitude towards Jeff. Reminds me of when the Kiwi (Mark?) didn't think Tom liked him last year.

[paula]

I thought Kiwi Mark was being paranoid last year, but this year it does seem that Tom is overly dismissive of Jeff. Maybe he doesn't even realize he's doing it?

[anon man]

John C.,

Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to imply that Tom hates Jeff as a person, but rather that Tom doesn't like Jeff's style of cooking. Cooking is ultimately about personal taste if something is otherwise good reasonable people can disagree about what's better. (For instance, I liked Alinea fine, but I don't think I would necessarily fly to Chicago just to eat there like I did the first time. French Laundry, however...) They didn't seem to hate Jeff's pork, but were annoyed that it could have been better, fattier. Look at Tom's restaurants. Big, heavy flavors (not that there's anything wrong with that). Jeff's menu at Dilido Beach Club is generally lighter (although you can still get a steak or chorizo) than that at Tom's places. Jeff's food sounds really interesting to me, but I grew up in San Diego, not Chicago or New York. He can certainly go far in the competition, but eventually, I totally see him going out on a "it was fine, but the others were better in our opinion" night.

[Polybus]

Now that the episode has sunk in a little, I'm beginning to wonder if the following scenario didn't happen with Team Lamb.

1) Knife pull and Team Lamb assembles.

2) Evening. Team Lamb gets together to plan the menu and it is mutually agreed that Ariane should cook the lamb based upon her past performance.

3) They arrive at the farm and suddenly the rules have changed - they will not be buying lamb at Whole Foods.

4) The team fails to adjust to the new scenario and either stubbornly or naively goes forward with their plan.

5) Even though Ariane knows that her butchering skills are modest, she goes ahead and tries. (Maybe she was embarrassed or perhaps she was intimidated by the Hosea/Leah alliance, I don't know.) Anyway, butchering was certainly not in their original plan and they failed to adjust.

6) Ariane attempts to make the original recipe, even though it is totally inappropriate for fresh lamb. I'm not sure that any of the three figured out that they should be doing it differently. Certainly, Hosea and Leah appear to be completely unconcerned, although one can certainly see doubt creeping into Ariane's facial expressions.

7) Nobody knows how to tie the lamb. You've got to be kidding! I can't explain this.

8) There is a train wreck. Hosea and Leah have stepped away from the tracks, but Ariane is caught like a deer (lamb?)(sorry) in the headlights.

Maybe?

I don't know - just taking a shot.

[canasian]

Okay, I'm ready to talk now.

After watching the episode three (maybe even four, I don't remember)times, I can't fault the judges decision as much as I did wednesday. Ariane may have been a little blunt in her exit interview, but I'd rather have some one speak their mind and air their opinions then get some silly "well, uh, something may have happened that the refs didn't see, but the fans saw blah blah blah" sports analogy.

Thoughout the competition, something that struck me about Ariane was that she doesn't seem to want her brand on a 50-restaurant chain with a new one opening in a city near you. She's very content in her niche, which is the people of Montclair, New Jersey, who maybe don't want to drive into the city every week for Saturday dinner out, but aren't looking for TGI Fridays either. This happens to be the population that I, and quite possibly a large percentage of the Top Chef viewers, fall into. My first experience there wasn't the best meal of my life, but it was a meal that I'd be willing to spend my money on once in a while. Maybe I never would have thought about CulinAriane again had she not been on my TV screen every week for the last eleven weeks, because admitedly there are a lot of restaurants around here that fall into the same niche hers does, but a little extra publicity can go a long way. So in my mind, Ariane may not be walking away with 100 g's, but she is still a winner in this competition. She got what she wanted, so it's only fair to now give Jamie, Jeff, or Stefan what they want.

[David M]

Well, I'm ready to chime in.

I've been defending these chefs throughout the entire season as a solid group of pro's of a pretty high calber. Maybe no huge standouts, but a group that overall compares favorably to other seasons.

And I do appreciate the comment somebody made in that we tend to look back on other seasons with rose-colored glasses - we tend to remember the later episodes with the better chefs and dismiss the fact that getting down to the final 8 or so eliminates a lot of half-ass chefs.

THAT BEING SAID - I now feel I'm more in the camp that says this season's talent is by and large sub-par.

This last challenge should have been a revelation for any chef worth his or her salt. They are brought to a farm and offered there pick of the freshest seasonal ingredients it has to offer. Yeah, it was a little bit of a curveball after they went to Whole Foods to come up with their meals, but a very little curveball - based on the bounty of what they were being offered, changing their gameplan to adjust for that should have been not just a joy but a necessity for any forward-thinking chef.

With what these chefs had to work with, their should have been 2 teams in the top, not 2 teams in the bottom - and the bottom team should have been unbelievably delicious but just not as good as the other two.

Honestly - give ME farm fresh summer ingredients and I can make something delicious, I guarantee.

Futhermore - pork and lamb had a huge advantage over chicken. Far more options and richer flavor profiles for sure and both teams laid a huge egg.

Fabio is now officially chaff. An Italian chef cooking pesto with the freshest summer basil available and he gets universally trashed? I don't even understand that. How can anyone screw up pesto using fresh ingredients, much less a top chef.

And his big adjustment on the fly - he wanted to use cherry tomatoes and they weren't there so he had to abandon his master plan? Really? You're on a damn farm - use whatever tomatoes are fresh and bursting off the vine and adjust your sauce slightly to accentuate these flavors. Inexcusable!

There were infinite possibilities with an entire pig - loin and a doughy ravioli with pesto? That's what they come up with?

And what's with Radhika junking a bread pudding (which she just made in the previous QF anyway) because no figs? Use WHATEVER'S FRESH - you're on a FARM! Or make it without figs. It's not like fig is the one essential ingredient in all bread puddings.

Onto the lamb team - they've got 3 hours. Why are they so stressed about time? I don't get it. Have they ever roasted lamb before? A baby lamb like that could roast up in 45 minutes if broken down to 1 pound sections. Why are they so stressed for time?

Even the winning team - chicken cutlet, roast chicken - eh... I mean, simple and fresh - I can't fault that - and they honored the ingredient, great. But Top Chef? Chicken cutlet and roast chicken?

And then Carla essentially making the same exact thing for the third time on the show.

I've got to say this challenge was pretty revelatory and what it's revealed is not good.

On the plus side, my team is currently #1 in Bravo's Fantasy Top Chef!

[Steve]

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Spoiler Alert, sort of...)

Bravo is running a commercial showing Hosea and Leah making out. GRRRRROOOSSSSS!!! Leah is shown saying that she's never cheated on her bf before. I am so sickened...sorry...but I signed up for a cooking show.

Anyone want to start a petition urging Bravo to edit the "romance" out?

And while I marginally, but firmly, believe that Ariane deserved to go last week, I now wish they had sent Hosea or Leah instead so we won't have to be subjected to that sickening display.

[canasian]

David M. ...
Yeah, I saw the preview and it honestly disappoints me. Shouldn't season two have filled this show's Bravo-required scandal quota until, I don't know, when the show ends it's run? I will say though, that if we are to believe the editing of the preview, and someone does get thrown out for contract violation, I hope it's just Leah. At least according to the (likely misleading, but possibly true) preview, Hosea knows that they shouldn't go beyond the snuggling and flirting (which is gross enough as it is), and tries to put up a fight. Of course, if the preview is misleading us and Hosea allows whatever may happen to happen, then he should go down too. I don't know. I just wish that if this had to happen, it would have been pushed back and covered next week so they don't have to ruin restaurant wars with this stupid scandal (assuming there is one and the very scared "Leah, no!!!" from Hosea isn't just him telling her that that sauce doesn't go on that plate or something).

[Liz]

When you think of the hours that get edited out, and yet they leave that in...blech.

[omelet]

One possibility to consider is that either Leah or Hosea or both get thrown off the show because of their inappropriate conduct. If not, I too am disappointed that we have to keep putting up with scenes of this relationship. It's sad and embarrassing.

That said, I'm not disappointed to see Ariane go, and the concept of the farm-based show - to understand where the food comes from - was excellent.

Jeff, Jamie, Stefan are the chefs whose work we look forward to with the most interest. Hopefully, Fabio will prepare something fantastic next week because his commentary is such fun.

[anon man]

I was wondering about that. What are the rules about that? We know they can't assault each other (Cliff), we know they get drunk beyond recognition (multiple), we know they can chat over beer/cigarette/etc., they can flirt aggressively (Stefan, among others) but can two contestants get romantically involved? And, what does romantically involved mean? To paraphrase Fish Called Wanda "I think 100,000 is worth a little nuzzling..."

Honestly, I don't think I would care who's doing whom, and I would hope the editors wouldn't bore us with this nonsense unless it eventually gets people thrown off or creates a big blow up between H&L and others in the context of a challenge or a judges table (sort of like Ariane, but worse), in which case, its interesting how they have been building it all season.

(To be clear, what I would see is a team exercise (like restaurant war) where the judges ask a team with Hosea and Leah and at least one other who should go and they say person X. Person X says "of course you two would say that, you're [BLEEEP]ing each other.)

[kit]

According to Brian Malarkey's blog: "For all of you who are hoping for a Top Chef romance, everyone has to sign a little contract that says no contact on the set." Of course, who knows what the heck that actually means. Obviously everyone can hug each other, but when does all that canoodling cross the line, and is the house "the set." But really, like many of the previous commenters, it's hard for me to really care that much.

[Elise]

Another thought on this episode and Team Pork. The challenge was to make a seasonal family style lunch. Now, pork fat may be the greatest thing on earth, but for an outside, during the middle of a hot summer, lunch I'm thinking you want to do something light. Perhaps a pile of pork fat just really doesn't fit that bill. Whereas a nicely cooked little pork loin with some happy tomatoes and one of Jeff's sorbets (Where were they this episode? Now would have been the time to whip one up for a dessert.) I'm not sure how light raviolis are, especially one coated with dollop of pesto, but the pork loin and fried green tomatoes looked like hot weather food.

[Liz]

"I was wondering about that. What are the rules about that? We know they can't assault each other (Cliff), we know they get drunk beyond recognition (multiple), we know they can chat over beer/cigarette/etc., they can flirt aggressively (Stefan, among others) but can two contestants get romantically involved?"

How could they say it's against the rules when they actually put a couple (Jenn and Zoi) on the show last season? Unless they changed the rules before this series.

[Vega]

As a rule, I disregard everything that Brian says on his blog. Although at this point I'd welcome Hosea and Leah getting kicked off. I'm not watching Top Chef for this mess.

To me, it just sounds like sour grapes from Ariane. It reminded me of the second episode in Craft when she went around and had all the other chefs taste her dessert, then said it would be on "their heads" if she were eliminated. For someone who's been cooking for 20+ years, you'd think she'd have more self-reliance.

[cw]

Liz: "How could they say it's against the rules when they actually put a couple (Jenn and Zoi) on the show last season? Unless they changed the rules before this series."

Two possibilities

a.) Jenn and Zoi weren't allowed to have physical contact. Which would make sense, because that would be ultra-weird to sleep in the same room as a couple if you didn't know the rules prohibited them...."engaging in extracurriculars."

b.) The "physical contact" rule has to do with unwanted physical contact (a la Cliff/Marcel)

My guess would be it's a.) though, since that's what Malarkey seemed to be trying to get at in his post.

It's too bad we're even having this discussion. I could really do without the soap-opera drama.

[canasian]

Couldn't agree more, cw.

As far as the technical rules go, I read the contract a few years ago when somebody dug it up after clippergate, but I couldn't remember where it was found if my life depended on it. I vaguely remember that the line is officially drawn at lips touching lips, but hugs, pecks on the cheek, and apparently from Stefan's display a few weeks ago, boderline sexual harassment, are all fine.

[lex]

"Onto the lamb team - they've got 3 hours. Why are they so stressed about time? I don't get it. Have they ever roasted lamb before? A baby lamb like that could roast up in 45 minutes if broken down to 1 pound sections. Why are they so stressed for time?"

Ariane said:

"we have two types of lamb, a huge leg of lamb and this tiny little baby"

They were stressed about roasting the leg of lamb, not the baby lamb. Depending on how large that leg of lamb is, it is very possible for it to take over three hours to roast if they leave the bone in. One of the recipes that I have says a six pound leg could take up to 4 hours. Is it possible to speed up the cooking while leaving the bone in? I'm not the most experienced cook, so hopefully someone else will be able to answer this question.

Also, are there any parts of a small lamb big enough to serve to 16 people other than the loin?

[Skillet Doux]

"They were stressed about roasting the leg of lamb, not the baby lamb. Depending on how large that leg of lamb is, it is very possible for it to take over three hours to roast if they leave the bone in. One of the recipes that I have says a six pound leg could take up to 4 hours. Is it possible to speed up the cooking while leaving the bone in? I'm not the most experienced cook, so hopefully someone else will be able to answer this question."

Not sure, but Tom saw the exact pieces of meat they were working with and didn't seem to feel this was a potential issue. While some feel his palate is a little narrow (I'm not convinced of this), I don't think there are many out there who would question his knowledge of basic cooking times for cuts of meat.

Plus, the idea to butcher and roll the leg was made the previous night -- long before they saw what they had to work with. There's unquestionably footage of them discussing that while brainstorming. They may or may not have still had the same concern after seeing their product, but the roulade was their plan going in.

[SorchaRei]

I'm really surprised that neither pork nor lamb stopped to re-evaluate their choices once they saw the high caliber of their ingredients.

Oddly, Jeff did react to what he found at the farm with the green tomatoes, although my thought while I watched that was "green tomatoes? when there are those gorgeous ripe ones? can't you at least find a way to use them together??" So if he could be so think-on-his feet, why didn't he rethink the pork dish? I do believe that his experience with customers who prefer "light" and would be appalled at pork fat is probably some of it. And perhaps he doesn't have enough experience with "see what's fresh and then formulate the plans for cooking it".

The lamb team was a trainwreck from beginning to end. I've found Ariane to be incredibly passive-aggressive from the first episode. Her ability to turn "hey taste this" into "now it's your fault if the judges don't like it" seems to me to be her most salient characteristic. She does simple food well, but out of her comfort zone, she flounders and looks for people to blame. Meanwhile, Hosea and Leah were phoning it in. Bad combination. And really bad choices of what to do with the lovely meat they were given.

[canasian]

But Jeff did use them together. He made a lovely heirloom tomato jam to adorn this fried green tomatoes. So not only did he honor his ingredients by saving the otherwise wasted ones, using them in their ripe stage in the most appropriate way possible (if he had extensively cooked them, he would have been dinged for not taking advantage of the fresh raw flavor; if he just sliced them up and placed them on a plate, he would have been told he didn't do enough work with them), he also managed to make his preparations work together to create a texture and temperature contrast that would have been very appropriate for a hot summer day.

As an aside, how ridiculous was it that they gave us a "seasonal for summer" challenge in the same season as a Thanksgiving and Christmas challenge?

[rab]

"If there is one thing I have learned from watching Top Chef all these years is that nobody gets sent home for not doing enough, you only get sent home if you can't cook."

Haven't they kicked off a few for slacking over the years? I thought Stephen (S1) was kicked out for messing around with waiters rather than cooking; Carlos (S2) was kicked out for only making an easy salad; Mikey (S2) for "not doing enough" during Restaurant Wars ...

What doesn't seem to get punished (unfortunately) is coasting while stabbing a teammate in the back -- CJ and Tre; Spike and Dale (although Nikki got the axe); now Leah and Arianne ...

[canasian]

Don't forget Miguel for being "top sous chef," and Manuel for not contributing enough to his dish with Spike.

Patiently awaiting Dom's thoughts...

[Liz]

"As an aside, how ridiculous was it that they gave us a "seasonal for summer" challenge in the same season as a Thanksgiving and Christmas challenge?"

Plenty ridiculous. I got a real laugh of their trying to pass off Rochester, NY in summer as being the end of November. They should have carted in several dumptrucks full of snow.

I would prefer they ditch the faux holiday angle and stick to the chefs using seasonal ingredients for the actual times the show is filmed.

[rabrab]

"Fabio is now officially chaff. An Italian chef cooking pesto with the freshest summer basil available and he gets universally trashed? I don't even understand that. How can anyone screw up pesto using fresh ingredients, much less a top chef."

I can see that it could have been the very fact that he was working with fresh-from-the-garden-an-hour-ago basil that caused the misfire on the pesto. The judges' complaint was that the pesto was overwhelming, and that's exactly what would be the result if he didn't tweak his usual recipe to account for the fresher, less-tired flavor of the basil. Unless he's got an herb garden out back of his restaurant, I suspect he's more accustomed to basil that was picked a couple of days ago, and basil loses a lot of its punch in the first 24 hours after its picked. Most fresh herbs do.

[Jon Olsen]

Prediction: sexy shenanigans get LeaHo booted and like other premature oysters on reality shows, immediate past contestant returns. Cf Chris Marsh on project runway. So Ariane comes back after restaurant wars. Balance restored.

[Jon Olsen]

Oysters = ousters. Stupid iPhone auto correct.

[redpoint]

One thing I like about this season is there haven't been too many group challenges, quite unlike season 4, where they went a little crazy and had group challenges almost every time. Here we really see what each chef is doing. I agree, it's a 3 chef race, Stefan, Jamie, Jeff. But I'm voting for Carla for fan favorite!

[Hillary]

Definitely agree about the controversy - Ariane deserved to be there longer than some of the contestants still standing. But, at least she has her Today Show appearance going for her. I blogged about the episode on my blog too.

[canasian]

Good to know I'm not the only one whose posts get screwed up by the auto correct, Jon Olsen.

[Steve]

While awaiting Dom's revised rankings, I figured I'd start what many of us do when waiting...share our own rankings:

1. Jamie
2. Stefan
3. Jeff
4. Fabio
5. Leah
6. Radhika and Hosea (tie)
8. Carla

[Steve]

Changed my mind:

1. Jamie
2. Stefan
3. Jeff
4. Fabio
5. Radhika
6. Leah and Hosea (tie)
8. Carla

[canasian]

1. Jamie
2. Stefan
3. Jeff
4. Radihika (but I wish it was Carla)
5. Leah
6. Hosea
7. Fabio
8. Carla

[Unhappy Gilmore]

1. Stefan
2. Jamie
3. Jeff
4. Radhika
5. Leah
6. Fabio
7. Hosea
8. Carla

[Jon Olsen]

1. Jamie
2. Jeff
3. Stefan
4. Carla
5. Radhika
6. Fabio
7. Leah
8. Hosea

1 - obvious to me
2 & 3 - Jeff's getting the short end of editing, regardless of whether Tom likes him or not. Stefan is getting the long end of editing, his cockiness is actually persuading us to think he's stronger than he is.
4 - still here, a win's a win, she's all class, she makes good food, and I don't care.
5 - hangs around close, does well in quickfires and that can't be ignored
6 - keeps getting dinged, but showed so much promise
7 & 8 - all my emotions aside, she's better than he is when she's not mailing it in, and he's made really poor choices.

[babyarm]

1. Jeff - Showed most range and most like Hung in that can do a lot with little time. Doesn't have drama so people and especially doux underrate him.
2. Stefan - Has enough traditional dishes updated to modern tastes to fall back on at any time. Most like Stefan-ie in that regard.
--------Huge Gap---------
3. Radhika - Struggles without a grocery store trip, but those challenges are seldom at this point. She has some home runs left in her.
4. Jamie - Bravo is the GLBT channel for the most part and she gets an inordinate amount of airtime as a result. Has lots of people tricked she has something as a result. Very narrow range will sink her late.
5. Hosea. Keep waiting for this guy to do something of consequence. Plays it so safe, but might be holding something big back. Hope so.
---------Big gap---------
6. Carla. Shows some promise in that she can work with non protein flavors well which can make you extremely versatile and she does pastry which helps.
7. Fabio. He's the comedic relief on this show. No substance to what he's putting out there, but it's executed well enough to keep him around this long.
8. Leah. Total batali hack job. And it looks like she is in huge trouble in the previews so this is probably the last we hear from her. Good riddance.

[Skillet Doux]

"1. Jeff - Showed most range and most like Hung in that can do a lot with little time. Doesn't have drama so people and especially doux underrate him."

Clearly, you've been simply looking at the numbers rather than reading what I've been writing about Jeff :-)

[DaveP]

My ranking:

1. Stefan
2. Jeff
3. Jamie

-gap-

4. Leah
5. Fabio

-gap-

6. Hosea
7. Radhika
8. Carla

--
Dave

[Adam]

I just looked at your PRESEASON power rankings again, and I've got to say, it's a pretty impressive thing. Of your top seven, Ariane this week is the FIRST to go home. The only chefs outside your top seven still remaining are Radhika and Carla.

[DPP]

My rankings

1. Jeff
2. Jamie
3. Stefan
4. Hosea
5. Rhadika
6. Leah
7. Carla
8. Fabio

[Biebs]

1. Stefan - Consistantly good, 1 win, 3 tops in the past 3 episodes, 2 QF wins)
2. Jamie - 2 Wins in a row, very up and down, shown plenty of quality dishes
3. Jeff (I think he's cooked the best, most interesting food, however he has less wins, and more criticism from the judges)

GAP
I have trouble distingushing between
4/5/6/7. Leah - (Most recently down, first apperance on the cut list, no EC Wins, 2 QF wins)
4/5/6/7. Radikah - (Most recently dinged for a mediocre performance, two apperances in the high group in the last 4 episodes, 2 QF wins)
4/5/6/7. Fabio - Done nothing of note in the last 4 episodes, and been on the bottom half 2 of those times, looked good early on, no QF wins)
4/5/6/7. Hosea, 2 wins, one came when fridge malfunctioned and everyone helped. 2 appearences in the bottom. 1 QF win)

8. Carla - Very likeable, good at dessert, which makes her an asset, but doesn't have the talent of the other chefs, and 2 trips to the bottom in the last 4 episodes 0 QF wins)

[Scott]

Definitely too much love for jeff. His range is great and is creative we forget that creativity brought down the great blais and it will bring down jeff as well because he is definitely less talented than blais. For me it's jamie and stefan for sure in the finale with hosea being the dark horse.

Jamie
Stefan
Hosea
Jeff
Leah I hate her but she can cook
Radhika - I don't see her going far. She doesn't have a killer drive
Carla
Fabio - constant disappointment

[Polybus]

My own personal rankings:

1. Jamie
2. Stefan
3. Jeff
4. Radhika
5. Hosea
6. Carla
7. Fabio
8. Leah

Maybe we should run our own little fantasy game, but with this twist - we base the game on our predictions for Dom's rankings? Heh heh...

My guess for Skillet Doux Power Rankings:

1. Jamie
2. Stefan
3. Jeff
4. Fabio
5. Radhika
6. Hosea
7. Leah
8. Carla

[canasian]

Never get to go a day without having to defend Jeff on one of the 10,947 Top Chef/foodie blog/boards that I frequent.

Scott:
"Definitely too much love for jeff. His range is great and is creative we forget that creativity brought down the great blais and it will bring down jeff as well because he is definitely less talented than blais."

Since when is Jeff anything like Blais? Richard's was exremely experimental and worked with techniques and ingredients that are very out there sometimes not very purposeful in the flavor department. That is a style that stands out above and beyond when it works, but is also the most prone to crahing and burning (classic example being the sous-vide salmon).

Jeff is almost completely to the contrary. He works with almost common techniques and ingredients and then combines them with other common techniques and ingredients to create something that is uncommon an unexpected. Chorizo is a very traditional ingredient, but by making his own from scratch and pairing it with oysters and a saffron aioli, he just created one unique dish (well, he presented it as an amuse, but still) from three rather ordinary components. The worst that happens in this style is that it comes of as imperfect, but forgettable. (Pumpkin mousse and fruit parfait. What? Don't remember that? Forgettable mistakes.)

Really, Jeff's style is more like Stephanie's than Richard's, if you absolutey need a comparison. Simple ingredients prepared perfectly with just enough of a twist to make the food decidedly Jeff.

[Adam]

Those who slam Hosea may be missing the forest for the trees. Yes, he let Ariane drive in the last challenge, and he has made some elimination challenge errors in the past, too. But he's also scored more than his share of wins, and he's been the most consistent performer in the quickfires, which have arguably been a more true measure of skill over the course of the season.

I admit I'm rooting for him since I like his restaurant, though, so I'm not impartial.

My rankings would probably go:

1) Stefan
2) Jeff
3) Jaime
4) Hosea
5) Radhika
6) Leah
7) Fabio
8) Carla

[anon man]

Greetings after a cold day at the mall.

I thought about doing rankings, but I ran into a problem with Jeff. I maintain that Tom will smoke him eventually.

If I was doing food only, I think he would be 3 (behind the obvious 2), followed by others. If I was doing chance to win, I think I would do:

The lead 2, Fabio, Carla (she has the most dessert experience which I think will help here on in) love bird 1 (Leah), then Jeff, and last Hosea.

Food wise, I think the others are largely in the same order, with Radhika probably a little lower because of inconsistency.

[anon man]

oops. in the "chance to win category: Radhika 3 (who I completely forgot), then Fabio, then as described.

[DPP]

For those who have watched the series since the beginning, how about a top 8 (Restaurant Wars number) from Seasons 1-4? Present season excluded. My list would be:
8. Ilan (2)
7. Dale (3)
6. Tiffani (1)
5. Dale T (4)
4. Blais (4)
3. Stephanie (4)
2. Harold (1)
1. Hung (3)

(Season in parenth.)