Top Chef - S8E13 Postmortem

Ugh.

Uuughhghghhghhgh.

It's not just that Carla went down. I mean, there are other departures that would hurt as much right now. But not like that. And even beyond Carla, it was like an entire episode of suckitude.

I know everybody's telling Matthew to give Carla a hug. And she deserves it. But she's already had some time. Something tells me Matthew's the one who needs the hug.

Will to live fading. Can't write. Maybe tomorrow.

Comments

[Independent George]

1. NOOOOOOOO!!!
2. Of course Richard went evil. Look at his facial hair.
3. Oh that's right. Steph sucks at the QF. Still glad to see her again.
4. NOOOOOOO!!!
5. I'm really getting sick of these switcheroos in the finals. Put them in a position to succeed, please.

[garik16]

Indeed, NOOOOOOOOO!

Also, of note, Michael Voltaggio of COURSE made coffee pesto. Season 6 was fun.

[Anon man]

Boooooooooo. Strange episode. I need time to figure out if I liked this challenge. I would say no, with the reduction of cooking equipment, but with the time to re-configure with the fire and re-do, not so sure it was a was a bs challenge with the known quantity of what they were facing the second time around.

Matthew, hope you're ok. My wife's comment was, "I still love her" and "I hope she gets a hug".

[Redpoint]

Last weeks was a feel good episode. This was a feel bad episode. At least I have you guys here to talk to and sort this out.

I'm sorry Matthew.

Once again, Richard had to say he's better than Stephanie. What a jerk.

[Tim]

Great to see Mikey pull off two upsets in one episode, even though its a bit lame for him to call out Antonia, Carla and Tiffany for being safe. Also, Richard's dark glances to anyone that beats him need to go, although that could just be creative editing.I like Richard and he's an unbelievable chef, but his self-proclaimed untouchable status, deserved or not, grates on me a bit.

Too bad see Carla leave, such a big heart and complete class act the whole time, the shot of her at the end with one tear streaming down her face, it might've made me emotional if I actually had a soul.

[Mahalo]

I'm waiting for this episode to air on the West Coast -- I couldn't wait, I had check out the live TC result tweets.

Without seeing the show yet, I already feel sad.
Love Carla! Matthew, please tell her all her fans are so sad tonight. :(

[ally]

sad face!

the rule of inedible still holds. not surprised with the result, but i was hoping they would send a message for them to step up their game by eliminating the boring safe dish.

mike isabella, he of the two (2) count them 2 wins, both quickfires, knocks the women as a whole and says he's upset because they played it safe? as if he has been some kind of creative genius? only when he steals his material. only tiffany had fewer wins than him. disgusting, truly disgusting.

[metalkfoodieoneday]

WAAAHHHH!! I still love Carla. She brought so much heart to the show. And the shots of her food always makes my mouth water! I loved her impression of Mike dancing...too funny! I hope she gets her own TV show.

That quick fire was ridiculous. Give them a proper kitchen and then see what they can do - burners that don't work, that's weak. Voltaggio should have been able to wipe the floor with Mike Isabella. And Hosea - still whiney about the fact that he...won? still don't like him. Reminds me how much I wish Stefan could have been on All Stars. Would have liked to have seen Stefan v Blais.

As much as I love Blais, with his negative comments, I'm rooting for Antonia. You get 'em girl!

[Lon]

The phrase, "if something can go wrong, it will go wrong" sure fits this episode. What a disappointment after last week's show.

[Maria]

Nooooooo!
Matthew, please give Carla big hugs from fans she hasn't met. I love her even more after tonight.

It mad me sad to hear Richard say he hates everything he cooks. I wanna see green, perplexed tofu Richard.

[pottymouth princess]

Because it can't be said enough: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I'll throw my fan fave votes Carla's way so y'all can pay the taxes on all of those awesome trips.

You'd think once they get to the finale phase that TC could spring for appliances that work? I wouldn't put it past the Elves to have set up that fryer fire.

Isabella, the dude who has skated through almost the entire competition by being "safe" dares to call out Carla and Antonia? REALLY? Volt tweeted he was hungover; that's about the only way Isabella could beat him. And he won by sucking the least. Be proud, little man.

Blais, shut up already. The self-deprecating humor isn't funny and the grapes over losing to Steph are REALLY sour.

Still backing Antonia FTW just so I can experience the joy of Isabella being beaten by a woman and Blais just being beaten...again.

[Steve]

Honestly, how much do we get out of Antonia, Mike or Tiffany winning? Again, since we can't taste the food, us viewers need to be able to get something from the show. Exceptional technique and creativity is it. Taste may be a paramount criterion, but they need to balance it out with technique and creativity too.

I don't think I'll be watching the rest of the season. It's just Blais left who's worth watching.

As for Carla, we're all heartbroken. She's still the one I want to cook for my celebration if I win the lottery.

[The Janitor]

Anyone can have a bad day. I'm sorry it was Carla.

Also wish Richard hadn't gone so far to the dark side. But was glad to see him congratulate Mike so quickly on his win.

Richard studied all the Bahamian fish. But apparenty nobody read a Bahamian guide book about royalty?

[Cousin Sam]

boo. that is all. :(

[Cousin Sam]

ok, Gail's comment about Richard in her blog post is kinda funny.

but again I say: boo.

[Krazikarl]

I really wish that we could be done with the "crappy kitchen plus changeup" challenges. We just dont need that in the finals. This leads to disappointing food like we saw this week.

In regards to Blais:

You have to remember that this is a reality show. They way they work is that the producers come up with a story line for every person on the show. Richard's story line is that he feels he was the best chef of the season but choked in the finals. They are going to get him to repeat his story line in interviews basically every episode.

Its not like he is probably coming out and randomly declaring it to anybody who will listen every 5 minutes. I guarantee that the producers are asking him the questions to get him to talk about it often enough so that they have a clip for every episode that restates his story line.

I dont see the alleged "dark glances" that he gives to people who beat him. In this episode he won his QF and immediately congratulated Mike on his win. I saw the exact opposite of dark glances.

I also dont have a problem with him thinking that he is the best chef. Thats the way good competitors think usually - that they are the best and that if they are at the top of their game, they will win. Its the standard attitude for any pretty much any good player in sports for example. Its not like he is saying that Stephanie sucks (for example), he is saying that he thinks on a good day that he is better. Thats fine.

What was offputting was his comments about trying to get in Antonia's head. That was a rather negative attitude that I could have done without. Trying to do your best is fine - trying to get people to do less than their best is not.

[Kenny]

This episode was so depressing, on so many levels. It was as if a voodoo queen had decided the king was not good enough for the feast, and sent a disastrous spell of catastrophic ... ennui over the whole affair from start to finish.

So much open scheming, so much self doubt and quasi melting down. Such a spirit of malaise. You'd think it was filmed in Haiti after the earthquake at times. And as if that horrible sinking feeling, growing more and more profound, wasn't bad enough ... then the whole kitchen was doused in powder.

Worst episode I've ever seen of Top Chef.

Aside from all of that, I'm sorry to see Carla go. I love how Richard put it when he said 'You only have to win the last one.' Sigh. Lots of upsets recently, and everyone has to go at some point. From the talk of things it did seem as if Antonia or Tiffany would go.

It's stunning that this episode finished out at all though. It reminded me of an early Spanish film where everyone gathers for a large sumptuous meal and then forgets that they can leave, and that they have lives. They sit around in the doldrums for days, crowds gather outside... It's absurd, perplexing and allegorical. But since it ends better, it's ultimately a classical sort of comedy. Of sorts.

Far before I knew the outcome of this episode, something within me revolted. It was almost like watching The Shining.

[mncharm]

Boooooooo. That wasn't in my plans. Really wanted RAC down to the wire.

Seperately, I still don't have a problem with Richard, but I've always been a fan.

[JoeS]

I still don't hate this episode as much as the Target episode.

[timothy]

It's been said, but I am such a huge Carla fan that I want to say it myself: I am sad to see you go, Carla. You are a great cook, a great sport, and a great person. Sure, I don't know you, but the way you come across on TV is so genuine. So, yeah, I will keep watching but it won't be as fun. I like all the remaining chefs well enough, but Carla is the best reality TV character of all time, in any show, so it's going to be as hard to care as much now that she is gone.

[dc]

Both Mike and Richard made it clear they worked hard prepping and focusing for the finale. Foreshadow for final 2? How about the other three prepping during down-time?

I'm bummed because in Carla I saw Kevin Gillespie's flavor artistry over technique in elevating simple comfort food. And the way she went down, for undercooked pork, no way for judges to overlook, is a real shame. But on the bright side, no controversy.

Mike looks really good, but when he gets a wrong idea in his head he can go off the rails, crash and burn. Richard is favorite -- on a bad challenge, he's still strong. Antonia is consistent solid. Tiffany is in trouble ... her best is now only average.

[DDBen]

You know I basically expected the outcry for Carla in here but the fact is... She screwed up. Yes in last weeks she won a basically meaningless quickfire and then the judges said oh they tied lets bring 5 but the thing is. At the judges table last week only Carla was getting any real negative critique they made multiple comments about components of her dish that were below where they needed to be and while I'm sure it was still delicious had she not won that quickfire she likely would have been sent home last week.

As for this week. First off I thought the quickfire was one of the best and honestly the "winners" they had represented well most of them were fairly highly contested ones who it was great to see them defend the title.

As for the faulty nature of the equipment. I really doubt that they gave them flat out broken equipment going into that quickfire and assume that the issues were human error as there is really little chance production didn't make sure everything worked ahead of time. Also note both Antonia and Carla had the same issue with the same piece of equipment so assuming one of those was broken somehow what are the chances 2 of them had exactly the same issue?

Then Lets even assume they did. They both should have come up with a solution Carla panicked and just dumped her rice in the pot and hoped and Antonia just basically ignored it. They both earned the bottom appearance they got and both of them let it destroy them in the elimination challenge.

As for all of this stuff about Mike getting lucky or Michael having a hangover... Seriously? Fact is they both put out great dishes its not like someone chocked here like Stephanie and Mike I won by respecting the ingredient he won fair and square.

As for the elimination. At first the challenge was questionable prepping and being misled on cooking equipment is nothing new in the pre-final they have done it in several past seasons. The fact is the fire basically removed that aspect though. They all had a chance to chance the dish and another shot at executing it properly.

Those who lost after the fire beat themselves and its not like Tom told them to step up the game because he didn't feel they were playing it safe. Mike spoke his mind and I'm sorry but nothing he said was wrong even if you don't like to hear it. Him and Richard both want this win and both extensively trained for it. I can't imagine that all of the contestants didn't do some sort of training but I think its impossible to say those that showed the true drive to win this didn't prevail tonight.

[Sweet Sue]

Well, Isabella's likability lasted all of one episode. His sneering comment that all of the women were honored to be there but he and Richard had earned it was abominable.
I would like to see sexism taken as seriously as racism or homophobia because we're swimming in it. Isabella is a creep.
Carla, you will be missed, it's like the joy went out of the whole shebang.
Also, Top Chef, how can I miss you if you won't go away?
Really, worms?

[MCWolfe]

I usually lurk and I haven't watched the episode yet but since I know Matthew reads this blog, I feel compelled to comment. Matthew, I'm a DC girl and my hubs and I are both L'Academie alums. We've been rooting for Carla since the beginning of her first season so please give her a huge hug from another couple of fans she's never met.

I'm not sure I even want to watch the rest of the finale if she's not there. I liked Richard in Season 4 but he seems to be battling some demons that have nothing to do with food this time around. Douchey Mike is just a douche and Tiffany only has the benefit of the Lisa effect (someone else sucked more) behind her. I guess I want Antonia to win but even there I'm just not that enthusiastic. Oh well.

[nomnomnom]

As soon as that pork went in the fryer I was pretty confident she was a goner. When it came out raw and she started searing it on the flat top it was a lock.

I just don't get the complaints about this one. Seems completely typical finale intro challenge fare. Nearly no limitations and they just had to cook their EC dish twice on full rest. boo-hoo.

Not sure I'm ready to see this whole cast in a bathing suit.

[redpoint]

Sue, did you see the link to the Carla interview, from the last blog post? She addresses the men/women issue well. I so agree with you about this.

[Sweet Sue]

redpoint, I didn't. Is it on Bravo's website?

[matthew]

Thanks everyone! I'm bummed. SERIOUSLY bummed. Dom's right, I need a hug. :-(

Count me in for one that wants something better in the finale. The QF...meh. I didn't mind that challenge, so much.

[sidebar: I've been around Hosea enough to notice that rather large chip on his shoulder. It's a little sad that he's still carrying it around.]

The scenario in the elimination challenge bothered me. Without defending Carla, or failing to give high fives to Mike and Richard, the time for doing the great kitchen/shitty kitchen switcheroo was during the regular season, not the finale. I know everyone had to cook in the same environment. That's not my point. I just want to see the chefs cook, at their best, in a proper kitchen. That is all.

@DDBen - I don't see anyone trying to defend Carla's performance or dishes. Read the comments. There's quite a difference between expressing disappointment that someone you like was eliminated from the show, and defending undercooked meat or rice. Maybe I'm just upset, but the tone or your comments feels terse, as if you're defending another contestant. Trust me. Carla will be the first to tell you she messed up. She's not happy about it, and is not defending her performance. She has exit interviews today, so I'll let her speak for herself.

As for your comment about last week, unless you were at Judges' Table, you have no idea what criticisms were levied against the other dishes. You can only comment on what you saw. Go look at the extended Judges' Table. Also, if you know anything about the show, the contestants often comment that they are standing at the Judges' Table for a long time (sometimes hours). We see, what, five minutes of it? I would go so far as to speculate that the reason we saw the criticism of Carla's dish was editing, cueing us up for this week. It was setting the stage, if you will, for the "Carla's limping into the finals" edit. Look, I was there, and I can say -- non-homer -- that Carla had one of the best dishes that night. But, as the saying goes on this show, "you're only as good as your last dish." Carla made a poor dish and she went home. [sigh]

[matthew]

just to be clear. that final sentence was in reference to last night's results, not last week's.

[matthew]

@Sweet Sue - here's the link to the article redpoint mentioned.

http://www.ology.com/screen/exclusive-interview-carla-hall-top-chef-all-stars

[Bart]

As soon as I saw the raw pork, I knew.

What a devastating result. I really felt like Carla deserved to be among the final 3.

Hosea's still a smarmy a--hole. The black hole of the season 5 finale just got a little bigger with Hosea's win and Carla's ouster.

That whole kitchen thing was ridiculous. C'mon, really? Reducing the Top Chef contestants in the finale to a line of fry cooks?

Really?

This would have been fine, pre-Bahamas. But this was the wrong time to do it.

Ugh, so disgusted with this episode. They hit it out of the park with the previous episode, but this one was just FUBAR'd. It's like they decided to slice their fans in the face and then vomit in our gaping wounds for good measure.

Blah.

Well, Matthew, if it's any consolation, you: A) get to eat Carla's cooking on a regular basis and B) got a few trips because of her cooking. You freeloader, you ;-)

[nomnomnom]

Do people not usually remember how Finale Episode 1s usually go? Often times it's a catering challenge in really rustic circumstances. The kitchen and plating count here were well within range. The perception that they were reduced to "fry cooks" is a gross overstatement.

[TxGriff]

Uuuuuugggghhhhh. As with most of the difficult eliminations this season, I can't argue with the decision. Still, ugh. The show just became a lot less enjoyable.

I agree that we can't know for certain what questions are being asked of Richard in the off camera interviews, thus prompting his responses. I actually felt sorry for him when he said he hated all of his food. That's not the Richard we all saw in S4.

I *REALLY* hope we're not being set up for a Mike Isabella victory. Something about the way he's been portrayed the last few episodes, combined with how Richard and Antonio's interviews have been, makes me very uneasy. I say this without any sort of outside information. It's just a (sickening) feeling. I hope I'm wrong.

[Independent George]

These are the penultimate ECs from prior seasons:

S1: Finger food at the WSOP
S2: Interpretations of traditional Hawaiian dishes
S3: Surprise! Whole elk for rodeo riders
S4: Whole pig catering challenge
S5: Creole catering challenge
S6: Winery catering challenge
S7: Singapore hawker center

Catering challenges aren't bad in and of themself, as long as they don't involve gimmickry like $100 budgets or surprise! ingredients/working conditions. Heck, the whole pig from S4 remains one of my favorite challenges, ever.
Of the seven previous seasons, Only S3 involved this kind of trickery, and I hated it then just as much as I hated it here. (Though S5's surprise! fifth course exotic protein in the finale was even worse, though). In each challenge, they got a fully stocked kitchen and plenty of time to work with.

[Independent George]

Ugh. Preview before submitting, George.

[redpoint]

DDBen wrote: "Him [Mike] and Richard both want this win and both extensively trained for it. I can't imagine that all of the contestants didn't do some sort of training but I think its impossible to say those that showed the true drive to win this didn't prevail tonight."

Come on. Just because Bravo showed a clip of Mike and Richard saying they trained for the finale doesn't mean Carla and Antonia and Tiffany didn't work equally hard!!!!!!! And that Mike and Richard got 1st and 2nd because they had some form of true drive that the others did not? And by true drive, I'm wondering if you mean testicles? Just because the women don't parade around and say they are the best does not mean that they don't want to win any less or that their food is of lesser quality, or that they deserve to win less.

Yes, actually, I do think that it is impossible to say that this episode in particular showed that those who had the "true drive to win" prevailed.

[Skillet Doux]

DDBen... can you kindly point out the "outcry" over Carla's departure? Because I can't find it. I see a lot of people disappointed, because she seems like such a supremely swell gal, but I can't find a single comment that suggests her exit was in any way unfair, unjust or undeserved. You seem to be aggressively defending a position that nobody's attacking.

[redpoint]

This episode did feel like a huge letdown. There was a big party outside when the chefs got to the restaurant. They were supposed to feed 50 people. By the time they actually served their food, the party was over. It looked like there were just a few very tired people there sampling the food. Tom was given the task of explaining the dishes. No one was happy or celebrating. Except Mike.

[paula]

Gah. Blech. Just...ugh. I hated this episode. (IG, your initial post cracked me up, though: I'd totally forgotten how crappy Stef always did in QFs too!)

Matthew and Carla, consider yourselves in the middle of a big 'ole group hug from a good chunk of the Skillet Doux community. Yep, she screwed up. I, and many others, really wish she hadn't.

The point at which the show really took a turn for the worse in my mind: When Richard said, "I think I've gotten into Antonia's head...intentionally." Um, you **think** you've intentionally done something? Come on, Richard. (1) that's just stupid. And (2) why are you trying to be the guy who wins by getting into people's heads? I never thought I'd hear that from Richard. Disappointing.

[Angela]

Skillet Doux: Regarding the "outcry" issue and Carla, the comments section here typically feels like a pep rally for Carla (and Matthew), and so I knew there would be a lot of unhappy people here today. Sounds like DDBen picked up on the same thing.

[Anon Man]

Like I said last night, and after a night to sleep and let the usual Top Chef Viewing Glasses o'Wine to run their course, I'm still up in the air on this episode from a structure standpoint (the result still sucks, but it is what it is). The QF was fine enough. No one is getting immunity and some people are usually bad in QFs (Carla being one of them, record-wise), so maybe an advantage into the EC isn't fair. Cash is always a good prize. As for the EC, I still think the fire kind of saved it. They could re consider the dish, which made it less of the "good kitchen/shitty kitchen switeroo" that matthew correctly described. Other than the fact that it was probably really late at night by the time they finished, they knew what they were getting the second time. I thought it was interesting how they used that. Some just refired on the idea that its better the second time you try something, some re-configured. People from both groups were in the top and the bottom, which I find interesting from the viewer/eater standpoint.

As a minor blast on all the contestants: can anyone name the royalty that oversees the Bahamas? Here's a hint: she's old, and she's British. If someone knew that, they might have realized it was a ruse. No way Top Chef is cooking for her.

I want to go on record now as saying Richard is his own worst enemy. If he "hates every dish", then how's he not going to pee down his own leg in the finals? I get "it can always be better", but at some point, he has to let his creation fly on its own, so to speak.

[Rahul]

@TxGriff

I too am worried about a surprise Isabella win. And if that happens, it'll just reiterate that this is a game show over a cooking competition (or that the judging system is flawed). A strong MotP chef will almost always trump the top seeds if they can hold on until the finals. Case in point, Hosea. Or Ilan. Or Kevin Sbraga. Or even Stephanie Izard.

[mo pie]

I thought the dish Michael Volt made, though it didn't actually win, was the most interesting dish that's been on the show in weeks. I miss creativity like that.

And holy sexism, Batman. It's an honor for the women just to be here? That was gross. I'd like to see one male contestant express some respect for a female contestant before this show is over. Even the exit interviews have been vaguely sexist all season.

[redpoint]

Rahul: Neither Stephanie (especially) nor Ilan were middle of the pack! Stephanie might have sucked at QFs, but she won time and time again.

[Skillet Doux]

Angela... much wailing and gnashing of teeth? Sure. But why the need to extensively justify her departure? He's defending against an argument that, as far as I can tell, not a single person here is making.

Here... allow me to do the same:

DDBen... can't you see that Mike deserved to win? The comments were pretty clear. The other chefs, other than Richard, screwed up. And Mike's dish came together better than his. Can't you just accept the fact that Mike's dish was the best?

[Bill G]

@Rahul - that's why I think they should consider the whole season when in need of a tie breaker (like last week). Knowing that it could come up might inspire some chefs to try to win rather than try to survive until the finals.
Disagree that Stephanie should be included in that list.

[Skillet Doux]

Rahul... is there a polite way of asking if you're smoking crack? :-)

Going into the season four finale, Stephanie was tied for the most EC wins, and had almost 50% more top appearances than the closest competition. (And, for the record, her "lousy" quickfire record was tied for third in QF wins.) How exactly does that qualify her as a middle of the pack chef?

[pietranseri]

Just so much less fun to watch without Carla.

The only reason to keep watching is that I'm hanging on to the hope that Isabella gets a humiliating dose of comeuppance. He can cook (sometimes), but that doesn't make him less of a dick.

[Rahul]

@redpoint

Ok, I'll give you Stephanie, but Ilan was definitely upper end MotP material. The kind of chef who can make above average (but forgettable) dishes consistently, but lacks that sharp creative edge that separates them from the top seeds. Actually, I believe this is the real reason behind Hosea's attitude in the last episode. He knows he won, but he wonders if he's actually the best (he wasn't). That, coupled with the haters on the interweb, built up that chip on his shoulder and kept it there for so long.

[Dreamboat]

First, let me give a big hug to Carla and Matthew. Carla seems like such a genuine person and has such a big personality, I was sad to see her go.

I would like to try to explain Blais, at least from my point of view. People here decry both his arrogance and his self-deprecation. They don't seem to understand either. But he has a personality much like mine -- at any given moment I am the best thing to ever land on this earth, or I suck so bad I should not even leave the house. There is no in between. There is no middle ground. I either suck or I am great.

I saw this demonstrated in this episode when Blais was standing in the kitchen talking to himself about what an awful dish he put out. Yet he put out a solid dish! The problem was it was not perfect, so in his mind he sucks. To be great, he has to be perfect. Anything less than perfect is "sucks". There is no in between for him.

[redpoint]

Rahul: It's been a while since I watched season 2, but who was more deserving in that pack? Some say Marcel, but I was never impressed with his MG. With Ilan and Marcel at the top was Sam, with Cliff and Elia. Ilan was just as much a contender as they were. And now remember the others: Betty, Michael, Frank . . .
Nope, Ilan was not in the middle.

[Rahul]

@Dom

Haha, ok ok I was wrong to throw Stephanie in there. My point was that in the finals, the judges usually award consistency over creativity. Mike I. is right on the cusp, as in he's just creative enough to snag the win, even though he rarely reaches the highs that the upper seeds do.

[Anon Man]

If I can stand up for Ilan for a second. Ilan wasn't really middle of the pack either. He won two ECs, as many as any other contestant, and not including the actual win. And, he was only in the bottom twice, one of which was the final episode. Marcel, Elia and Sam (and the DQd Cliff) did get more "Top" mentions than him, but he did win as many as, or more than, the others. He was a "contender" from the beginning, along with those 4.

[mncharm]

Richard, in my mind, is one of those competitors who, if they do anything less than perfection, will be all over himself -- it's what drives them.

Jordan, Tiger, etc...that's what feeds them. Yes, it's not all warm and fuzzy, but that's how they are. I'm not going to knock them for it.

Enjoyed seeing in Carla's interview that Richard was willing to "cross the line" to come talk with the ladies.

On a separate note, like others, I'm not seeing anger over Carla's loss or any suggestion that it was unfair -- just disappointment that she's gone. A tremendous cook, a great television personality, and, on pretty solid evidence, an even better person. Boo again.

Hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, I was thinking there was a good chance three of what I considered the five favorites -- RAC plus Angelo and Dale -- would make it to the last episode. Now we're only guaranteed one and at a max two! Bummer.

[Rahul]

The judges set that precedent from the first season, and if I remember correctly, they even said as much. Tiffani had higher highs, but Harold produced a series of dishes with fewer lows.

[redpoint]

Dreamboat: I understand it, and I personally have a problem with it. It's all about the ego, the I. (I'm talking about Richard, not you!) It is a fatal flaw. Hubris (though not in all it's meaning, so please I don't need a linguist to tear me apart). I don't appreciate people who think "it's all about me." And Richard being his own worst critic isn't charming and it doesn't excuse him. Instead it exposes him for the egomaniac he is.

Yes, the guy can cook. He has great ideas. And in some instances, he has shown he is a decent all-round fellow. But I'm not rooting for him.

How fortunate the elves were to have Carla there to contrast.

[mncharm]

There is no doubt that Richard expects great things of himself. And if that isn't charming to people, that's fine, I get it. I might have a problem with it if he were constantly putting others down, but I don't see that -- I see him agonizing against himself.

It also cannot be forgotten, if we're going to judge him fairly (and, as always, with the caveat that we don't see it all), he, more so than any other competitor in this show, has been willing to help and assist the very people who are trying to beat him -- to the point that some of other contestants said they would not do the same. More than one contestant said at JT that Richard helped elevate their dish. Heck, if he hadn't helped Antonia with the pressure cooker when she had to cook tongue, that episode may well have turned out very differently.

So I think it is all too simplistic to say he is an egomaniac. While I see the arguments, I think that it also far too easy and unfair to pigeon hole him that way.

[Polybus]

I still think Richard is the best chef, but I'm now rooting for Antonia to win. Keep out of her head, Richard. You don't belong there.

Matthew, my sympathies, amigo.

[Alamos Road]

Scuba diving for your ingredients? This really is turning into Survivor.

I can't remember whether it was during the Season 1 or Season 2 finals -- but I think it was Season 1 -- that one of the contestants (Dave?) told the other (Harold?) that for the next EC they would be given bows and arrows and dropped in the mountains to hunt for dinner.

[paula]

I understand Richard's personality, the I'm-great/I-suck dichotomy. Everyone has good and bad tendencies, and it's a matter of managing one's own personality traits so you can be happy and live harmoniously with other people. Richard just seems to have let the dark side of that personality get the better of him, in a way he didn't in his own season. I'm sure that's because he fully expected to win his season, and he was having fun then (in his over-intense, but still charming way) along the way to his inevitable victory. But that victory didn't happen, and it blindsided him.

Now he's put so much on winning this All-Star title, too much, as redemption. It's just kinda sad, that's all. I wish he could let himself be great without worrying so much about being the best. That boy needs a joy transfusion, STAT! (I'm sure Carla would be happy to donate to the cause.)

[mncharm]

paula, very fair take -- I admit, even I want to give him a pat on the back and say "buck up, dude, you're doing fine!"

[Independent George]

I actually do feel a little bad for Hosea. He's not one of favorites, but won he won a tough competition fair & square, but is constantly overshadowed by others. I think the biggest issue with him isn't so much that he lacked creativity, but that he lacked a defineable style. Even when he succeeded, it felt like he was executing someone else's menu*, even if you rationally know it's ridiculous.

Heck, even reading my own comment, I'm giving him a backhanded compliment, but that's not my inention at al. The point is, he's endured a lot of bad internet attention on account of his success, rather than his failure. Unlike the All-Stars contestants seeking redemption for defeat, he's seeking vindication for victory.

That's a much different category, and I think a much more difficult position to be in. I can't help but feel I'd carry it with me in much the same manner, if our positions were reversed.

*In some ways, it was unfortunate for both he and Richard being paired together and winning. For Hosea, there was the indignity of having his victory ascribed to his sous-chef. For Richard, it almost magnifies the 'choking' stigma, as he was only able to experience the victory by taking on the subordinate role. Please note, I think both interpretations are ridiculous, but I can't count how many times I've read them. I can only imagine how the two of them felt.

[Polybus]

All Richard Blais Hamlet comments need to be encapsulated within very large brackets called [TOP CHEF REALITY]. In [REAL WORLD REALITY] he appears to be a happy, well-adjusted creative businessman with a lovely family. Just sayin'.

[matthew]

Ummm...was I the only one last night thinking, "Foam. Hmmm...more foam." It was bubbling on dishes from both Mike and Richard.

On the Richard thing. I am pretty hard on myself, but I usually default to humility when asked, but don't openly beat myself up. The whole "tortured genius" thing can get a little weathered, though. In response to Richard's "I hate every dish," I thought Carla query about how he discerns a good dish from a bad dish was spot on.

[nomnomnom]

I still think if the hootie-colored glasses are taken off for a bit you had a defacto sudden death playoff between Tiffany/Carla from the prior week. I know many disputed whether those were the actual bottom 2, and maybe they edited the last NYC episode to set up this one, but that was my feel going in the whole way.

I think for both of them to survive they had to come in 1st/2nd. I could be 100% wrong on this, and we'll likely never know but at no time did I ever think Antonia was at risk. For Antonia to go home there would have been the greatest injustice in TC history. Really.

[paula]

Well, yeah, that's a given, Polybus...although do you really know how is in the REAL WORLD? Or is your assumption based on, say, his Twitter and Facebook feeds? 'Cuz that ain't reality, either...that's brand management.

[mncharm]

It's hard for me to imagine that the producers and judges got together on a conspiracy like that, nom -- are you saying that prior to JT at the last NYC episode, there was some sort of deal cut that "we'll take both Tiffany and Carla, but unless they finish one/two at the first finals challenge, one has to go?" If so, I'd suggest that's pretty far-fetched.

[pietranseri]

I'm with you mncharm. Gail's pork was inedible. That's gonna get you PYKAG'ing. No conspiracy necessary.

[Independent George]

Dom - Until you mentioned it, even I didn't realize how strong Steph was in S4. up to the finale, she had 10 tops (4 wins) in 13 episodes (though she was on the bottom for the remaining three). That's actually the record for tops, and a three-way tie for 2nd on wins.

Not to flog a dead horse, but by the numbers:

EC Top:

1. - Stephanie (10)
3t. - Kevin G (9)
3t. - Michael V (9)
4. - Brian (8)
6t. - Richard S4 (7)
6t. - Antonia S6 (7)*

EC Wins

1. Kevin G (5)
4t - Stephanie (4)
4t - Bryan (4)
4t - Richard S4 (4)
...followed by a bunch with 3 wins

* unofficially, she was also recognized as having a top dish on a losing team twice by my count. Include those, and that ties her with Kevin G.

[nomnomnom]

My theory is based on the way they really had to "reach" in a sense to make it appear Tiffany/Carla were bottom 2 in the last NYC challenge after editing this episode. Note:This was a fairly common theory that I tried to understand coming into this episode, but didn't agree with.

If you take that they were bottom 2 at face value last time (I tend to lean this way) then I think you look towards this episode last night as a sudden death. As such Antonia was not really up for elimination. If Carla's food was cooked I think it was a tougher call. Carla just made it easier and as such no conspiracy really transpired.

I realize this perhaps makes little to no sense to anyone but me. I was mainly going through the what-ifs. A pointless exercise most likely.

[Sweet Sue]

Matthew, thanks for the Carla link, I read it and left a supportive comment.
She's a wonderful human being and you deserve each other.

[DDBen]

Alright let me take a minute to defend a few things.

First off In the early posts before mine a lot of people were complaining about the equipment failure as being the reason for Carla's ousting this week. All I was pointing out was it was user error on her part that sent her home. Also that as she stated and as is true that she has had no past success trying new techniques on the fly. (aka Sous-vide meats from her last ousting or throwing a whole pork loin in the deepfrier as a log and hoping it came out right this week).

So as a slightly shorter version of this I felt this was one of the strongest quickfire/elimination set of challenges all season and I do not understand the apparent dislike for either of them. I could see it for the elimination right up until they had the fire and the option of doing a different dish knowing the curve ball.

As for the edit... You can get a pretty good idea of what went on. I first recommend you read the Team Top Chef blog. This is put out by the editor and has nothing to do with food but is done by the head editor. I recommend reading it for some insight on how specifically editing feels about the contestants and take that a big into consideration.

As for all of these claims of omg Mike is Sexist kill the witch. First off isn't one of Mike's best friends who he has been close to on BOTH of his seasons Jen? Also in past edits and in a vast majority of these Mike has always made comments about people in a laughing joking Manor so before crucifying him lets not ignore the fact that after saying things like that Mike is almost always laughing in a joking manor.

Finally on that matter explain to me why what he's said is "sexist". Yet the girls over the last several episodes and many previous ones talking about the count of remaining girls and more so claiming a woman should win is in any way less sexist then the stuff Mike said.

Now Finally as a aside over this season Mike has never been my pick for a winner. Mine like many others were Dale and Angelo who over the last 2 previous eliminations were eliminated. Currently after this weeks show I would have my "power rankings" as followed.

Mike: Double win this week and the only one currently holding up under the pressure of the finals.

Richard: He's putting out good food but doubting himself like he is will either make him stronger or cause him to choke its really hard to tell right now.

Antonia: This week was a huge failure on her part as she executed both of her dishes poorly. Next week she could easily bounce back if the emotional strain doesn't defeat her.

Tiffany: Why is she still even here? I mean in her case unlike Mikes earlier season its not just that she wasn't winning but she was actively in the bottom the entire time as well.

[Skillet Doux]

DDBen...

"First off In the early posts before mine a lot of people were complaining about the equipment failure as being the reason for Carla's ousting this week."

Many people were lamenting Carla's elimination, and some people complained about the equipment failure. I don't think anybody drew a connection between the two other than you.

[Independent George]

The funny thing about Richard is that I never thought he choked in S4 - he lost, honorably and honestly - but I think he's almost certainly going to choke this season.

[JJ]

God bless Carla, but I'm mainly relieved that Antonia was not eliminated because I was going crazy thinking that Carla and Tiffany were again in the bottom (this is like the fifth time in a row for Tiffany) only to have someone else get cut. I'm sorry but Tiffany drives me insane. Every week she says she's going to bring it, and every week she's on the bottom. I also agree with Mike Isabella that the level of ambition she shows with her food is not up to scratch. I'm glad the judges FINALLY said something about this. She has yet to make a single memorable dish the entire All-Stars season. So I'll miss Carla, but I also miss Angelo and Dale and all the other people who should have been there in the finale.

[pietranseri]

There's a medical expression that I think applies: true, true and unrelated.

I, and many others are sad to see Carla go. True.

I didn't like the structure of the EC. True.

Both of those things are unrelated.

[DDBen]

Dom

I respect your difference in opinion. My interpretation on the other hand is simply different then yours.

I will be the first to admit I've never understood the Carla love. She seems like a perfectly nice person and she would occasionally make me laugh. I'm glad her and Matthew are happy together and I wish her the best in the future.

I find it actually quite interesting that me posting anything negative about her at all requires such discussion. Fact is a lot of people her love her the head editor included based on her blog which is likely why Carla generally gets a lot of screen time and a lot of one liners and in turn is why a lot of people feel they "really love her personality".

I can understand people being upset there favorite went home. Heck as I stated my top choices were the last 2 eliminations. I can't on the other hand understand people being upset about the quality of the challenges for this episode. I also can't get behind OMG Carla was eliminated I have no desire to finish the season. If you honestly don't see people saying this stuff all over the comments I simply don't know what to tell you.

[JJ]

Oh, and I agree: the episode sucked big time. My dwindling enthusiasm for the All-Stars season has in no way been overturned by the suckitude of that episode. I'm tired of all the lame twists and turns the producers throw in the path of the contestants, including their discovery that they were going to have to complete their dishes working in a under equipped kitchen with fire-hazard instruments.

I guess too that the "surprise" decision to keep all 5 contestants was pre-scripted since, if it had indeed been a surprise, 2 contestants would have been eliminated. I'd prefer there to be only one episode left, b/c I'm kind of over it already.

[Skillet Doux]

DDBen...

I think we have a failure to communicate here.

Whether or not it's sad that Carla went is a matter of opinion.

Whether or not the challenges were problematic or inappropriate for the finals is a matter of opinion.

Whether or not the commenters before you blamed Carla's elimination on the challenges or the equipment is a matter of fact. And unless there are invisible comments I can't see, you're simply wrong in saying that previous commenters were blaming Carla's loss on the equipment or the challenges. Please go back and reread and kindly show me where anybody made such a suggestion.

I reiterate... by saying people are wrong in blaming Carla's loss on the challenges or the equipment, you are refuting an argument that nobody here has made.

And incidentally, I'm also annoyed by a lot of elements of this week's challenges, but it certainly isn't because Carla went home. Eliminate anybody else, and I'm no less annoyed by malfunctioning equipment and gotcha twists after prep is already done. And I think I've been pretty damn consistent and vocal about that opinion over the nearly five seasons I've been doing this no matter who the contestants are at the time.

[paula]

DDBen, just to clarify a little thing: The editor who blogs on bravotv.com is not an editor on the show. She's the editor of the website. She has nothing to do with the show or any decisions made about it.

[Alamos Road]

@IG: Agreed (in part). I thought Richard's "I choked" was the Top Chef equivalent of "You can't fire me, I quit." He wanted to tell the judges he had lost before they told him Stephanie won. Snatching a choke from the jaws of defeat; "I'm the better chef and I would have won if only . . ."

[Bart]

@DDBen: Not to pile on you, but point of interest...

I find it actually quite interesting that me posting anything negative about her at all requires such discussion.

No, you said that people were saying that Carla's ouster was unjustified. Everybody replied that this wasn't the case - all of here on Skillet Doux (except maybe Matthew) pretty much agree with the judges. It just happens that we're upset to see a favorite go, but we knew she deserved to be eliminated.

I also can't get behind OMG Carla was eliminated I have no desire to finish the season.

To be honest, I haven't read all of the comments carefully, but I haven't seen that. At all.

Like I said, I'm not trying to bash you or anything... I think you might be misunderstanding what we're posting, tis all.

[ally]

@DDBen: Saying that Mike isn't sexist because Jen was one of his best friends is like saying someone disparaging other races isn't racist because they have an African American friend. In case I need to connect the two points, let me say that having female friends doesn't preclude that he is sexist, when there have been a LOT of comments in two seasons from Mike where he describes the female contestants as a whole (Jen excluded?) and defines them in a way that isn't backed up by the results. I'm glad that he isn't really that bad as a whole, or at least thats what Carla seems to think based on her interview. However, as one of the contestants said, if you didn't say it in the first place, it can't appear on the show.

[matthew]

I was sad to see Carla get eliminated, but you won't hear/read a protest from me about the decision. Undercooked meat will get you cut every time. Period. Full stop.

There are some people on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook saying they are not watching TC now that Carla's been cut. I can't speak for any one of these people, but something tells me the majority of people will, in fact, watch the remainder of the finale. Some fan(atic)s are just heartbroken. That's fine. I freely admit that just this morning, I stood in the shower and pondered that very thing. "Can I bear to watch the rest of the show?" The answer was simple - yes.

[ally]

As for Richard, I think it is hard to watch him now, because it really is sad. I felt bad for him, to be honest. I didn't like that he said he should have won, but I don't blame him for being competitive, and for trying to beat Stephanie now, and for sure I think a lot of chefs are arrogant, and if you put them in front of a camera for an hour, there'd be some really bad clips coming out of that. However, I don't hear Richard making attacks on others. It's usually about himself and how he is doing.

I really do think that this is great TV this season. It makes think about issues, root for people, feel sorry for them, makes you angry, makes you sad, and is often controversial.

And oh yeah, sometimes the food looks great and makes you want to try that at home. :)

[Polybus]

@paula "Or is your assumption based on, say, his Twitter and Facebook feeds? 'Cuz that ain't reality, either...that's brand management." This is a really great point and I actually did think of it before I posted, however, let's say you even just split the difference between Hamlet Richard and Pleasantville Richard, you probably just end up with some kind of normal guy. I think it would be a mistake to assume that Richard is really a brooding, petulant person outside of TC. Just trying to lighten the discussion a little.

[HF]

Congratulations to Carla... she made it to the finals, had a guest spot on Late Night, won 3 fabulous trips, her hubby got a trip to Manhattan and a dinner with the Top Chef judges, and she hugely increased her fan base. Not a bad run!!!

Stew, braised meats, deep fryers, pulled pork paired with seafood again... booooorriiiiiiiinnnngggggg!

Can someone explain how a sous vide was made? I thought sous vide was cooking sealed bags of food in water for days at low temperature? Also, hootie-booo? Are you serious, Bravo?

O.T., I'm repulsed when I cross the railroad tracks and intracoastal from West Palm into Palm Beach, from ghetto to the Kennedy compound and Mar-a-Lago in under a mile. Seeing the opulence of Atlantis compared to the shithole that was Twin Brothers... omfg, I'm never going to the Bahamas.

Dom said it perfectly... suckitude.

[paula]

Random notes:

Matthew, I noticed the foam theme, too. Yuck. Even if it was delicious, I thought Richard's dish looked gross.

And did Volt really say he made a "burnt leek and coffee pesto"?! I totally want the recipe for THAT. (As I've said, I loooove to try randomly paired ingredients to see it they actually work...that is, as long as I know the chef is reputable!). Garik16, when that dish was described, I really missed Season 6, too.

[paula]

Polybus: True dat. :)

[Alamos Road]

Burnt leeks? Maybe I could manage that. I have nothing but admiration for all of these chefs because I went to the Cookie Monster Culinary Institute: "I just kind of throw things in bowl and mix and hope for best."

[twelden]

I normally try to avoid speculating on the "psychology" behind the contestants' personalities/actions on TC, mostly because, as has been noted here many times, it seems unfair to them for viewers to speculate about such things based on the limited and highly edited clips of these all-to-human people we get from the show. But my daughter said something last night about the seeming differences between S4 "Sunny Richard" and TCAS "Hamlet Richard" (to steal from others here) that (much to my adult-shame) hadn't occured to me.

We were watching last week's episode in the lead up to the new episode, and at one point Richard noted that he and his wife were having a rough year because his mother had died two months prior and his wife's grandmother had died earlier in the year. And my daughter wisely noted "Maybe he's just sad because his mom died."

I obviously cannot speak for Richard; nor would I presume to. But from my own experience with the death of a parent, the grief associated with it can unknowingly permeate one's being and influcence every part of a person's daily life, often without the person even realizing it. Joyful moments are dampened; sad moments amplified; and everyday life becomes a bit more of a chore. And the only cure seems to be a mix of friends, family and time. For Richard to start TCAS one-to-two months after his mother died, completely cutoff from his family, must have been incredibly difficult, and might make anyone feel strained under the pressure.

[Independent George]

The funny thing about the QF equipment failure is that I supsect it's due to an attempt to give the chefs the best chances available.

I believe this was the first time we've they've used an induction cooktop, which is actually perfect for an outdoor challenge. A lot of chefs even prefer them to gas - you can be a lot more precise about temperature with an induction plate than a regular burner.

I suspect that either they miscalculated the power output for one station, or maybe even someone just tripped over a power cord.

I went to the Cookie Monster Culinary Institute: "I just kind of throw things in bowl and mix and hope for best."

No way - I was Class of '95! I only graduated from the Mom Academy a few years later, when I went back for post-graduate study.

[twelden]

matthew wrote: "There are some people on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook saying they are not watching TC now that Carla's been cut."

Count my daughter as one of those people, having now sworn off TCAS because "Carla was the best." And don't understimate the resolve of a fan scorned: she stopped watching TC after Jen was eliminated in S6 and boycotted all of S7, something which in retrospect I might have been better off doing as well. ;-)

[pottymouth princess]

@Matthew, very well put. We're adults and if I could watch S2 to its bitter end, I can and will watch now, even though Carla was (rightfully) eliminated. I said to my husband at the time: "Raw pork can kill you." That's about as egregious as it gets.

That said, the faulty equipment did not contribute to Carla's elimination; she and Antonia (that we know of...there could have been others) had faulty equipment in the QF and a non-functioning oven in the EC. My complaint was not that those things contributed to anyone being eliminated; I said that by the finale, even if you're cooking fish by a stream, the cooking conditions should be such that a dish (be it a QF or EC) can be properly executed to the chef's best ability. Gaffes like raw meat or Hung and Marcel forgetting acid are totally on THEM.

As for "training," maybe Antionia had to go back to her REAL job to support herself and her family; Blais is pretty much consulting these days and is apparently doing well enough to "study" and Isabella was between jobs, but apparently had enough bank to go around to kitchens in DC for practice while getting his new place opened. I imagine Tiffany likewise had to actually work at her JOB. If Matthew chooses, he can enlighten us as to what Carla did in between the months between regular show and finale tapings.

[Skillet Doux]

pottymouth princess... Unless you have some detailed and specific knowledge about what kind of work and how much of it the chefs have been doing lately, getting stridently speculative about who did and didn't spend their time off appropriately and/or honorably strikes me as a dubious practice. I have no idea how hard any of these people work on a day to day basis, and I suspect you don't either.

[matthew]

Carla finished her interviews today. Here's one on TVGuide.com that pretty much addressed what we're talking about.

Carla: "I would have sent myself home, too."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Top-Chef-Carla-Hall-1030520.aspx

[Independent George]

Matthew - well said.

I am in no way claiming my experience is the same as yours, but not so long ago, I watched my beloved New York Football Giants choke away a playoff-clinching victory against the hated Eagles in the final minutes of Week 15 this year, then sleepwalk through a blowout loss to the Packers a week later. That hurt. Badly. I wanted to vomit for at least a week.

Nonetheless, I remain as much a fan of football as I am of the Giants, and never even considered not watching the rest of the games.

I love watching Carla, and am saddened by her loss, but I will continue to watch to the bitter end and hope for the success of [I]all[/I] the contestants. Unlike football, TC is not a zero sum game; you can root for the success of all players and hope the judges have a difficult time, as they did last week. I, and so many others, actually prefer it that way.

[mncharm]

IG, as a Vikings fan who knows that sort of pain times about a million, I can confirm that yes, I keep watching, despite the torture.

By the way, I'm more than a little miffed at the Giants for not finishing off the Eagles that game -- an amazing ending to that game that gifted a playoff spot to the Packers. Grrrr...

[Independent George]

mncharm - ah, yes, I'm all too aware of your unique pain. It's too bad Will Allen doesn't post here anymore - you could comiserate together.

Someday, we will have TC stats which can quantify the magnitude of my despair the way this chart does.

[twelden]

IG - On the pain of your sports team losing, check this out if you never have: (http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/020528). Hilarious, true, hearwrenching. A TC version ranking "degrees of eliminations" would be pretty fun, I think.

[Steve]

Boo, boo, boo.

Carla should have stayed.

Don't understand folks hatred of Richard. He's ambitious - a good thing. He's hard on himself - angst in some doses is a good thing. He's aiming to succeed and be excellent. Bravo.

Seems as if Mike came up with not just a delicious dish but also one that was not pedestrian. I will still eat at his restaurant when it opens but I still cannot accept that after a mostly mediocre season for him, he is in the finals.

I would have preferred that Tiffany went home for her "pedestrian" dish instead of Carla for her flawed one.

Still can't get excited about watching Antonia cook. Eating her food, yes. But on TV, you're just watching.

[pottymouth princess]

Dom, you're right, to a certain extent. We don't know what the women did because the Elves chose not to expose that information. Maybe they went back to work (as I recall Casey did) and did not have time to do special "research." That's why I asked Matthew to share anything he cared to about what Carla did between tapings.

The guys mentioned what they did in their time between tapings and Isabella DID say he was working in several places, especially training desserts. Blais also mentioned his "study," and from what I've read about Flip, it's about 50/50 w/r/t his presence. Yes, it may be a bit presumptuous, but I think it's also fairly reasonable to assume that he (and Isabella) were able to "study" to a certain extent. As for the women, I should have kept my fingers silent; maybe Antonia took a world tour like Stephanie did. Who knows for sure?

[mncharm]

IG, yes, I recall Will Allen being a die-hard MN sports fan. Good man.

Amazing what a DeSean Jackson TD will do to the odds, isn't it?

[Jon Olsen]

When Cris Carter finally gets into the NFL hall of fame, one thing they will say of him will be how he broke down his competition mentally on the field. That dude was jawin' constantly. They mic'd him up once and it was all "I'ma beat you on this play. Hey 37. I'ma beat you on this play." Then he goes out and beats the poor cornerback with a spectacular sideline grab, and while getting up after the play, "You gotta get your life together. You gotta work on your game but you gotta get your life together. Find some meaning in your life." Lather, rinse, repeat.

Breaking down the opponent mentally is part of any game. Bobby Fischer to Bobby Orr, Martina Navratalova to Annika Sorenstam. Richard Blais. You don't think Antonia would be cool with that? You think she saw that tape and was offended? Strong, smart, balanced competitor like her? Naw.

Quit being weenies, commenters on the internet. (like that sentence isn't redundant)

[Steve]

Final note: Not a fan of not encouraging the contestants to produce their very best food in the semi-final/finale. There should be no gimmicks, no tricks, no challenges other than cooking the best meal with the best ingredients available and the best technology available. Period.

I'm bummed. :( Go Blais!

[nomnomnom]

The next EC will be a beach party. The gimmicks will be a plenty. I don't really see why they need two seafood beach parties in one season exactly, but yet here we are.

And Tiffany's restaurant closed between the NYC shots and the finale shots. She may have had a lot of time to prep.

[Independent George]

And Tiffany's restaurant closed between the NYC shots and the finale shots. She may have had a lot of time to prep.

Maybe, but that sounds like a rather stressful and difficult event to go through. Basically, from S7, her schedule went like this:

TC
Marriage
TC
Sudden and Unexpected Job Loss
TC

I just think that's a lot to handle in a relatively short period of time. She may not have been executing this season, but we've known from her history that she's got talent. I really do think fatigue has been a major issue for her, as it was for Angelo.

[pietranseri]

Jon, I'm feeling that. I think Antonia's mentally tough. And I don't think she'll be at all pissed when she sees that, unless I've vastly underestimated her. And I don't think I have.
Sincerely,
Another internet weenie.
[That should totally be a t-shirt.]

[rab01]

Tom's blog is up ... and for some reason he thinks that Mike Isabella won the challenge at Ellis Island.

I'm sure Antonia took Richard's comment as a compliment, which it was. That said, it shows his mental weakness to be playing that game and acknowledging it in an interview.

I think last night's episode was such a drag because (1) the King didn't have much interesting to say about the food, (2) the festive atmosphere was killed by the extra wait (minimum 4-5 hours); and (3) the chefs didn't want to be there anymore either. If the producers had said everyone go home and cook a late afternoon lunch for the same crowd, the show would've been more upbeat and fun.

[Natalie]

I think last night's episode was such a drag because (1) the King didn't have much interesting to say about the food, (2) the festive atmosphere was killed by the extra wait (minimum 4-5 hours); and (3) the chefs didn't want to be there anymore either.

This, exactly. My disappointment with the episode isn't actually that Carla the sunny and generally thoughtful went home, or that Mike I the sexist blowhard won. Even though both of those hurt my soul.

It just felt flat and boring, like the last episode revved us up for a 10 piece band and gave us an asthmatic guy with a tin horn. The QC was a blip and a criminal waste of the former winners. I really hope they show back up in the coming episode(s). Then the fakeout with the Royalty KOs the building excitement of the Chefs and the grease fire kills the intensity of everything else. Judges, King, other diners, and chefs: everyone looked like they were coming off shift and headed to a Waffle House. Blah.

I do think Mike I is hugely sexist, and having Jen as a pal basically validates that because he apparently can only respect female chefs who "act like" male ones. The Man Way is the right way, and any other way is unworthy of respect. Give me a break.

[bryanD]

Well, I liked this episode. There was a quick fire and there was an elimination challenge with an actual elimination. Was that too much to ask?

Of course, as has been a recurring symptom of TC since late-season 2, some unseen producer's inchoate hatred for his own show or for the audience makes itself felt.
The appliance snafus? Easily rigged by safe increase of electrical resistance that will starve appliance of prescribed power. Top Chef returns to this trick again and again, year in and year out. Some invisible producer hates cooks and/or cooking. Maybe his true allegiance is Real Housewives?

Also: perhaps Tom really doesn't know the difference between "Bohemian" and Bahamaean(sp), and the chefs (some of them, anyway) CERTAINLY latched on to Royalty as opposed to "royalty". Hilarity ensues minus the ha-ha. Poor Chef Rippert playing along was sad.
Sadder still: that police escort to the potemkin village complete with NO BYSTANDERS on the street. It looked like North Korea with black people. The clean, humble restaurant looked like it belonged in Anaheim California or Wichita Kansas. No soul and no character that relates to West Indies in any apparent way.

Richard's "dark side" coming out was amusing. More notable was his partial evolution beyond his trademark Look-at-Me hair. I say partial, because Richard could not resist mussing it *just so* by the time of the Judges Table. That's OK. Baby steps.

Sorry to see Carla go, of course. As long as Tiffany is next, the finals can still be fine. (At least they aren't cooking elk at 10,000-ft above sea level, and TWO kitchen fires or snafus in one setting would beggar belief. Just beware the poison sea shells and electric eels, maybe.)

[Ranhorn]

I have pretty bad gas

[doktarr]

I didn't have to click on the chart to know which one you were pulling up there, IG.

P.S. Yards After Catch are a function of the receiver!

[noob]

I caught the end of the re-run version of last weeks episode (Ellis Island) and noticed that the elves had edited out Padma's 'PPYKA ...' judges table quip to Richard. Did anyone else catch that? Was it all my imagination? Is this real life?

Re: Dark Richard
Richard's chicken and egg commentary was one of the best top chef blog posts. And at this point, all he's doing is fixating on the egg (or rather just the title of top chef maybe) which is a puzzling departure in attitude. Given: all the interview answers he's providing could be led by questions, but every time he puts down Stephanie's win as his loss, I lose just a little bit of respect for him.

Carla's departure now makes it 3 very strong chefs that have been eliminated in a row. Though it did give us one of the very best episodes in the middle - all chefs performing at their peak. All 3 eliminations have been justified, that doesn't mean you don't feel sad especially if you watch the show for the food/cooking.

[Kenny]

It's an interesting scenario being played out with Richard. Last time he was in the Bahamas his wide was about to have a baby, and he choked. This time his wife is about to have a baby.... and the drama is palpable.

About the equipment failures / producers would never allow substandard equipment canard... The producers obviously allowed flawed equipment into the schema. Anyone spending time in Third World countries would recognize that in an instant. It happens all the time, and there's no warehouse down the street to run a get a new one.

And obviously, the deep fat fryer was negligence at it's worst. The production crew obviously didn't try it out.

If they were there three weeks, it's sad they didn't just find another venue. (Although, maybe Gail was there three weeks, and not the production crew.)

Well. Life goes on.

[Skillet Doux]

Kenny... there's no possible way the production crew was there for three weeks. The expense would be enormous. They probably shot the entire regular season in about three weeks... maybe less.

[Kenny]

Dom, I agree and understand that. But Gail mentioned it delightfully in her blog. That being said, I do attribute equipment failures to the producers, and not the chefs.

[Skillet Doux]

Kenny... I know, but as you suggest was possible, she must have meant that *she* was there for two weeks. Or perhaps by "we" she meant her and her husband. Or perhaps her and a small number of production people who were doing some advance work or something like that. But I can't imagine how it'd be possible for them to have the crew out there for so long... or if it were possible, why on earth they'd do such a thing. I meant to reinforce your suggestion that perhaps she meant herself. That has to be what she meant.

[rab01]

Gail said she was there for 2 weeks and I don't think all of it was Top Chef:

"We happened to be there for over two full weeks, which coincided nicely with two of NY's major snowstorms this winter, so I couldn't have been more pleased to be there. The beaches were gorgeous, the water was beautiful, the weather was completely perfect, and we had a lot of fun."

I'd guess that Top Chef shooting took up about 6 of those days.

As for substandard equipment, I have no objection to it so long as the chefs get a chance to look at the challenge before comitting to their dish. Twists and uncertainty lead to safe, crappy food; constraints usually lead to unusual and creative solutions.

If equipment just plain breaks or the power goes out, the producers should stop the clock, run in, do an assessment with the chefs, and then give them some time "off-the-clock" to reconceive their dish.

[Sweet Sue]

This is something that really bothers me about Mike Isabella.
He loved his grandma so much and his grandma taught him how to cook. He was so devestated when grandma died that he could never cook Italian again--boo hoo.
But when he really wanted to insult and humiliate Robin who was about eight years older than he, the epithet of choice was "grandma."
Can you see what a smarmy, opportunistic, egomanical phoney he is?

[Kenny]

Dom, I hear you,... And my mistake about Gail's timeframe. I still think there were some funky timing and production issues. Well meant but, took their toll on the chefs.

[JimD]

Very disappointing. I have nothing personal against Tiffany, but she has cooked the second-worst dish way too often in this competition and simply does not belong in the finale. If she makes the finale alongside Mike, I may not watch.

[Anon man]

Sue, I can't speak for Mike, but as an Italian-American myself, I'll state simply that grandmother (and mother) relationships for Italian men can be complicated. Mike does have a certain swagger to him that is hard to watch, but I don't think its fair to make the comparison to ripping on Robin as "grandmother", which was probably one of the nicer things he ever said about her on tape, to an analysis of his relationship with his grandmother. Are his views of women, especially women who are culinary professionals caveman-esque? Absolutely. But, I think its a little unfair to draw the connection you do. Root against him all you want, and he isn't my favorite either (that would now be the Richard-Antonia duo), but I would steer clear of the grandmother connection.

[pottymouth princess]

re: Gail's timeline. Wasn't there discussion earlier that the finale was shot either before or after Ripert's annual Caribbean food fest? His presence and her extended vacation time in the area would make sense.

Thanks for reminding me that Tiffany's restaurant had closed. I recall that happening to Dave (S1) and Dale L. That must suck. Hugely.

[Alamos Road]

Re: filming timeline, crew, etc.: Having ditched cable TV, I bought a Season 8 season pass on iTunes, and with it comes "bonus" behind-the-scenes footage, little 5 to 8 minute "shorts" showing the incredible operation it takes to put this show together. Absolutely huge crew that moves with military precision. Very impressive. So rab01's estimate of a 6-day shooting schedule for the finals/finale is probably right on target. Time is money, people!

[Sweet Sue]

Anon man, either a man loves his mama and grandma or he doesn't. And, if he does, chances are he loves women, even those whom he experiences as competitors.
When I was dating, the one thing I always noted was how a potential mate treated his mother.
If Isabella is sincere, grandma should be the sweetest word in the world, not an insult.

[Crawford]

I finally went looking for comments Ming Tsai made after Next Iron Chef about his experience with reality television.

The camera showed me frowning. But that frown was from four days before. They take things and store them. Like when they need a ‘pissed-off Ming,’ then they’ll have it. http://www.foodgal.com/2010/12/take-five-with-ming-tsai-on-his-experiences-on-the-next-iron-chef/

In http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mzh8jQi9Gk (at around the 7:00 mark) he talks about how the producers got him to go from, "I want to be the next Iron Chef," to, "I'm going to be the next Iron Chef!"

Just a little peek into the sausage factory of reality TV from someone who was there.

[Kenny]

@pottymouth The timeline of Gail, Ripert, et al, being in the Bahamas during the major blizzards of the North this year makes obvious and great sense . Good planning on their part.

One of the (myriad) things which bothered me was the faux Junkaboo Party, which coincided on airtime kinda/sorta with Carnival.. It was just a strange ... disjunct because it seemed to throw everyone for a loop. And the party seemed vacant from the beginning, with only the performers, most clueless, present.

But, life goes on and I obviously need to let this icky episode go.

Ick. Ick! Ick ick ick ick ick.

[Genevieve]

I was so sad to see Carla go (which doesn't mean I don't think this elimination was justified, though I was hoping it would be Tiffany who does indeed keep cooking the second- or third-worst dish -- but as Matthew said, undercooked meat will get you sent home every time. Undercooked anything, it seems like.). Matthew, join me to the crowd of Carla fans hoping to eat at her cafe before long, and sorry to lose her from our screens (though maybe I will see her at a DC event). And how lovely that she's now on the board of DC Central Kitchen. She has been the most enjoyable person to watch, ever, and I thank her for her warm and open and kind attitude, and for making my mouth water for chicken pot pie with pea salt (elevating the comfort food) and a top crust. Please serve that at your cafe when you open it, Carla!!

And I think it's terrible of the producers to fail to give the chefs decent, professional, working equipment at the finale. (True, true, and unrelated.) Gimmicks are fun early on, but the time for gimmicks is just plain done, long since. Let them cook their serious food in a serious kitchen. Otherwise they're Top Gimmick Chef.

Mike Isabella, tool. He had damn well not win the whole thing. And yeah, it was a completely sexist comment for him to say that the three women were there because they had played it safe, unlike him -- Carla and Antonia each had significantly more wins and top appearances than him (I can't disagree on Tiffany, though I think her job loss, combined with doing two seasons back to back, wore her out and cut down on the creativity I loved in S7). Arrrrrrgh. So bummed to see him win this after he reminded me what a complete and total jerk he is. (Yes, he counts Jen as a friend, but does she count him as one? remember his "beaten by a girl" comment about her? Basically, I gave him the benefit of the doubt in his season because I loved the restaurant he cooked at, but he's confirmed over and over that he is as big an ass as he appeared to be during his season.)

I'm a big Richard fan - he's been my pick all along (though I also love Carla and have really come to like Antonia very much). It made me sad to see him so hugely down on himself, saying "I hate all of my food." I have to say that the theory above about how grief cuts back on joy and amplifies all your negativity makes so much sense to me. That's how it was when I was grieving last year, and it never occurred to me here but it seems quite likely. Add that to being away from his support network, and guilt from not being around to help his very pregnant wife with their toddler, yeah, I can see the importance of winning looming larger than usual. I'm hoping he pulls it out next week, though. And for Mike Isabella to go DOWN. (The preview might've hinted at the latter? I sure hope so.)

Mmmm, conch. I was thinking that Richard might've worked out a way to make it less chewy . . .

[Danny]

Sigh. So sorry to see Carla go but as soon as Gail said that her pork was inedible....that word is the kiss of death on TC.

It was a genuinelly disappointing and tiresome episode. The kind that is acceptable in the first few weeks but not at the end. Gimmicks, gimmicks, gimmicks.

Gail's blog on ew.com was very interesting. She talked about the 4 months between Ellis Island and the Bahamas and how the contestants had seen some of the episodes and had time to reflect on how they were coming across. She seemed to be exasperated with Richard and really, honestly I am just so over the whole morose thing. I am torn in many ways but I think it may actually be good for him in the long run if he loses again.

Mike I. Yuck. I do comedy for a living. I don't do humor that is sexist, racist or homophobic. And no, I don't go over what I do with some politcally correct scalpel making sure that everything is okay. In fact, 90% of my comedy is all ad-libbed. I don't think in sexist, racist or homophobic terms so those kind of things don't come out of me. I have performed with comics who do that kind of material. Hey, lighten up, it's just a joke. Strange thing is, backstage, the same kind of bigoted talk comes out of them but not in a funny way. Mike I comes across as sexist and homophobic (remember the cute fondue comments) and I can't excuse it because it's all a joke, ha ha. Between that, his boorish behavior and the Paula Deen incident, I just can't imagine going to a restaurant that he worked with. If he wins, it will be upsetting to me not just because of his character but also because his food never seems particularly interesting to me. I have gotten so many ideas from the chefs on TC (my TC-inspired savory butternut squash soup is a particular guest favorite) but I can honestly say that I have never seen anything that he has cooked that has really interested me with the possible exception of the Ellis Island meal.

Would any of us have guessed that Tiffany would make it this far? And oh how I like the look and sound of Antonia's food. Of the remaining four she is definitely my favorite and I hope she wins. I'll be very disappointed if Mike I wins but of course I'll be watching All Stars when it comes on, worms and all, and the next TC to follow. You watch enough of these shows and you learn to have some detachment regarding who wins and loses.

Carla, you are the best. You have more fans than you can imagine and wish you nothing but success and a long and happy life with Matthew who is such a great addition to Skillet Doux. If you want some Amsterdam dining tips, let me know!

[subgenre]

I have not read any of the comments here and have not looked at the pictures at the top because I haven't seen the episode yet. I just was reading the last episode's rankings and there were a couple potential spoiler comments about this episode at the end. Please remember to not post info about the next episode in the current episode thread. Please! Thanks... and now I really hope what I think may have happened did not happen. Le sigh.

[Skillet Doux]

subgenre... As always, any previews posted on the Bravo site are fair game for discussion here. Basically, once it's been officially broadcast, whether on television or on the Bravo site, it's okay to talk about here. If you're concerned about spoilers based on that, I'd recommend you avoid the site until you're caught up.

Uuuuuunnnless you meant that there are a few comments in the E12 Power Rankings page that should have gone on the E13 Postmortem page. Which is true. In which case I'd say that drives me nuts too, but for different reasons (I can't move them and I really like things to be in their proper place). So I would echo the sentiment to try to keep them in the right thread :-)

(Maybe I'll hide the misplaced comments.)

[natmicstef]

It's interesting to read Ming Tsai's comments posted above. That might explain why Mike I. looked shifty on some close-ups, as if he'd been cheating and just got caught...may not have had anything to do with Wednesday's show..I just kept wondering why is he looking so nervous. And agree with Sweet Sue, considering Mike was brought up by his grandmother and mother since his father left when he was a young child, I would really have expected him to like women. I will not be happy if he wins but unfortunately as in every day life, it's not always the good who win.

[Bart]

As an Eagles fan, the Giants/Vikings comments at the top of this page and the previous page amuse me.

But we still don't have a Super Bowl to show for it.

[matthew]

Imagine being a Detroit Lions fan. :-/

[pottymouth princess]

@Kenny, I hope you were being facetious. Ripert has an annual fish fest in the Caribbean every year. People like Gail Simmons and Colicchio - not to mention Bourdain, who posted elsewhere about being there) are regular attendees (not sure about Padma). I am saying that TC taping probably occurred either before or after his event.

That the east coast was blanketed in 8 feet of snow during this time is purely incidental.

[bryanD]

Tom's blog: "Bahamian Royalty…? I’m surprised our chefs fell for that."

Gail's blog: "We understood the chefs were cooking for the King of Junkanoo, but it was only when we sat down with him that we realized he was not royalty at all."

This is why I defer using the term "Elves" here any more, as elves are supposed to be invisible nowadays, but there is Tom, big as life! My elf-nomen for Tom is Blamey...or maybe Shifty. Or... SWIVELHIPS!

[LaLaura]

I hated that episode and not just because Carla left. From Hosea's chip to Richard's superiority, the quickfire was no fun, and the food didn't look that great. The challenge sucked. Period. I just hated it; however, I am still a Top Chef fan and have been since Season 1. I love everything about it even I guess the episodes I hate. It's called passion. I think most of us here have that for this show. Carla is my favorite ever cheftestant. She lights up the screen the minute she is on it. She seems like a lot of fun and her food looks fabulous. I hate it that she is gone, but I will still watch my favorite show and read my favorite blog and love everything that is Top Chef. Matthew, I loved seeing you on the Ellis Island show and tell Carla that she is one classy lady!!!

[wolfefan]

May I make an unrelated comment that may be of interest to fans of a lesser food show? I was browsing Hulu and found a couple of seasons of a show called "Pressure Cook" starring Ralph Pagano, runner up of season 1 of "Hell's Kitchen." Apparently he's blindfolded and dropped someplace in the middle of nowhere each week with instructions to show up at a specified location with a specified amount of money. He has to earn his way there by cooking. Haven't watched it yet, but thought there might be other HK folks who would be interested.

[bryanD]

"Kenny... there's no possible way the production crew was there for three weeks. The expense would be enormous. They probably shot the entire regular season in about three weeks... maybe less."--skilletdoux

A master- or licensed electrician would have/could have been sent ahead by just a few days to liaise with an advance man---in our case obviously, an advance man (concierge) culled from the hermetic Atlantis Spa setting of corporate cluelessness--- to check on and *sign off on* the equipment and the backdrop. A licensed electrician with any kind of work sheet could have checked the current via simple non-invasive circuit test: No problemo! Top Chef: @#$% FAIL.

"This is something that really bothers me about Mike Isabella.He loved his grandma so much and his grandma taught him how to cook. He was so devestated when grandma died that he could never cook Italian again--boo hoo."---Sweet Sue

I luv Sweet Sue's occasionally-Stalinist sexism-monitoring posts. Good readin'!

Too bad Jenn isn't around to brag against the boys while rocking a bikini with a spear gun! *drats!*

[Sweet Sue]

luv Sweet Sue's occasionally-Stalinist sexism-monitoring posts. Good readin'

Why,bryanD, you wouldn't be calling me a feminazi, now would you? You couldn't be that regressive.
Seriously,stalinist?

[Kenny]

@pottyouth Well, no I wasn't being facetious. I think their being in the Bahamas in the deep of winter is great planning on their part. Good for them. I lumped the thought together with Gail's comments about the blizzards, but it's entirely sensible that they would choose the Bahamas in bleak mid-winter. Though if Eric Ripert had a fishing event there in August, I would truly question that.

[Skillet Doux]

bryanD... Of course, didn't mean to suggest that there aren't plenty of other ways to ensure equipment reliability beyond bringing the entire crew out for three weeks.

[Skillet Doux]

bryanD... Of course, didn't mean to suggest that there aren't plenty of other ways to ensure equipment reliability beyond bringing the entire crew out for three weeks.

[bryanD]

"Why,bryanD, you wouldn't be calling me a feminazi, now would you? You couldn't be that regressive.
Seriously,stalinist?"----Sweet Sue

Oh no. I hate these kind of responses. So denatured!

Your "transitional demands" (viz. Mike's sexism) reminded me of the Third International, that's all. These are apparently reasonable demands designed to be practically unfulfillable. Thus a nice hobby horse is built and ridden against the "unreasonable".

And I never called you anything but "Sweet Sue" and I find your Issue entertaining and not necessarily wrong. Your *Mike's grandma---boo-hoo!* gave me a bit of license, though, I think, maybe. I mean, Sicilian men and their grandmas! (You know the feminine dichotomy in play; Mike's obviously dwells forever on the Saint/Madonna side of the divide. Then you: "Boo-hoo!" THAT was funny in a dark and irreverant way, ie Very Funny. Your disdain for Mike, Mike's, and all things Mike or Mike-like is palpable: dog, cat, food, parakeet, car, granny... Off with their heads in the name of Progress!

[Sweet Sue]

bryanD, I shall take it all as a compliment.
On, Wisconsin.

[bryanD]

Wisconsin. My all-time favorite politician is Fighting Bob Lafollette. Friends?

Elsewhere, the current online Salon has features on Tom Colicchio and Spike Mendelssohn. (MAN! This Top Chef is a gravy train! No need to worry about Our Carla, nope.)

[KinderJ]

My time in Nassau was brief, but I suddenly realized what I don't like about these finals- the Bahamas don't have a particularly distinct cuisine. Nothing to really hang your hat on, the way they did in s4 with the Puerto Rico challenge.

I am also a little annoyed about the 'King of Junkanoo' thing. For all I know, that guy really does hold such a position, but TC does not give you the slightest sense of the power of Junkanoo. Everybody on the island knows someone working with a team. They have a cousin, or a sister, or they march with the Valley Boys or some other team. Walking to the parade ground, you see fifty gallon drums, turned into actual drums with goatskin, being warmed around wood fires. A dark, vacant lot or parking lot, the smell of woodsmoke and fire picking out the reds, yellows and blacks of the drums. Before the march begins, the drummers will shovel some of the coals into the drum it's self, to get it properly hot. Then the thunder of the drums! The clang of the cowbells, leading floats two stories tall and pulled by hand. Amazing!

[Sweet Sue]

bryanD, friends.

[ally]

@KinderJ

Thank you so much for that picture of the actual festivities. One thing that bothered me about the episode was that the crappy kitchen that they had the contestants go to just smelled of, I don't know how to say it. Some kind of "hee hee this is what real life in the Bahamas is". A commenter here even said they're not going to the bahamas having seen that. I know nothing about the Bahamas, but I suspect TC really did a disservice to them with this episode.

[saraa]

Blais during the break actually was filming a show for the science channel. A few episodes aired but not sure what happened to the rest. He went into the science behind his methods and had a throw down type competition between himself with his methods vs. a traditional preparation. It was really fun to watch actually and my kids loved it. He posted on facebook to invite people down to the taping and I commented about shouldn't be be in the middle of taping top chef all starts and he made some evil laugh type of comment back. Now I realize it was the break! As well his wife was pregnant and I am sure he was still dealing with the death of family members.

He was also back for the storms in Atlanta cause he posted on facebook what he was cooking for the family and stuff about reopening Flip. As much as people talk about him just consulting, he seems to be there often.

[KinderJ]

Ally- I was only in the Bahamas for about a week, but it covered the two Junkanoo's. They were wild. Only the crazies showed up early, say at midnight... Junkanoo happens pretty immediately after Christmas (there are two, one on Boxing day and one about a week later, I dont remember the exact date). I dont see a problem with asking the contestants to cook, say, X number of dishes for Y number of contestants, so long as there is a recognition of the fact that the major teams number in the high thousands and as such are... inappropriate catering challenge subjects.

I would love to have seen a challenge that went roughly "the only iconic dish of the Bahamas is "Anything involving conch"" so that is what you are cooking. Here is a ton of conch. Good Luck!

[KinderJ]

Ally- On the 'He-he' subject, the Bahamas are weird as a sack of ferrets. My limited impression is that it was a third world country visited frequently by first world people. There is no 'Nassau' as we would understand a city. There is an elaborate tourist trap, some actual offices and services, and a good deal of widely dispersed residential areas. The locals seem comparatively ghettoised, and I never ventured into their territory. So, yes, much of the 'real' Bahamas is pretty crappy, but once you realize that there is very little 'real' Bahamas, you can sort of roll with it...

[Independent George]

The truly awful thing about this challenge was that, as Gail confirmed in her blog, the kitchen consisted entirely of fryolators and flat-tops. That might be ok if they were told of it beforehand, but instead, they were dumped in an unfamiliar kitchen without standard equipment. THAT is what I hated about the episode - I despise the gimmicks, especially this late.

[Naomi]

I've seen it mentioned that the kitchen fire and subsequent time to rethink their dishes should have been an advantage an advantage and I have to disagree. Adrenaline is a powerful thing and can really help people think creatively and push themselves to succeed. Having the rug pulled out from under them stopped that momentum and gave them a chance to sit and second guess themselves. I wouldn't doubt that even the more succesful dishes would have tasted better the first time around.

I'm not a Tifffany fan. I don't dislike her but her tv personality has never done much for me. But, her moment with Richard in the kitchen was one of my favorite this season. Maybe ever. When she asked him who he was talking to and he said he was talkign to himself, she told him to "stop that" and urged him to talk to one of the other chefs instead - there was such a sweet concern and tenderness in her voice - I can't articulate it well but it was just so lovely and genuine.

[bryanD]

"On the 'He-he' subject, the Bahamas are weird as a sack of ferrets. My limited impression is that it was a third world country visited frequently by first world people."---Kinder J

Weird is right. If you find yourself in one of those internet surfing ruts---who hasn't?---google Mary Carter Paint Company.

[mncharm]

The Bahamas are actually a fairly wealthy country -- GDP is higher than South Korea, for example. I have no doubt there are plenty of poor people and the wealth is not spread equally, but relatively speaking, the country does very well.

[Karen]

@Matthew
"Imagine being a Detroit Lions fan. :-/"

My poor husband is a lifelong Lions fan. His dad played with them for 6 years back in the Bronze Age and he was born there during this time. I get kind of embarrassed when he goes to the grocery store wearing his Lions shirt.

[Ranhorn]

Hey Karen!

Who cares?

[bryanD]

"Hey Karen! Who cares?"---Ranhorn

As one of the more obtuse commenters here, even I must *insist!* that you add more "bacon" to your retorts. I mean, REALLY---and yes, I have been lurking heavily here over the last few days; see my rare "food" comment re "Kia". Oy!---a "new" comment should be more than "burp.fart."

And yes, of course, the NFL is about as straight as a dog's hind leg, but Karen didn't start that thread anyway. It's not Karen's fault that Angelo, Dale, and Richard won't be all doing a Kiss concert in the finales. (Would that they were!)
:-)

BTW I've re-read my comments, too. WAY too negative. This is a reality show. A looming Tiffany-win might be JUST what the doctor ordered, i.e.REALITY CHECK!, or as Martha Stewart AND (heh!) Anthony Bourdain are fond of saying: "A good thing".

Also: The new Top Chef Masters lay-out looks to be AWESOME.

[ally]

@ bryanD re: Ranhorn

You gotta google "internet troll"

just sayin :)

yes i know you already know what that is...

[mncharm]

I got a good chuckle from Karen's post. We Vikings fans depend on the misfortune of the Lions to make us feel better about our lives.

[lou]

Re: Bahamas.
I've been there twice, also briefly. We went to Junkanoo on New Year's Eve, or actually it starts on New Year's day at midnight. Bahamians take Junkanoo very very seriously, working on their floats and performances all year long. The floats can be enormously elaborate. In fact, one float was so tall, it got caught in the trees and the parade had to stop so someone could run find a tree trimmer and cut away the branches. Another float had to stop because the generator stalled out and they had to prime it with gasoline.

I personally loved it, because it was so hometown, instead of some glossy, slick, commercial show despite all the tourists.

Some drunk tourists from a cruise ship decided to join the parade, dancing awkwardly and drumming poorly on a white tub. We were standing amidst a group of Bahamians and the chill that emanated from that group watching them was positively frigid. A policeman finally steered the drunken cruisers away. As I said, Bahamians seem to take a lot of pride in Junkanoo and their floats.

re: cuisine. When I think of Bahamas, I think cracked conch, conch chowder, conch fritters, and coconut. Anything conch.

PS Bahamas have a very serious banking industry. Think corporate tax shelters.

[Polybus]

Gosh, but it's fun to go away from the board for a few days and see what comes out near the end of a thread. Internet troll, hilarious.

Personally, I've always enjoyed bryanD's posts because they are unique. I think it's great to have a different perspective tossed into the middle What You Might Expect.

And Matthew, the Lions are on their way to respectability, assuming the latest episode of The Billionaire's Apprentice resolves to everyone's satisfaction.

[LL]

This is slightly off-topic, but just wanted to say I just got back from Angelo's restaurant, Social Eatz! Man I'm usually not shy but I turned into a blushing schoolgirl when I almost bumped into Angelo on the way to the bathroom! He said "hi how are you" and I just kind of looked down and quietly said the same. Anyway I liked the food a lot. Had a korean beef taco and the chicken sandwich (I've had lotsa $10 chicken sandwiches in New York, but none with such perfectly cooked tender meat!). And it was so Angelo-cheesy too ("longevity sauce," "imperial hotdog," etc...)

As for the episode, sad to see Carla go, but it was fair, though the episode itself, for me, was a total downer. Rooting for Antonia. Can't believe Richard got to see himself on the TV and *still* came back a Sour Susie, perhaps more than ever!!!! "I'm better than everyone else/I hate everything I do" emotional cycle = boring. I adored Carla's comments to him about it, though.