Top Chef - S9E11 Postmortem

I have been repatriated!

So we're back up and running. Just getting caught up on last week's episode. I'll check in and get everything updated later tonight.

Discuss!

UPDATE : I'm going to save it for the rankings, but let me just briefly dust off an old and frequently used observation. This show is at its best when the chefs are at their best. And while it wouldn't be Top Chef without a KobaYASHI Maru or two, the more the producers set the chefs up to succeed rather than fail, the better the results.

Comments

[Lou]

I think the meal looked phenomenal - all so wickedly good. But the best evil by far was Eric asking for the part that Beverly left off in the QF dish and Padma saying she would have won by far over Sara and Lindsey. That was so evil and so satisfying at the same time. If I couldn't eat the food I could feast on Sarah and Lindsey's deflation.
In a fairy tale world Lindsey and Sarah are like the evil step sisters to Beverly's Cinderella.

[garik16]

I love the editing at this loser's table: All three losing chefs obviously were asked a question of "Why do you deserve to stay in this competition," and answered it, but the question wasn't there, so it looks more like they're saying this naturally.

[KinderJ]

Kick ass episode- great food, theatrical presentation, loads of creativity. Just fantastic. I kept thinking of Heston Bloomenthal, and that book he did on Fantastical Feasts. The chefs really nailed this, I think. Shame to see someone go home after cooking a good dish.

[attheapollo]

I'm so glad that the food WAS the drama in this episode. I was on the edge of my seat, but didn't want to verbally punch anyone in the face. Great change of pace.

R.I.P. unborn quail.

[KarenF]

Even the editors managed to misdirect this time - I thought MotoChris was a gonner as soon as he got the cellphone call of doom.

[Redpoint]

Loved the bit about Chris trying to catch the lobsters, and Grayson serving goldfish over fish.

[garik16]

KarenF, me too! And then he went out there last after everyone did so well and I'm like, oh so he's going to be the only one who screwed up!

Awesome ep. Of course, Paul's gotta be thinking: "Gee, I have $35,000 in prizes...and two movie tickets! Yay....oh wait"

[Redpoint]

I'm sorry Beverly did not make it to the end. I think she could have had a shot at the whole thing. I was rooting for her.

[Dreamboat]

I LOVED this episode!!! THIS is what I have been waiting for. Great food and great creativity. Each course I was thinking "Oh know, is this the bad course?" But the bad course never came.

I am sorry to see Bev leave. She has some mad skills in the kitchen.

[Joanna]

@Dreamboat, same here! I can't remember the judges praising the food to this extent since the Ellis Island challenge last year, when they chose not to send anyone home. I kept waiting for the mistakes but there just weren't any.

I do feel for Beverly, though - I wonder if this is what Gail meant on her blog? Watching her win an elimination, then come incredibly close to winning the quickfire (and immunity), and then go home after a dish that seemed to be really great... that's just rough.

I liked the quickfire too, especially watching Chris just barely miss the lobsters over and over. At least he didn't go for the pop rocks!

[chrish]

I'm glad Paul won but I didn't have a good sense of his dish.

I'm curious about Beverly's sauce issues. I assume using arrowroot is a common technique for her. Wonder where it went wrong. Have to feel for her missing out on the quickfire and immunity. Good to go out (or to LCK) on a high note though.

Happy for Moto Chris having at last cooked a good dish.

Even though Sarah annoys me, I gotta think in her defense that the risotto thing is a matter of taste/preference. Hard to believe she doesn't know how to cook risotto properly to the tastes of some knowledgeable palates. Would have been a shame for her to lose on that. She does, however, lose any right to criticize anyone else for being too narrowly focused.

[Kathy from Austin]

Best episode in a long time. Each chef used their imagination and skills to create a dish. They don't tell us much about Paul's but it seems to be consistent with what you get with Uchi/Uchiko. Different flavors and textures that seem unusual actually work together very well. Garlic chips, pears, chiles, etc. Quintessential Paul/Tyson Cole.

Better move Lindsey up. She sure served an amazing meal. Same with Ed and Sarah.

Grayson and Chris Moto remain on the bottom IMO but on any given night I think they could eliminate the others or get on top.

I just see Paul as unstoppable, esp having eaten at all his restaurants. Amazing flavor, humble environs and forward thinking. He will be hard to beat, and he is an innovative chef.

Notice also, Paul led the discussion about kitchen etiquette. Made this challenge more focused on quality vs. bad manners.

[Sweet Sue]

What a great episode; it was so much fun to see each chef rise to the challenge. I really was hoping that the judges would say that everyone was safe and thought it would happen when Padma called them all in at once.

[Kathy from Austin]

I am curious about the risotto dish. Is the preparation totally subjective? We've had several seasons of this and am wondering how "firm" risotto vs. "spreads out" as hers did tonight are so vastly different in the judges mind. By my recollection her consistency was in line with what the judges previously said (vs. firm). Am I remembering this correctly? Could it come down to an opinion, such as the cooking of pork?

Risotto appears to be the KOD of the chefs...the Kiss of Death.

Thought maybe during JT they were going to keep all contestants. Did anyone else? Surprised to see Paul win, based on the crappy editing that also indicated Chris Moto was going home.

[Duffy]

Risotto is a very tricky dish. Thought I did it pretty good -- many complements, favorite of family, as good as any around here, etc. -- until I was served a really fine risotto when on an infrequent trip to a distant bailiwick.

The leap from "good" risotto to "fine" risotto is a quantum that cannot be explained, and is damned difficult to capture -- but you sure know it when you get it.

[momjamin]

Risotto has been the kiss of death many a time, but Sarah has made it, and gotten dinged for it, a couple times now without being sent home, at least. Seems clear she's not going to win with it!

[TxGriff]

I think all of the editing misdirection is the exact reason it was difficult to get a feel for Paul's dish. He was mainly shown struggling in the kitchen, and even the judges comments at dinner were cut short. I'm thrilled he won and came out of his (mini) slump.

Sorry to see Beverly go for good food. I'll be rooting for her in LCK.

[paula]

According to Tom's blog, part of why Bev was chosen to go was because she played it safer than the others. I'm bummed she got the PPYKAG, but that episode was just amazing. Some of those dishes were drop-dead (ha) gorgeous and I would have loved to have tasted them all.

[nm]

I'm also sad to see Bev go, but she lost fairly, based on her real weaknesses. Everyone says she's a little over-focused and slow, and that's what lost her immunity. And everyone says she plays it safe, and that's what lost it for her at Judges Table. The instant she said she was going for elegance I knew she was the one going home. It's a shame, but at least it wasn't because of anyone else messing with her head.

[Anon Man]

I thought Grayson was a goner. I think I said during last week's discussion that she was most likely to go when they all cook something good but hers is too literal. I thought I might obtain Top Chef oracle status.

As for Beverly, she's kind of a kook and I will miss her as a viewer. But, I'm still left not knowing what to think of her as a chef. As Edward said, she has a ton of kitchen experience. Grayson noted that she was quiet but a Bulldog. This all kind of leads up to Paul's clip of kitchen etiquette. Whether that was geared for certain people's sniping at Beverly or her "bulldog" approach, we don't know. The clip they showed was him saying something like "Don't move other people's stuff", which I think people have said Beverly does. The episode doesn't give a clear indication of her behavior, but watch in LCK (and I don't think I'm talking out of school here in noting this clip), she cuts off Nyesha in the fridge. Sure, people do that all the time in the show, but it was noticable, and Nyesha's reaction to it was priceless. I'll leave it at that until the LCK thread comes up.

Otherwise a great episode. The chef's had fun with it, and the food showed. More "theme" challenges and less "limitation" challenges, please.

[tigerpiper]

I just want to play the episode again to here Theron's voice. Grrrrrrr...

Well, I also want to look at Grayson's plate again. That was awesome.

[Sweet Sue]

I thought Grayson's plate looked fabulous, too, in the literal sense of the word.
It looked like she was serving baby dragon. Well played, m'lady.

[nomnomnom]

Yeah, Bev went a little too much to the rolodex when every other chef brought something interesting and creative to the table.

Just for pulling off an edible black chicken they needed to give Grayson something. Seriously.

And where did they get that stuff? Certainly not whole foods.

[chrish]

I'm curious what motivated Paul's comments about working together in the kitchen, whether they were directed at Beverly (which seems likely but that could still be editing), whether they arose from his own concerns about working with her or to forestall much more confrontational approaches or actual confrontation. And whether Beverly actually processed any of it.

Also, Paul's comment about Beverly having more cooking experience seemed odd. Does she really have more experience than Ed, who is 7 years older and opened his own restaurant (after various prior cooking experiences) at age 25? She is as old or older than the rest I think.

[paula]

Nom3: Seriously. I'm pretty sure my Whole Foods doesn't carry lamb hearts. (Not that I've checked, though...)

[TxGriff]

chrish- I wondered about that at first too, but I think Paul was just making a point about Beverly's skills and knowledge. I took his use of the word "everyone" pretty loosely. Plus, Edward did not pursue a culinary career until after college, so if Beverly started cooking at a young age, it's possible they might have similar years experience.

[chrish]

"Plus, Edward did not pursue a culinary career until after college, so if Beverly started cooking at a young age, it's possible they might have similar years experience."

Found the link below. Ed started at his family's diner while he was in college, and then restarted cooking two years before opening up his restaurant, so presumably at age 23. Mostly, I offer the link below because I think it's charming that he wanted to go to a restaurant for his birthday present when he was a kid.

http://nrn.com/article/under-toque-edward-lee

[SteveInSJ]

"And where did they get that stuff? Certainly not whole foods."

I think I remember from Lee Ann's blog several years ago her saying that the show has some special items at whole foods that the chefs are able to get, so it is not just the standard supermarket fare.

[doktarr]

Even the editors managed to misdirect this time - I thought MotoChris was a gonner as soon as he got the cellphone call of doom.

Yeah, it was nice to see that Bravo has gotten wise to some of their classic harbingers of elimination.

Episodes like this are why I think they should just have the freedom to axe two people one week and nobody the next week. I think this could actually add to the drama of the show, in an odd way.

[Bob]

Other "harbinger of death" (besides trying to cook pork belly without sufficient time) is the ominous; "I've never cooked with this before" - but Grayson pulls it off. The chicken was cooked properly, and apparently tasted good - if not, the concept alone, brilliant as it was, wouldn't have saved her.

But, all seven chefs absolutely nailing a concept? Has that ever happened before on TC? (Agree, sadly, that Beverly's was a bit less "out there" than the others.)

How did they decide on the order of the dishes? It seemed to work beautifully, but no video of them deciding who was going to cook what or serve when. Clearly, Chris had to go last with the lone dessert - but did they even decide, collectively, that someone would be making one? Maybe they all took Paul's little lecture to heart.

I kept thinking as I was looking at Sarah's risotto how gross it looked, and it would likely get her sent home. Oh, wait..

Loved the Ripper's comment that surely Paul wore a glove when making the handprint, and then, was it Padma who said; "But, we don't know if he did - and that's what makes it so effective."

Instant classic episode. I'm on board for the first time this season.

[nomnomnom]

It also should be pointed out that every last chef pulled out a good dish, or best of the season so far and Paul still won.

This could be the single most lopsided season to date if this keeps going.

[Alamos Road]

@Chrish: Great article; thanks for the link. Didn't Ed also win a Throwdown with Bobby Flay? Hokey but fun, as I recall.

[Peter]

Risotto can be firm or soupy; the difference in styles is regional. Here's a Q&A from Marcella Hazan that explains it in a bit more detail:

http://giulianohazan.com/blog/marcella-answers-a-question-about-risotto/

[dlr]

I have seen all the Top Chef to date and believe it to be a GREAT show. With that said I believe that the Last chance between Beverly and Nyesha was a complete failure of integrity of the show. Every one of the last chances has been an honest and true one on one to see who the best chef is. The last one was what I believe to be purely for the show’s ratings and a theft of the true chef’s competition asking them to switch there stations at the last second is not a fair judge of each ones cooking abilities. I am sorry to say that after 9 seasons of the show that you have just became like every other reality tv show and want ratings instead of great chefs. With great REGET and a chef of over 20yrs Darrell

[Bart]

Wonderful episode. Very sad to see Bev go, particularly hurts that she was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close from being immune from elimination.

Glad to see MotoChris did well here. I hope he takes the hint that Tom gave him: "I've called you out for being gimmicky, but this was the one time it was appropriate" (or something to that effect).

In other words, you've had your fun. Now focus on flavor.

This episode will surely rank among the top episodes for this season. Too early to call it the best episode yet, but it's a pretty damn good one.

[Tom W.]

@dir: I feel the same way about LCK this week, it troubled me. But, BTW, please note that Dom asked everyone (if I remember correctly) to hold off on LCK kitchen comments until each Friday when he sets up a separate thread.

@Peter: Many, many thanks for that Marcella Hazan link, which I really enjoyed. The risotto issue has come up so much on TC that I'm glad to hear Hazan weigh in on it.

[Moonlight tower]

Sorry folks, I was THRILLED to see Bev finally go home. I won't for a moment offer an excuse for Heather, Sarah, one Lyndsay but I completely understand the frustration and anger that come from working with someone who is slow, unwilling to speed up, and seems unable to accept constructive criticism. It seemed o me that even gentle early season comments were treated as bullying.

I think it is telling that she hung herself by being slow and unwilling to take risks, as nm mentioned.

[Ellie]

I agree with all the folks that think this was an awesome episode -- probably best of the season so far. It was the first time the chefs' creativity and ridiculous skill levels have been showcased in an elimination challenge.

..which leads me to wonder why the other elimination challenges have been so terrible. I will put it out there: the location-specific food challenges (chili, cattle barons' steak, BBQ) have failed to inspire creative, innovative cuisine because they were narrowly confined concepts judged by the "locals"/the "public."

Other good challenges have often been "cook in this venue" or "cook with this theme in mind," but I can't think of very many challenges that dictate what KIND of food they have to make that have ended up great. (I will even count this season's quinceanera episode among those, despite how cute what's-her-name was..)

I guess in that sense, I agree with Anon Man above who said:
More "theme" challenges and less "limitation" challenges, please.

[ally]

In his blog, Tom says something like "please note that we're no longer cooking BBQ" so I hope that means the rest of the challenges will also let the chefs showcase their talents.

[JohnCoctostan]

I thought it was great/amusing that Chris used a portion of his EC money to buy snacks (gummi worms) for himself, and I'm glad the editors put that in for us to see.

[Kathy from Austin]

Here is Padma's take on the episode. Some interesting tidbits. Not sure why she isn't blogging on the Bravo site.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/19/top-chef-s9-ep10-padma-lakshmi-blogs-charlize-theron/

[ally]

JohnC: He did also use the gummi worms in the apple, it was coming out of the top.

[JohnCoctostan]

You're right! Totally missed that somehow.

[Independent George]

I had a horrendous week at work and didn't get to watch the episode until now, so of course it's the best episode of the year.

Is there anything better than watching the chefs just nail it? The only other episode that this compares to is the Ellis Island challenge in S8 - only this one had two more chefs serving courses. This is what I've wanted to see all season long.

[Alamos Road]

@Kathy from Austin: Interesting article. Padma says she's "just come back from finale" and it was the "most difficult" decision they've had to make.