Top Chef Chicago

[Omar]

Unfortunately, Bravo chose not to air the first six episodes yesterday, so I never saw Lia in action.  Still, the caliber of the contestants seems to have been much higher in season 3.  Of the six remaining in season 4, really only Richard gives me any feeling of confidence that he could perform reliably day after day as an executive chef preparing up-market food in a successful restaurant.  I think a lot of his food is gimmicky and silly, but apparently it tastes good, and he's the only one who seems like he could actually run a kitchen (without being murdered, that is).

Circa '03, non-faux-hawked Blais!



Also, here's a link to the dinner menu for his new restaurant, which opened last month:

http://www.h2sr.com/menus/home_dinner_menu.pdf

[Sarah]

Oh, I get it now:  he lost a little weight, and this led him to make a foolish grooming decision, as frequently happens.

His menu is much less tricksy than I expected; in fact, it's sort of mainstream.  I wish he'd left out the extraneous i in his cutesy "bouilliablais."

[Martin]

I wish he'd left out the extraneous i in his cutesy "bouilliablais."

Also, "home" fries, "dumplings" peppermint jelly, slow cooked pork "short rib" collard, etc.

You know, "home", because he doesn't actually live in the restaurant.

[Laurie]

Oooooohhhh.

I'll start with the buttermilk pancakes foie, have the crispy fried chicken w/ macaroni & cheese as the entree, and I'll finish up with that red velvet dessert.

I only like red velvet recipes that use beets for sweetening and color and forgo cocoa. DO NOT PUT COCOA IN MY RED VELVET, THANKS!

[iAmBaronVonTito]

I only like red velvet recipes that use beets for sweetening and color and forgo cocoa. DO NOT PUT COCOA IN MY RED VELVET, THANKS!

maybe thats why i despise red velvet cake.  it was TOO sweet, making me swear off all cakes.

[Sarah]

Come on, crimestick.  He's trying to be clever with his silly little pun, and he doesn't even spell correctly the word he's punning.  (I find all his stupid little plays on his surname very tiresome.  All in all, he reminds me of any number of people I've met who think they're hilarious and most emphatically are not.  If he'd just be the person I think he really is--a fairly ordinary, decent, stolid citizen, who really wants to sport a conventional haircut and switch those pink shoes for something more staid--I'd like him much better.)

[Laurie]

I like his pink shoes.

[Omar]

I like his pink shoes.

They go well with his skin tone.

[Sarah]

I just don't think he does.  Not really.  They strike me as part of a not-very-successful performance.

Wow, I just read that Richard has competed on Iron Chef America.  He lost against Batali.  I'm not surprised.

[joanna]

richard after the challenge with the kids saying that he wanted to go home and make some little blaises made me awww. i'm a sap. i was already in the richard camp but that sealed the deal. if he doesn't win, it better be stephanie. if dale wins, i'm fixin to have a hissy.

[Martin]

Come on, crimestick.  He's trying to be clever with his silly little pun, and he doesn't even spell correctly the word he's punning.  (I find all his stupid little plays on his surname very tiresome.  All in all, he reminds me of any number of people I've met who think they're hilarious and most emphatically are not.  If he'd just be the person I think he really is--a fairly ordinary, decent, stolid citizen, who really wants to sport a conventional haircut and switch those pink shoes for something more staid--I'd like him much better.)

I wasn't being sarcastic at all, apologize if it came across that way - I was wholeheartedly agreeing with you, he should lay off the comedy. But in addition to that, I really really hate people who use quotation marks like that.

[senorcorazon]

Wow, I just read that Richard has competed on Iron Chef America.  He lost against Batali.  I'm not surprised.

Alas, Iron Chef America is heavy-handed with the rigging.

Or maybe I just think that no one should ever buy Bobby Flay's bluecorn bullshit.

[Sarah]

Please forgive me, crimestick.  The rest of the menu had already faded from my memory when I read your post, so I didn't even remember the quotation marks.  I hate them, too, as well as the generally erratic punctuation.  Plus it's "andouille."

Senorcorazon, I find Iron Chef entertaining not for the competition but for all the ridiculous gadgets and cooking methods.

[senorcorazon]

Senorcorazon, I find Iron Chef entertaining not for the competition but for all the ridiculous gadgets and cooking methods.

Yes, if there is a marathon on I'll watch it until my eyes cross. This is why I'm not allowed to have cable.

[Sarah]

There's one coming up this week!