Top Chef New York

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i dont have the skill to determine winners based on looks alone, but Jeffrey has the innocent, false confidence of someone who will be eliminated first.

I was hoping they'd replace Gail with Bourdain.  I always enjoy when he's a judge.

agreed.  he's ruthless.

[Omar]

Fired up?  Ready to go?

10 p.m.
Bravo.
Bring it.

[jbissell]

Thanks for the reminder Omar.

[erika]

Oh I am ready ready ready.

[Andy]

is it tonight?

[erika]

yessir.

[Martin]

Thanks for the reminder!

[Sarah]

My timer has been set for a week.

[Martin]

(avoiding major spoilers for people who haven't seen it yet)

Solid first episode. For the first half, I was comparing it to last season, and thought there were no great characters this time around, but then things fell into place. Stefan is a Master Villain who will no doubt end up in the final if his snootiness doesn't get the better of him. You gotta love his provocative talk about being the first "European Top Chef". Got a kick out of the Long Island guy too.

I for sure thought the blonde (Melissa?) would get kicked off, since she got so little face-time. Surprised at the actual outcome, would've guessed that that person was such a good character the producer would've wanted to hold on to them. But no!

The people's champion? Eugene. Dude worked his way up from washing dishes, no fancy-pants culinary school here. He's the kind of no-nonsense guy that Bourdain loves to gush about.

[erika]

Yup Eugene's who I'm rooting for! No one else really stood out to me yet.

[Omar]

I hope Eugene accidentally makes a classic disch from a different world cuisine each week. 

Final Four: Eugene, Jill, Hosea, Alex.

[erika]

Did anyone else think that scallops and apples was an odd combination? I love apple in savory dishes but that was just weird to me.

[Martin]

Oh yeah, what's with the scallops hangup on Top Chef? I've never seen so many dishes made with scallops anywhere.

[Come on, Jason]

They booted the two people I could most see myself getting tired of.  Woo hoo!

Rhadika is bee-YOO-tiful.

That dude's beard is insane.

That's all I got.

[Sarah]

Thoughts in no particular order:

I must say, having just watched season 1, I was delighted to see Padma again.  That Katie Lee person was excruciating.

I was rooting for Eugene from his interview on; the more distraught he looks, the better I like him.  And judging from his magical unconscious re-creation of an Indian classic, I'm thinking maybe he's a chef savant.

I was very pleased the Eye-Rack lady was the first to go.

Carla is sanpaku, has spirit guides, and seems like a goon.  I hope she sticks around for comic relief.

Leah is a contendah.  So is Jamie.

I like Stefan and his Finnish arrogance.  Tom sure put a whammy on him, though, by saying the winner of the first elimination almost always wins Top Chef.

I feel sorry for Ariane and wish her well.  But she hasn't got a hope in hell.

Melissa has impressive bangs.

Danny appears to be a thug.