Top Chef Las Vegas

[Sarah]

* I found this episode very boring.  Do they always not even bother to say what some contestants have made in the early stages of the competition?  I can't remember, but they're doing it now, and it drives me nuts.

* Ashley was a drama queen about the marriage stuff and a complete dope for making that panna cotta.  I mean, come on, "I really feel like there needs to be a dessert.  I'm going to make one.  Whoops, I'm not a pastry chef.  Oh well, I've already decided so I'd better choose a dish I'm especially uncomfortable making."  Dummy.

 * And since I'm on the subject of gay kvetching, where did Ash come off in ep. 1 presenting himself as the only gay in the village (can't believe I just stooped to an overused Little Britain ref.)?

* I wish Preeti were more competent.  She is beautifully good-natured.  She even managed to defend herself at judges' table without coming off as defensive.

* What the hell is so hard about pronouncing the name "Preeti," anyway?  Mike I. is plainly either mentally deficient or, more likely, his difficulties are code for racism (or at the least xenophobia).  What a boob.  I was really glad his dish sucked.

* Michael V. is an ass, too, though not as much of one, but at least he's a good cook.  Though I'm already bored, bored, bored with the brother vs. brother nonsense.

* The guys were resoundingly better, mainly because they took more risks.  The broads were too cautious.  I hate it when stereotypes pan out like this.

* I sort of got to like Jennifer in this episode (she's a good laugher and a competent chef), but why does she persist in saying "suh-veech"?

* Why did one of them call something "bread toast"?  Seems to me that toast defaults to bread; you only need to clarify when it's something else.

* It was obvious last week that Eve would be the next to go (and I fear Jesse will follow her next week), but I was still delighted she was axed.  It was bad enough that she was mediocre, but with her grating voice (and, yes, accent) and her bizarre conviction that she's a daring innovator in the kitchen, she was even more hard to take.

[AndrewVDill]

So maybe I am missing something obvious, but isn't there anywhere legitimate to watch Top Chef online?  I know Bravo airs reruns a dozen times a day but it would still be nice to be able to get it when I want. 

[jbissell]

* What the hell is so hard about pronouncing the name "Preeti," anyway?  Mike I. is plainly either mentally deficient or, more likely, his difficulties are code for racism (or at the least xenophobia).  What a boob.  I was really glad his dish sucked.

Even worse was the short clip where he declared that he's "the guy who gives everyone nicknames".  Eve is a "Ninja"?  Not even in Juggalo Land.

[Sarah]

Actually, that was one that I liked:  he named her "The Ninja" precisely because she's such a klutz.

One thing to add to my earlier comments:  Jesse cries too damn much, and her saying, after facing the judges as one of the bottom four, "I know they''re going to pick me to go--I'm just too crazy!" clinched her fall from grace for me.  Well, that and her misguided dishes.

[Trotskie]

I've just started watching this show.  The contestant portraits on page 1 of this thread made me curious. 

One thing that bothers me:  I don't get a real sense of exactly what they are making. Project Runway was much more satisfying in that respect.  The final output was visual and you get a better sense of process. 

On Bravo's homepage, I watch 2 dudes make the guacamole macaroons in detail which I found really helpful.  They keep threatening to make TV more interactive and I think that this show is really begging for that treatment.                                                                                                                                     

[AndrewVDill]

I've just started watching this show.  The contestant portraits on page 1 of this thread made me curious. 

One thing that bothers me:  I don't get a real sense of exactly what they are making. Project Runway was much more satisfying in that respect.  The final output was visual and you get a better sense of process. 

On Bravo's homepage, I watch 2 dudes make the guacamole macaroons in detail which I found really helpful.  They keep threatening to make TV more interactive and I think that this show is really begging for that treatment.                                                                                                                                     

I think you'll find the show gets better in this respect as the weeks go on.  It's impossible to explain 16 contestants dishes with any depth.

[Martin]

* I sort of got to like Jennifer in this episode (she's a good laugher and a competent chef), but why does she persist in saying "suh-veech"?

I was also surprised to like Jennifer, especially when she called bullshit on the whole girls v boys thing. Her no-nonsense leadership in the kitchen also makes her not look like a bitch, but rather a professional.

Glad to see Eve go.

Ashley's nagging got on my nerves.

Good point about the pastries (and the tattoos), Omar.

Mike the Ape should die in a fire.

The shrimp looked so boring.

SCALLOPS!

[jbissell]

Actually, that was one that I liked:  he named her "The Ninja" precisely because she's such a klutz.

I understand that, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't his stated rationale.  Either way, the guy is a FWD.

[jbissell]

It was fun to see FWD Mike fuming.

Also, Preeti's "9/11 inspired me to be a chef" comment seemed a little weird to me.

[AndrewVDill]

Also, Preeti's "9/11 inspired me to be a chef" comment seemed a little weird to me.

You're not the only one.  And she said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

So since when do the contestants get to decide they're splitting into teams?  I was surprised that got by with so little comment from the judges.

[jbissell]

Also, Preeti's "9/11 inspired me to be a chef" comment seemed a little weird to me.

You're not the only one.  And she said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

So since when do the contestants get to decide they're splitting into teams?  I was surprised that got by with so little comment from the judges.

I think it worked ok within the confines of this particular challenge.  I'm guessing if Jennifer hadn't been running things, at least a couple of those dishes would've been disasters.  I thought the judges were smart to figure out who was responsible for what, resulting in Mike also being on the bottom.

[Sarah]

Jennifer should have won.  She did a remarkable job.

I've got about a page of notes, but I don't have the gumption to edit them into something coherent.  Maybe later.  If you're really, really lucky. 

[Omar]

Jennifer should have won.  She did a remarkable job.

I've got about a page of notes, but I don't have the gumption to edit them into something coherent.  Maybe later.  If you're really, really lucky. 

Please post this material.  I was extremely disappointed that Jennifer was not included as part of the top group in the Elimination Challenge.  Her Quickfire win combined with her work in the EC was one of the finest performances in the show's history.  Her command of the kitchen was a glorious thing to see.

[Martin]

Jennifer should have won.  She did a remarkable job.

I've got about a page of notes, but I don't have the gumption to edit them into something coherent.  Maybe later.  If you're really, really lucky. 

Please post this material.  I was extremely disappointed that Jennifer was not included as part of the top group in the Elimination Challenge.  Her Quickfire win combined with her work in the EC was one of the finest performances in the show's history.  Her command of the kitchen was a glorious thing to see.

100% agree.

But don't worry, I think Jennifer will win the whole thing.

Items:

- The teaming-up bit felt like playground stuff - the buddies team up first, and the least popular ones are left to each other like some sad, hopeless losers (which they are).

- I would've sent Preeti home for those contrived 9-11 comments alone. As it were, that pasta salad looked like something cheap I would throw together as one of three other dishes at a house party (ie not worthy of a cheftestant).

- Preeti's partner - couldn't pick her out of a lineup. Completely anonymous. She'll go home soon.

- Also, I'm sorry and heartless and not an American, but I have little patience for fawning troop admiration. I don't mind them cooking for them, obviously - but people tearing up, proclaiming how they take the challenge extra serious because of the troops, etc, make me wince.

- I like that the brothers are so serious. The younger one (who, quite surprisingly, seems like the better chef) could've been a FWD x 100, backwards cap and all. But he's so grave and serious - love it.

- This episode was the worst so far this season as far as choppy, incompetent creative audio editing was concerned. Felt like the editors really scrambled.

- And I still hate FWD Mike. Nice switcheroo there at the end. And his shrimp salad looked crap.

[jbissell]

But don't worry, I think Jennifer will win the whole thing.

Me too.  She doesn't seem to have the cockiness that may have undone Stefan last season.

- The teaming-up bit felt like playground stuff - the buddies team up first, and the least popular ones are left to each other like some sad, hopeless losers (which they are).

I thought that Ron/Jesse team was going to be a massive failure.  Still was surprised they didn't end up in the loser's group.