Good lord, so many kind words. And such pressure on a day when heat has laid me low. You bastards.
So, who didn't think Kevin was for the hook? Aside from the fact that he was the obvious choice, the editing tried in every way possible to make us think so. And when he was stupid enough to attempt pork belly during the Quickfire, I was ready to see him go. Then he goes and puts onion rings on a dish meant to be freeze-dried and reconstituted in space. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Still, I liked that he had the guts to go homey (apparently based on something the astronauts said that the editors for some reason chose not to let us hear--to make his choice seem misguided, perhaps?), and I thought Bourdain was a pill for curling his lip at the choice of sirloin. It was those damn onion rings that deserved his contempt.
How tired are we all of the Top Chef slogans? "Someone is going to have to outcook me!" "It's time to cook now!" "The atmosphere in the kitchen was intense!" (Twice Kelly said that. Twice.) I think part of my new liking for Angelo is that at least the clichés that come out of his mouth are not always entirely expected. Of course, his comments are frequently downright bizarre, and last night's "I played a submissive role with that short rib" qualifies. He also said he made love to it. And then spoke of glaze.
The NASA folks were among the most likable guests of the season, which I did not expect. The transmission from the space station was clunky, but space ponytail was great. And, sure, old Buzz seemed a little doddery--though I loved it when he said he didn't know how well something would work as a "space dish"--but the other two astronauts seemed sharp. Why can't they have more crunchy food, though? I mean, I get that crisp vegetables would be tricky, and frying downright dangerous, but is there no junk food in space? Although I suppose that would lead to a lot of trash.
I have never seen Anthony Bourdain so happy with the food on Top Chef. It was disappointing. Ripert may have been critical, but his comments don't bite (and tear and rend) the way Bourdain's do.
Ah well. Tiffany is gone. Many people are probably sad about this. I'm not. But then I wouldn't have been sad if any of the others had been axed, either. She was careless with her mussels, and they died for naught. So much for cooking with soul. Besides, would they have saved her curry? I think not, since it seemed she neglected to put any citrus juice in it, and who ever heard of that kind of curry made without the help of a lemon or a lime?
P.S. This was written on the page where I took my TC notes this morning: "Tout révolutionnaire finit en oppresseur ou en hérétique." I liked that quotation back in 1976/77, and I like it now.
Later: That French has been nagging me all day, the grammar seemed so off. I've now checked, and, sure enough, nineteen-year-old me made a transcription error. I've corrected the quotation above, but my youthful mistake will live on in AC's post. It's only right: transgressions should have unerasable consequences.
