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Episode Recap: Restaurant Wars
5:45 am. It's the crack of dawn and Chef Tom Colicchio arrives on the scene to wake up the remaining six chef-testants and tell them about the Quickfire Challenge. (Though unnecessary, Padma Lakshmi was apparently still getting her beauty sleep.) Working the short order egg station at the hopping Chicago breakfast spot Lou Mitchell's Restaurant is where owner Helene will separate the winner from the yolks.
This is where we got to see Dale shine. The pace was fast, he was focused and didn't lose his temper. It's too bad he didn't win or carry this approach over to the Elimination Challenge where things might have turned out differently for him. Antonia was an egg-flipping fool that was chosen the winner over Dale.
Starting the day in one restaurant set the tone for the shift over to a large empty space that would transform into two dining areas for Restaurant Wars. The advantage Antonia got for winning the QFC was the ability to choose her team. She went with a sure thing selecting Stephanie and Richard, who have experience opening restaurants and had successfully worked together during the Wedding Wars challenge.
On hand to display his "warmer, sunnier disposition" was Chef Anthony Bourdain substituting this week as head judge for Chef Tom. A welcome addition, he announced that each team could pick an eliminated chef to assist in the kitchen. It was no surprise to me that Dale chose Jennifer. She's a good worker and, if you recall the comments, astonished the other chefs when she was sent packing. Pasta wizard Nikki came in to save the day for Antonia. Neither Mark nor Andrew was picked. Wah.
With two very different concepts and demeanors it was clear how things would unfold for each side. Warehouse Kitchen was the name Antonia's team used to reflect a casual, modern, somewhat minimal dining experience. Everything went well especially, and most importantly, the menu. I thought there might have been a problem when Nikki tasted grit in the Linguini and Clams with Sausage and Horseradish Crème Fraiche but Richard worked some magic and made it disappear before service. They were praised for the Lamb Squared (lamb loin with braised lamb shank), Richard's rehashed but somewhat improved Banana Scallops with Banana Guacamole and Stephanie's Gorgonzola Cheesecake with Concord Grape Sauce. This last dish contributed to Stephanie's winning the challenge and a culinary and wine tasting tour of Barcelona, Spain.
It would be great to spend more time discussing the winning team and the good things they presented but there was so much that went wrong with restaurant Mai Buddha that it's hard to avoid. Even with all of their experience and familiarity with Asian food perhaps it was not the way to go.
Purchasing a red Buddha and taking no responsibility for the tablecloths and napkins, Spike sans hat and donning a suit avoided the heat of the kitchen and worked the front of the house. Guest judge José Andrés was not there long but totally picked up on the fact that Spike, perhaps wisely, slid out from the combustible duo of Lisa and Dale.
Remembering the first episode of the season, Chef Tony mentioned to Richard that he didn't bring his smoke gun, but fire was in the air. Lisa over-smoked the Spicy Coconut Shrimp Laksa Soup. Then there was the issue of the Mango Sticky Rice. Dale blamed Lisa for grabbing inappropriate rice but it actually was he who pulled it from the shelf. Adding pastry cream and topping it with toasted coconut gave it the worst comments from the judges: "an atrocity", "baby food garnished with potpourri", "baby vomit with wood chips".
Dale was executive chef on his team but didn't pull them together. Ted Allen said the sauce on his Butterscotch Miso Scallops was too sweet and gloppy. He somehow salvaged his Halo-Halo from a brownish tint caused by an avocado with favorable flavor. But Mai Buddha's biggest problem was lack of teamwork and attitude. Lisa doesn't hold back and throws out blunt comments. The judges even knew by her telling body language that she doesn't like criticism. Dale has an explosive temper in the kitchen. I've seen and worked with great chefs like that but in this competition the stress is already high and antagonizing can be infectious. Giving in will destroy the working environment.
During his exit interview, we finally saw real emotions from Dale—not for losing but for the connections he made with the other chefs. All, that is, but Lisa who remained seated as he left the stew room.
Second Bites
• How different would the dynamics have been if Dale had won the QFC and worked with Stephanie and Richard instead of Lisa and Spike?
• The final four will most likely include Antonia, Stephanie and Richard. Do you think Hat Guy Spike will slide by again or will Lisa push her way through?
• The Text Poll again is to vote for the Fan Favorite to be announced during the reunion special the week after the finale. I voted for Stephanie last week but may vote for Richard this week. Is there a clear fan fave winner this season?
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May 22, 2008 3:11 AM
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Sad to see Dale go, done in by two lesser cooks, but also by his own demons. And butterscotch.
Second Bites:
- I have no doubt that Dale would still be around if he'd been on a team with Richard and Stephanie. Although, I think that either Richard or Stephanie would have handled Spike and Lisa much better. Of course, no one could make those two better cooks or better behaved, but at least one of them would be gone now 
- I think that Lisa's reign of extreme unpleasantness will finally end, and Spike, by virtue of being the lesser of two evils, will be in the final 4. Richard, Stephanie, and Antonia are so far above him, their spots in the final 3 are theirs to lose.
- I think that Fan Favorite is a toss-up between Richard and Stephanie. Neither is especially interesting, but both have proven themselves to be talented chefs and great team players. Of course, Antonia could sneak in there, and I think that Dale might be a dark horse. (The backlash on the Bravo boards is like deja Tre all over again.)
Thanks for another great entry, Mario!
Btw, the TV Show Blogs cover page shows/links to last week's ep...
Also, YAY BOURDAIN!
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May 22, 2008 3:41 AM
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For the second week in a row, they kicked out the wrong person.
No way should Dale have gone over Lisa.
Yes, Dale was the executive chef, but she was responsible for the 2 worst dishes of the night.
I think before they decide who goes, they should look at their overall record on the show. I DO know that the producers DO have a say in who goes (it's in a disclaimer in the end credits) so I'm surprised that Lisa and her ONE win got booted over Dale who not only has had more wins, but has been in FAR more winning groups.
That said, Dale was the executive chef and the buck stops with him, so he DID deserve to go...I'm just kinda surprised that they actually did choose him over Lisa.
I thought just about everything that came out of "Warehouse Kitchen" either looked or sounded great, and from the response of the judges, it all pretty much did.
As far as the "Fan Favorite," I'm not sure where this will go. Last year, the big tall guy (Brian?) Casey and Gay Dale were all much loved by the fans. This year, I would say that Richard, Stephanie, and maybe Antonia are the most favored by the fans.
Looking at the preview for next week, it's amazing to think that either Lisa or Spike will make the Final Four. I don't think either of them deserve to be there.
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May 22, 2008 6:56 AM
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Tonight's decision was a bloody disgrace.
How on earth did Lisa deserve to stay? Was it her 1 or 2 successes before compared to Dale? Was it her success in this particular elimination challenge? Was it her teamwork demonstration? This has to be a joke.
Not only would Dale have survived if he worked with Stephanie/Richard, but I firmly believe he would have stayed if Tom Colicchio was judging tonight.
When you have two completely poor performances, some demonstration of prior talent needs to be taken into account. Lisa showed very little compared to Dale, and she stays? HOW?
There is a part of me that the judges wanted to eliminate 1 strong male when they could to help promote a female winner. If that's true, that really is a disservice to Stephanie and Antonia because they certainly have the talent and ability on their own without crooked decisions from the judge's table.
That was simply disgraceful.
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May 22, 2008 8:10 AM
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I'm so mad that sourpuss Lisa is still around and Dale is gone. I would much rather work with Dale than Lisa in a kitchen. He was far more talented than her. And now there's no more eye candy on the show!
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May 22, 2008 9:09 AM
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Yep! You all are right on the money...Lisa should have gone. She's a female tool and a big baby. After her body language was pointed out by Anthony Bourdain, I just knew she was a goner.
Even when and after the chefs were in front of the panel, Dale's arms were by his side and sourpuss-stapled eye had her arms crossed.
I think and hope the top four are Dale, Stephanie, Richard and Antonia. Beyond that, I think Antonia and Richard have the best chance at being in the top two spots.
The chefs have been so good this season and there hasn't been any of the drama. Oh, and I'm glad that passive-aggressive Nikki is gone. Ugh. She was useless during the wedding challenge.
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May 22, 2008 9:36 AM
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I agree that Lisa should be gone. I thought for a moment that they would have a double elimination, and that both Lisa and Dale would be shown the door. Alas, it was not to be.
On the other hand, I think Lisa makes for better television than Dale, which is why she's still here. Dale's over-played the tempermental chef bit, and because he's just an unpleasant fellow, he's not the kind of antagonist that audiences enjoy watching. Besides that, who the heck puts butterscotch on scallops?!?
As for a favorite, how can you not admire Antonia? She is pleasant, mature, level-headed, and cooks delicious food. She would be a great winner too!
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May 22, 2008 10:12 AM
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So sad to see Dale go especially after winning last week. Spike-the-Tool remains and that is a very sad thing. I can not stand people who do not take responsibility for their own actions and that sums up both Lisa and Spike. She constantly scapegoats her downfalls to whoever she is working with or by.
I am hoping Antonio goes on to win it but I think she will have some heavey competition from Stephanie and Richard.
By the way... Loved, loved, loved the Quickfire. If I am not mistaken, they have not done line cooking since the very first Quickfire of Season 1. Poor Stephanie, she ALWAYS screws up the Quickfire.
Fan favorite is going to be a total toss up. Maybe there are enough nuts jobs out there to vote for Andrew.
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May 22, 2008 10:16 AM
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i don't know if i'm in the minority, but i when i saw jen come back i still think she should have been in the running over lisa or spike. my husband is so annoyed that lisa is still on because he cannot stand the way she talks and acts. i know that people in the house didn't like cooking with Dale, but i liked him. also, you could see by the way he said good-bye to Richard, Stephanie and Antonia that he was friends with the really top chefs, not the whiners, sourpusses and manipulators (i'm looking at you spike!)
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May 22, 2008 10:22 AM
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Maybe its just me,but I felt Dale was a one trick pony. There is no argument that he is talented,but Antonia said it best,when she said all he has done since the beginning is cook Asian. And he was head chef so it was his responsibility that what went out was good enough for the judges.
Having said that Lisa is complete tool and has no business still being in this competition.
She is up at the judges table EVERY week for her poor performance. She should have been gone weeks ago.
Also,what a pleasure watching Antonia,Richard and Stephanie work together. Those 3 are a class act and I would be happy to see any of them win.
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May 22, 2008 10:33 AM
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I couldn't wait to read the recap and comments for this episode this morning to see if anyone else was as outraged as I was that Dale got sent home instead of Lisa! Lisa's attitude is always awful and she always puts the blame on others (Dale). (What's with her and rice problem?) As other posters said - Dale had a much better winning record, so I'm left to think that the judges want to stack the deck to have a female Top Chef(as techtriumph also noted). There's just nothing good to say about Lisa. I SO hope she's gone next week!
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May 22, 2008 10:38 AM
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I kept expecting it to be a double elim, but no dice.
They decided to dump the person supposedly in charge which is not a bad decision, but it is a questionable one.
How effective can a Leader be if no one will listen to him? When a leader allows subordinates to take some initiative and trust them to do what they say they can do...should he/she be ultimately responsible for their failures?
Again, end of day.....they person in charge is usually the one blamed for failure. Its like a QB in football. They are the reason for a Win, and to blame for a loss.
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May 22, 2008 10:39 AM
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I was so utterly upset to see Dale go. As I was watching the episode I knew it was going to happen - It was so obvious and I really didn't want to see the outcome that was bound to happen. I was rooting for him so much. I about cried when he got eliminated. & I've been waiting to see Antonia go for so long - and she's still in the running, which makes me that much more upset. Richard; Take them all down!
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May 22, 2008 10:40 AM
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When will Lisa be put out of her misery?.."Stapled-eye" is so whiny and irritating--she grates my nerves to no end...
lol..bluefairies)
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May 22, 2008 11:09 AM
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Face it people - all three from thelosing team could have been voted out, but Dale as the executive chef was ultimately responsible for everything that was sent out. Why Dale didn't allow Lisa to take the lead is beyond me! After looking at his team, and then looking at the other team, he should have had the sense to let Lisa take control. It was his mistake and he left because of it! I despise Lisa, and was not thrilled with Spike or Dale, but I do agree with the majority here that Dale was the best of the three. Will any of them win this - NO CHANCE!
Antonia had one of the biggest advantages ever give to a quick-fire winner - Richard and Stephanie! What impressed me was that Stephanie cooked and appeared to set up the resteraunt also, while her counterpart Spike was lucky to get one dish done and then decorate. It probably took him an hour to choose that hideous tie and to take his hat off! What a tool!
My favorite is Antonia and I really hope that she wins this season. Although I wouldn't be upset if Steph or Richard did.
Now - can we just have a double-elimination next week and get rid of Spastic Spike and Lousy Lisa?
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May 22, 2008 11:29 AM
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