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Episode Recap: Tailgating
As this evening's episode of Top Chef began, the Quickfire Challenge totally influenced me to toss out the calming cup of tea I had made and reach for an icy cold beer. It's too bad I didn't have some of the "simple pleasures" that the chefs were asked to concoct and accompany one of 16 beers they had on hand.
Joining Padma for the QFC was Koren Grieveson, head chef at Chicago's Avec restaurant. Appropriately dubbed "poker face", Chef Koren gave minimal comments like "needs more acid" to Andrew's rainbow trout with raspberry gastrique. His sweet and sour-type sauce looked good but I questioned pairing trout with beer. Dale's roasted pork tenderloin with pretzel dust, I mean crust, was not moist, and Nikki, on the bottom in both challenges this week, was told her citrus marinated shrimp had too much breading and not much seasoning.
Poking fun at her hairstyle, Jennifer chose LandShark lager and prepared shrimp and scallop beignets that would have been tasty with my Corona. Skating through the middle of most challenges so far, she re-channeled the negative energy from Zoi's loss last week and whipped up an immunity-winning dish that was light, not greasy, and used well-balanced flavors.
Catering the tailgate party at Soldier Field for the Chicago Bears game brought out some notables for the Elimination Challenge. In addition to guest judge Paul Kahan (Chef and owner of Blackbird and Avec restaurants), former Bears players Gale Sayers, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Richard Dent were on hand to help choose the fans' top and bottom three dishes.
At the end of the first day of preparations, and after taping the refrigerators shut, it was nice to see the chefs return home for some down time and to chill out. Particularly funny was watching Hat Guy Spike, who has made several lesbian comments about Jennifer and Zoi, sipping champagne while taking a bubble bath with Mark.
Stephanie was on top in both challenges and I found two more items I wish were accompanying my beer. She followed up her Steamed Mussels in Cilantro Vinaigrette in the first challenge with Pork Tenderloin and Rosemary Vinaigrette with Potato and Pear Salad. Antonia also scored with her Jerk Chicken Sandwich, taking Chef Tom Colicchio's advice to include the banana and pineapple in the sandwich instead of serving it on the side.
Scoring a touchdown with a complexity of flavors in his Tandoori Baby Back Ribs and a Raisin-Mango Potato Salad, Dale won the challenge and took home a Bears jersey and a Weber Summit 650 gas grill. (A quick search shows the price range to be $1700 - $2000.)
Mark, who prefers rugby to football, chose not to throw shrimp on the barbie and fumbled with his Chicken and Scallion Skewers. As the only one cooking with charcoal, he was told its smokey flavor was too heavy for the hearty Soy and Onion Glaze. Not only was his New Zealand Corn Chowder gritty, he put the spoon back in the bowl to serve after using it to taste the soup. But being unsanitary, wearing a messy apron and having a sloppy presentation were not enough to get him kicked out of the game.
Nikki specializes in comfort food but didn't comfort the judges when there were not enough peppers and sauce for the sausage sandwiches she served to them. Being compared to Richard who blended veal and pork into a paté Nikki's short cut of buying her sausage instead of making it from scratch plus the disconnect of having shrimp on hand only gave her a penalty.
Ryan, the self-proclaimed metrosexual who has only been to a football game twice, was out of his comfort zone prepping a multi-course meal for sports fans. He gets points for easily schmoozing with the crowd over Andrew wearing a football helmet or Hat Guy Spike making a crack about the Bears in the Super Bowl. But ultimately this was the wrong crowd to try and serve food that was "light and fresh". Perhaps as suggested he should have served his marinated chicken in a roll instead of next to a bread salad. But he was tackled and thrown out for serving not only brandy cocoa but a poached pear with crème fraiche and huckleberry sauce. And yes, I could easily have had this with my beer too.
Second Bites
• While catering Block and Tailgate parties are fun the Film Food and Meals on Wheels challenges allowed for more upscale dinners. We are nearly half-way through the season, but so far have the challenges demonstrated the true extent of a top chef’s talents?
• I was glad that there were no team challenges this week and the chefs competed one-on-one.
• Text Poll: Who would you most want to touch in touch football? 16% = Yourself, 34% = Padma, and 50% voted for Tom.
• I've eaten panzanella made with crusty bread, tomatoes, basil and a vinaigrette but I didn't see anything that was red in Ryan's Bread Salad. How was his variation made?
• I could be wrong but does it look as if Richard wears fuchsia-colored Crocs?
For more tasty treats about Top Chef, check out our Online Video Guide.
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Apr 17, 2008 3:05 AM
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hey Mario! thanks for the great blog, as usual. yes- lots of chefs wear Crocs. personally, I can't wear them since my feet are about the width of a pencil.
I get why the judges sent Ryan home but come on- how much longer is Nikki going to torture us (and, I'm assuming, the judges) with her lameness? her food never looks good and yet she always thinks it's delicious. I am too tired to think of clever ways to insult her further.
I will give Mark $50 if he cuts that horrific mop of ugly off his head.
Hat Guy BUGS!!
actually happy that Dale won; his ribs looked awesome.
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Apr 17, 2008 3:56 AM
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Isn't Mario Batali a big fan of Crocs as well? Or at least he's a big fan of awkward colored shoes that look bad with what he's wearing.
Mark's thing bugs me. Not the apron really (I mean, isn't catching the mess kind of the reason you wear an apron) but the spoon. I'm sure this happens all the time and we just don't see it, but tasting and then putting the spoon back in is really bad for me. Something tells me the only reason he didn't go home is because the panel knows that's not the first time anyone has done that - just the first time they got caught in public doing it.
In the end Ryan was a good choice too. His food had nothing to do with tailgating. I love his explanation of why he did it, "it's what I'd picture at a tailgate" or something like that. I'm sorry, I know you've only been to two football games, but you'd think it's pretty common knowledge that wings, burgers, beer, steaks, beans etc...all are great choices.
And I just don't know about salads. I'm not sure sitting in a parking lot eating a salad would interest me. Potato salad, okay. Green salad, no. Unless I'm The Fridge. Then everything food interests me.
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Apr 17, 2008 7:57 AM
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I agree about Nikki. She is probably the least talented of the bunch. She is always in the bottom or told how bad her food tastes. Personally, I would have sent Mark packing just for his presentation alone. He was a disaster, not to mention tasting his chowder and placing the same spoon he tasted of back in the pot!!! GROSS!!! IMO, Ryan was out of his element, and his dish was not "tailgating" food but I don't think he should have been eliminated.
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Apr 17, 2008 8:08 AM
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Crocs are actually the choice of alot of chefs b/c they are ergonomically foamy and easy on your knees when you have to stand and do alot of prep. I've only recently bought my first pair and am a total convert -- they feel great after a spin class.
Does anyone else get the feeling that aside from maybe Stephanie, maybe Richard, that any of a host of former contestants could cook circles around this bunch? Trey, Tiffany, Lee Ann, Elia, Cliff, even Marcel....and none of these guys even won the whole thing! Just seems like its taking a long time for the cream to rise to the top with this group.
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Apr 17, 2008 9:57 AM
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I’ve seen many chefs wear clogs while working but maybe Crocs is the new way to go. Though I take spinning classes and do lots of cycling, I'm not sure that Crocs is my style. But I need a comfort shoe so maybe I'll have to think about that… 
And though Ryan’s meal wasn't appropriate for the occasion, I thought it was worse to not have enough food for the judges to taste. Then again, there’s that spoon issue…
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Apr 17, 2008 10:36 AM
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I was really happy to see someone who likes football win this challenge. I was impressed he knew a lot of the players even if he was from Chicago. The players were awesome by the way. Love me some "Refrigerator".
Stephanie is my fav but I'm coming around to Dale and Richard. I also like Antonia and glad she was able to bounce back after last week's fireworks.
I am sooooo over Jennifer. What was it that was motivating her in this challange again? I just can't place my finger on it. I'm sorry, I guess I must have forgot even after the million and six times she reminded us. I vote no more couples- EVER.
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Apr 17, 2008 10:54 AM
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I realize Mark was running a very messy station (at least according to Tom - we didn't actually get to SEE what he thought was so bad) but the spoon issue is NOT a good reason to be sent home IMO. I've seen it happen time and time again on this show - and it happens all the time in professional kitchens. Not saying it's RIGHT, but be serious here... your food is handled A LOT by the people who prepare it. If you are easily grossed out by the thought of a tasting spoon going into a pot of hot soup (heat kills bacteria) then you should probably NEVER eat out again. I'd hope the judges decide who stays and who goes based on their FOOD. As much unseasoned crap has been handed to the judges this year, Mark should be given props that at least he IS TASTING his items to be sure they're right.
Lighten up germaphobes.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:01 AM
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Forgot a couple of things....
Agreement -- no more couples. Ever.
And best part of the whole show: The Fridge's glee (or squee even!) at getting a serving of ribs! The way they looked, I cannot blame him.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:05 AM
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Stephanie is my favorite chef right now. Maybe she might actually set a record for 1st female winner. My next favorites are Richard and Andrew. Andrew is a little out there but he has shown that he got talent.
Nikki needed to go a long time ago. Mark I will give him a pass this time because this is the 1st time I have seen him so unorganized. He was out of his element and unfortunately it showed.
Jennifer's quickfire dish looked yummy but she annoyed me harping on Zoi going home. Zoi had been in the bottom consistently. She kept saying Zoi was a good cook but we never saw it.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:42 AM
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I'm with the group on this one. When is Nikki going home?!?!? How many times do you need to be on the bottom before the judges put it together? I liked Ryan, for eye candy if nothing else. Sad to see him go. Although his food was definitely not tailgating food so I do see the judges decision.
I am really trying to like Dale but I think I have a Hung hangover. I couldn't stand Hung and whenever I see or hear Dale I get visions of Hung so it makes me not like him. Now don't get me wrong, I know Dale doesn't have nearly the egotisic attitude of Hung but there is a little bit of Hung ego potential there which makes me twinge. Maybe it is because they both seem to be so spastic in the kitchen, hmmm, I am going to try to figure this out. I was glad to see him win the challenge though. I thought the ribs were perfect for the challenge.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:52 AM
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I really cant believe that Ryan and some others were that naive to think that what they are preparing was "tailgate food". Come on - there is nothing I hate more than a "holier than thou" chef. My food is better because I said so didn't work in the block party elimination and it sure didn't work for Tailgating! Poached Pears? Come on - really? Tailgating food is supposed to be delicious and fairly easy to eat.
I really like Stephanie and Jennifer is about to drive me crazy! It's time for some of these other chefs to step up!
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Apr 17, 2008 11:56 AM
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Not my favorite challenge. The Quick Fire was cool. The tailgating... no. There's just a huge difference between football BBQ and fine dining. I get that there are principles that translate, but not enough to hold my interest.
I don't think Ryan should have gone home. Even though I never really warmed up to him, at least he made all his food, unlike Nikki who bought her most crucial component. I shop at Whole Foods. I've had the sausage. So I guess, in essence, I can say I've tried the food on Top Chef!
I used to root for Mark but, after the "spoon" incident that Tom described, I'll never be able to support him again.
Even so, Hat Guy has gotta go! (then Andrew)
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Apr 17, 2008 12:07 PM
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I don't think Ryan should have gone home. I admit I liked Ryan, mainly because he was some good eye candy but I still think others did WORSE. Like Mark for example. He was dirty ragged, and he made chicken skewers that weren't very good. How do you mess up chicken skewers? At least Ryan took a risk which the judges constantly ask of the contestants. But then again, it's all in the editing I suppose, maybe his dish really was completely horrible.
Oh well, now who do I root for?
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Apr 17, 2008 12:16 PM
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I also liked Ryan personally. His comment about how he spends his money to buy nice clothes and likes to go out dancing cracked me up and totally endeared him to me. However, that has nothing to do with the fact that I think the judges made the wrong decision on this one. Okay, yes, it had nothing to do with tailgating but not only did Nikki a) not make her own sausage, b) not make a very good sausage and peppers and then c) not have enough food to serve the judges, but she has consistently showed that she does not belong in this competition by always being at the bottom. I realize that they do not judge cumulative effort (which I think is a problem on the show) but the fact is that Nikki has nothing to offer this competition and at least Ryan could have shown us something interesting. I think the judges made a huge mistake with this one.
Other random thoughts:
Okay so Hat Guy is Spike. Thank you. Now I'm getting to know them a little better.
I'm glad Dale won. Not only because he's my favorite and really cute but I really wanted to try his ribs! Also, I can't stand Lisa and I'm sure she was bristling that he won this challenge.
I think Stephanie is going to become the first female Top Chef. She's consistently at the top (save for the taste test challenge) and puts out great food all the time. Go Stephanie!
I think if I have to hear Jen say "I'm doing this for Zoi." one more time, I'll scream. Please shut her up.
My bets on Top 4: Stephanie, Richard, Dale and Antonia.
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Apr 17, 2008 12:40 PM
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